By Rich Winter

605 Sports

RAPID CITY — A year ago, Holden Havlik wasn’t quite ready for the Class B 215-pound final against Parker’s Levi Wieman. Late in the second period he found himself on his back on the wrong end of a pin from Wieman’s 52-0 season. 

On Saturday, in front of a packed house at the Monument Havlik found himself in a similar position against Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall’s Jensen Fitch.

“Last year I had the same interaction except it didn’t end the way I wanted it to,” Havlik said. “I was kinda ready for the atmosphere this year. I was ready to go and it was awesome to be able to win a state championship.” 

Havlik, 33-3 on the year, has struggled with injuries, most notably a hamstring issue. He knew that Jensen was tough to beat if he got an early lead and was able to get his legs in for riding purposes. 

Havlik proved to be the aggressor Saturday, jumping out to an early lead then holding on for a 9-3 win. A member of the football and wrestling teams for just the past few years, the future Northern State University football player paid tribute to his coaches. 

“They pushed me hard every single day and I’m forever grateful for the lessons they taught me,” he said. “These last two years have been great and I’m going to carry on that hard work ethic as I move to the next level.” 

A state champion wrestler who calls himself a football player, Havlik enjoyed being part of a wrestling team that also saw Jacksen Carter reach the finals at 132. 

“Jacksen Carter has been great all year,” Havlik said. “Everyone had a great year but our region is just so tough but we had a really good team. We’ve got some really good coaches (Kevin Haider, Adam Haake and Landon Walker) and we have a lot of good young athletes so I think our program is headed in the right direction.”