State wrestling roundup: Mitchell Kernels advance eight as meet gets underway

Feb. 25—RAPID CITY — Eight Mitchell High School wrestlers are still in contention for a state championship through one round.

The Kernels went 8-4 in the opening round of the Class A individual state tournament Thursday at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Mitchell ends the first day of individual competition in fifth place in the team standings with 25 points, three points behind No. 4 Pierre. Brandon Valley and Watertown are tied for first with 35 points, while Rapid City Stevens is third with 31 points. Chamberlain is tied for 11th with 12 points.

Four Kernels advanced to Friday's quarterfinals with first-round falls. Tucker Vilhauer pinned Chamberlain's Trey Neilan in 1 minute, 23 seconds at 152 pounds, while Joe Van Overschelde pinned Sioux Falls Lincoln's Anthony Marquardt with six seconds remaining in the first period at 182.

At 220 pounds, Wyatt Winter scored a fall on Rapid City Central's Jackson Witte in 1:41 and Beau Foote earned a pin against Brookings' Samson Flakus in 1:32 at 285.

RESULTS: Thursday's opening round results

Jagger Tyler won his first career Class A state tournament match with a 12-1 major decision against Brookings' Gabriel Stern at 126, while Brock Sparks grabbed a 9-3 decision against Sioux Falls O'Gorman's Josh Brunz at 132. Tyson Degen held on to beat Harrisburg's Jace Jones in a 10-7 decision at 160. Jones earned a reversal and three back points as time expired in the match.

Brandon Sparks scored an upset win over Region 3A champion and fourth-seeded Moses Gross, of Huron, winning 5-4 in overtime at 120 pounds.

Chamberlain's Gabe Skustad earned a fall against Mitchell's Conner Thelen in 1:17 at 145 pounds, while Noah Hutmacher pinned Dell Rapids' Quinn Carr in 1:14 at 195. At 285, Canyon Burkard pinned Madison's Tyler Reck in 2:37.

Individual competition continues with the quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Central Friday, followed by the first- and second-round wrestlebacks. The individual semifinals are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Winner Area, KWLPG have big opening rounds in Class B

RAPID CITY — The Winner Area Warriors got off to a strong start in the Class B state individual wrestling tournament Thursday in Rapid City, advancing 11 of its 12 wrestlers to the quarterfinals.

Winner Area had three top-seeded wrestlers in the Class B brackets. At 106 pounds, Maxton Brozik of Winner Area won by major decision, while undefeated Kaden Keiser won by technical fall in just over 3 minutes in his opening match at 145 pounds. At 170 pounds, Sam Kruger improved to 35-0 with a 90-second pin in his Round of 16 match. Also advancing for Winner to the quarterfinals was Kaleb Osborn (120), Aaron Gilchrist (138), Riley Orel (152), Jack Kruger (160), Joey Cole (182), Charley Pravecek (195), Preston Norrid (220) and Achilles Willuweit (285).

After the opening round, defending Class B champions Canton has scored 45.5 points, with Winner Area closely following with 40.5 points. Kimball/White Lake/Platte-Geddes and Philip Area are tied for third place with 30 points, followed by Redfield Area in fifth with 28 points. Mount Vernon/Plankinton scored 17 points for sixth place, Howard is seventh with 15 points and Burke/Gregory is eighth with 14.5 points.

READ: Runners-up a year ago, top Class B wrestlers begin title chase again

KWLPG was also strong in the opening round, advancing 10 of its 11 boys entrants to the quarterfinals. Second-seeded Kasen Konstanz started things for the Wildkats at 106 pounds with a second-period pin to run his record to 32-1. Iden Myers picked up a overtime win to advance at 113 pounds, and is joined by Kyler Konstanz (120), Chase Varilek (132), Carter Lenz (138), Grayson Hanson (160), Holden Havlik (170), Spencer Hanson (182), Levi Nightengale (195), and Kameron Styles (285) in the quarterfinals.

Bringing seven wrestlers to the state tournament, five Titans from Mount Vernon/Plankinton/Corsica-Stickney advanced to the quarterfinals. Hadley Tobin, the No. 2 seed at 113 pounds, pinned Howard's Trent Feldhaus in 55 seconds, while Brandon Bosworth (138), Drew Gerlach (145), Cole Pranger (220) and Kellen Cassidy (285) all earned victories.

Five wrestlers for Burke/Gregory were moving on after Thursday's opening round, including Owen Hansen (126), Jordan Vosika (145), Rylan Peck (152), Tucker Even (170) and Taron Serr (195).

Howard will advance four wrestlers to the quarterfinals, with Riley Genzlinger (132), Lane Miller (145), John Callies (152) and Ty Beyer (160) advancing in the opening round.

All three of Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon's boys entrants moved to the quarterfinals, with victories from Brady Bierma (126), Isaac Crownover (152) and Jordan Gall (195), with the latter two picking up pins.

Jacobi Krouse carries the flag for the three McCook Central/Montrose wrestlers advancing to the quarterfinals. Krouse, the top seed at 182 pounds, earned a third-round pin over Tri-Valley's Isaac Nehlich, while Weston Remmers (126) and Jackson Remmers (132) also moved on.

Three wrestlers from Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central advanced in the winner's bracket, led by a speedy pin by 285-pound top-seed Quinten Christensen who won via a 6-second fall vs. Lead-Deadwood's Carter Estes. It was the fastest pin of the 121 falls to take place in the first round. Joey Hoverson (132) and Keegan Haider (152) each advanced with first-period pins, as well.

Wagner also sends three wrestlers to the quarterfinals with Karstyn Lhotak (106), Jhett Breen (120) and Bradyn Lhotak (138).

Also advancing was Lyman's Gunner Johnson (182), Marion/Freeman's Clayton Smith (220), Parkston's Porter Neugebauer (126).

Girls competition at the state wrestling tournament — taking place for the first time under the SDHSAA banner — begins Friday morning.