By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Brandon Valley senior Navarro Schunke has a chance to make history as the South Dakota state wrestling tournament begins Thursday in Sioux Falls.

Since 1971, when South Dakota split from a one class to a two-class wrestling system, seven athletes have won four Class A individual state titles. Schunke joined that list in 2023 and now looks to cement his legacy as one of the top wrestlers in South Dakota history as he aims to become the first Class A wrestler to win a fifth state title.

South Dakota Class A wrestlers to win four state titles: 

Nash Hutmacher, Chamberlain 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (285, 285, 285, 285) 

Rick Jensen, Watertown, 1971, 72, 73, 74 (98-105-119-132)

Navarro Schunke, Brandon Valley 2022, 2021, 2020, 2023 (285, 220, 285, 285) 

Nick Smith, Yankton, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 (103, 119, 119, 125)

William Turman, Pierre 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 (106, 113, 120, 132)

Dustin Walraven, Huron, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 (112, 130, 135, 135) 

Seth Lange, Sturgis, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 (103, 119, 125, 130)

In 2020 as Chamberlain’s Nash Hutmacher was winning his fourth consecutive title, Schunke, an eighth grader, capped off a 39-2 season defeating Rapid City Stevens' Ryan Brink in the 220-pound class. In 2021 Schunke bumped up to 285 and finished 43-0 earning a second state title with a 6-2 decision of Mitchell’s Beau Foote. One year later, Schunke capped off his sophomore season with a 48-0 record and a win over Foote, this time by pin (3:00). 

In 2023 Schunke finished his season with a 28-0 record and a record-tying fourth consecutive Class A title with an 8-0 decision over Watertown sophomore Micah Hach.

As the South Dakota state wrestling tournament begins Thursday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, Schunke is 38-0 and top seeded in his bracket. Schunke’s first opponent will be Kane Wirkus of Rapid City Central. Looming in the bottom portion of the bracket is a 41-1 Hach, who is seeded No. 2 and whose only loss came to Schunke via pin earlier this season. 

Schunke surpassed the 200-career win total earlier this year. In the last five seasons, the future Kansas State football player has gone 196-2. 

Schunke’s team, Brandon Valley, also has a chance to make history this weekend. The Lynx are three-time defending state champions and will be looking to tie Mitchell (1995-98) and Pierre (2015-18) as the only Class A teams to win four consecutive state titles.

Watertown’s Sloan Johannsen (40-1) will be looking for a fourth consecutive title. The future Northern State wrestler is the top seed (126) and suffered his only loss of the season to No. 2 seed Rayden Zens of Aberdeen Central, 32-4.