SIOUX FALLS — A future college football player, Quinten Christensen captured one last state wrestling championship. 

The Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington senior won his second straight Class B heavyweight state championship at the state wrestling tournament Friday. Christensen, who won last year’s state championship in overtime, pinned Redfield’s Mason Fey at the two-minute, :41 second mark at the Denny Sanford Premier Center

“It was really satisfying knowing all my work paid off and I didn’t have to worry anymore,” Christensen said about another state championship. “It’s just awesome.”

In this year’s finals, neither Christensen or Fey scored in the opening period. But Christensen seized control in the second period and worked Fey into a cradle before he secured the pin. 

And it wasn’t the first time they’ve squared off this season. 

“I’ve actually wrestled him four or five times this year and the last two have been in overtime,” Christensen said. “It kept getting closer and after that last overtime match. I kind of just told myself I don’t want to make it that close. I guess I went out and I don’t even know what happened. I just got that cradle hooked up.”

The pin put an exclamation point on a dominant two-year run for Christensen, who went 81-1 his junior and senior seasons. He also finished third at 220-pounds in 2020. 

And Christensen, a towering 6-foot-5 grappler, couldn’t help but get overwhelmed with emotions after his wrestling career came to a close.

“It’s unreal,” Christensen said. “You don’t really experience anything like it, but I think I am going to miss wrestling more than I thought I would. … You put so many hours in and so much work and it pays off. It’s really awesome.”

Up next, Christensen will turn his attention to South Dakota State University, where the all-state lineman has signed to play college football. He’s projected to play offensive line for the Jacks. 

“I am excited for football,” he said. “That’s definitely my favorite sport and it’s what I love the most, but wrestling has a special place in my heart.”