By Rich Winter

605 Sports

At the 2023 South Dakota state wrestling tournament Hamlin/Castlewood’s Brody Randall pulled off one of the biggest upsets on the first day of the tournament. Randall upset No. 2 seed and one-loss Zach Bartels of Canton in the 106-pound quarterfinals and finished fifth at the state tournament. 

Randall had 11 losses last season but as he enters this weekend’s Kingsbury County Invitational the sophomore is 25-0 and ranked No.1 in Class B’s 113 class. 

Stat Leaders: (Provided by Dakota Grappler as of 01/07/24)

Takedowns: 1. Logan O’Connor, Harrisburg, 75; 2. Kaden Keiser, Winner Area, 72; 3. Jacoby Parker, Rapid City Central, 70; 4. Burk Blasius, Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall/Badlands Brawlers, 69; 5. Aiden Wells, Sioux Falls Jefferson, 66; 6. Kale Crowser, Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall/Badlands Brawlers 63.

Pins: 1. Grady Fey, Redfield, 24; 2. Parker Noem, Custer, 20; 3. Levi Wieman, Parker, 20; 4. Hunter Kunz, Hot Springs, 19; 5. Kade Braun, Burke/Gregory; 6. Chase Hurd, Miller/Highmore-Harrold. 

Matches to look for this weekend

• Custer’s Parker Noem is the top ranked grappler at 190 pounds in Class B. The Wildcats will participate in the Winner Invitational on Saturday where No. 2 ranked Gannon Knebel of Wagner and No. 3 Jhett Eklund of Burke/Gregory loom as a potential finals opponent. 

• Parker’s Levi Wieman (215) jumped into the No. 1 ranking after winning the Mid-Dakota Monster tournament. At that tournament he did not face Hot Springs senior Caleb Rickenbach. The pair will have another opportunity at Saturday’s Winner Invitational if they both reach the finals. 

• Webster Area’s Haeden Jorgenson beat Miller/Highmore-Harrold’s Kellen Hurd several weeks ago to assume the No. 1 Class B ranking at 138 pounds. The pair could meet again at the Parkston Little B tournament on Saturday. 

• Defending state champion Regina Stoeser of Harrisburg (120) and Britney Rueb of Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon could meet in the finals of the Pierre girls tournament on Friday. Both wrestlers have been state champions and split matches last season.