All Photos by ML Headrick
ELK POINT – With four wrestlers in the final matches, the Fliers had to settle for a trio of runner-ups and a fourth place finisher at the Region 2B wrestling tournament held Saturday in the Huskies’ gym.
Teague Bergjord, Gabe Frias and Justin Klein all placed second and Zach Pederson fourth advancing them to the SDHSAA Class B Wrestling Tournament Thursday through Saturday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
“These four punched their ticket to state and will be looking at making the podium in Sioux Falls,” said Coach Cody Chamblin.
As a team, the Fliers finished sixth – only two points off fifth. Wrestling powerhouse Canton took the title with 289 points, Tri-Valley was second at 261.5, Elk Point-Jefferson was third at 151.5 with McCook Central/Montrose fourth, 133, and Parker fifth, 100.5. Flandreau scored 98.5 points.
Senior Bergjord closed the day 2-1 losing in the finals to Parker Randall of McCook Central/Montrose in overtime (sudden victory).
Frias also recorded a 2-1 mark at regions. He fell in the finals to Owen Bunde of Tri-Valley by a tech fall.
Klein, also a Flier senior, lost by major decision to one of his top rivals, Landyn Reiser of Tri-Valley, in the championship match. He recorded a 3-1 record on the day.
The final qualifier is Pederson who was 2-2 at regions. He lost in the semi-finals to Marion-Freeman’s Logun Pankratz and also in the third place match to Tri-Valley’s Alex McFarland.
The Fliers had three more wrestlers place in Regional action. Dalin Billmeier (2-3 at 150) and Rhyder Behnke (1-2 at 190) earned fifth and Ryker Headrick took sixth (2-3 at 106).
Only the top four in each bracket wrestle at state. Alternates for state are chosen from fifth placed wrestlers throughout the state who have the best record . This year, Behnke will be the 190 alternate.
Bergjord comes into state at 126 seeded fifth. He will face #12 seed Riley Trout of Custer in the opening round Thursday.
At 132 pounds, Frias was placed as the 11th seed and takes on #6 seed Kiptyn Schaefers of Parkston.
Klein, at 175, heads into his final state tournament seeded third and will be matched with Dean Nathan of Hot Springs, the 14th seed.
Pederson will be seeded ninth in the 138 division and faces #8 Logun Pankratz, a familiar foe of his.
Closing out their senior year at regions were Billmeier, Preston Meyer and Tom Loehr.
Other teammates, according to Chamblin, who wrestled some of their best matches on the year were Aston Duncan, Kalel Bamba, Preston Meyer, Brody Johnson and Tom Loehr.
“All these guys wrestled their butts off and helped their team with the sixth place finish,” noted Chamblin.
“This team has had great drive and heart all year and I’m excited to see these kids grow on and off the mat.”
For now though, Chamblin and his qualifiers will focus on the season’s final tournament.
“We’re going to be working on that ultimate goal now – that top 8 placing at the state tournament.”
Boys Results:
106 Ryker Headrick: bye; LBF 2:48 Frederick, TV; WBF :26 Stockwell, Canis; won 8-2 Wollman, MF; LBF 2:27 Hoffman, MCM – 6th place
120 Aston Duncan: LBF 1:00 Bonte, Garr; bye; LBF 4:59 Dice, EPJ
126 Teague Bergjord: bye; WBF 1:26 Costello, Garr; won 18-4 MD Tuntland, Cant; lost 4-1 SV Randall, MCM – 2nd place
132 Gabe Frias: bye; WBF 5:06 Maier, How; won 13-5 MD Preheim, Park; lost 18-0 TF Bunde, TV – 2nd place
138 Zach Pederson: won 18-1 TF Uberty, MCM; lost 7-2 Pankratz, MF; won 8-2 Schaeffer, Cant; lost 3-2 McFarland, TV – 4th place
150 Dalin Billmeier: bye; lost 11-2 Swatek, EPJ; bye; WBF Rand, Park; lost 14-10 Effing, TV; won 5-4 Kizer, How – 5th place
157 Kalel Bamba: LBF :47 VanderWeerd, EPJ; bye; lost 9-7 Kirkholm, MF
165 Preston Meyer: LBF 3:39 Williams, TV; bye; LBF 4:26 Skaar, EPJ
175 Justin Klein: WBF :09 Henry, Ches; WBF :40 VanHolland, Garr; won 13-1 MD Riggs, Hans; lost 10-2 MD Reiser, TV – 2nd place
190 Rhyder Behnke: lost 10-6 Schleuter, Garr; bye; LBF :59 Mentele, How; WBF 1:20 Becker, MF – 5th place
215 Brody Johnson: bye; LBF :29 Adam, Cant; bye; LBF 1:37 Holm, VH
285 Tom Loehr: bye; LBF :40 Swenson, Cant; bye; LBF 4:40 Baatz, Garr.
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