By 605 Sports Staff

The Sturgis boys opened the 2023/2024 wrestling season as Class A’s top-ranked team. On Friday, on day one of the Rapid City Invitational the Scoopers looked every bit the part. 

Sturgis advanced five wrestlers into Saturday’s semifinal rounds and leads the 46-team field with 122 points, ahead of Pierre, 114 and Bismarck, N.D. 99. Aberdeen Central, 96, Thunder Basin, Wyoming, 92.5, Tea Area 91, Philip Area, 76.5 and West Central, 71.5 round out the top-eight teams. 

Tyler Baldwin (106), Beau Peters (138), Kalvin Ketelsen (144), Joseph Nadig (150) and Zak Juelfs (215) were the Sturgis wrestlers to qualify for Saturday’s semifinals. 

Girls Rapid City Invitational

The Pierre girls wrestling team positioned themselves perfectly for Saturday after advancing seven wrestlers to tomorrow’s semi-finals. 

The Governors are on top of the team standings with 104 points, ahead of Bismarck, ND (94) and Watertown (81). Aberdeen Central (74) and Spearfish round out the top-five teams after the first day of competition. 

Pierre’s lower weights were exceptional Friday as Shaylee Speck (100), Sydney Uhrig (107), Dani Ringstmeyer (120), Lexie Hillmer (126), Kezrey Benning (132), Ireland Templeton (145) and Abbigail Lewis (152) all reached Saturday’s semifinals. 

Forty-two girls teams are participating in the Rapid City Invitational this year.