Bigger team, bigger goals

Five Flandreau Fliers wrestlers are headed to the State B Wrestling Tournament in Rapid City next weekend after a hard-fought battle on the mat in Salem.
Senior Karter Headrick, despite a recent neck injury, placed first in his weight class this past Saturday. Teague Bergord took third, while Zach Pederson, Justin Klein and Tyton Peters each finished fourth in their respective weight classes.
A year ago, that would have been nearly the entire team.
We just had seven kids up here at some practices last year, said assistant coach Beau Severtson.
This year, for reasons unknown but much appreciated by the coaching staff and team the Fliers wrestling program has nearly 20 athletes on the roster.
Its just fun walking in here with the mats this full. Showing up with almost a full team to these duals, Severtson added.
Head Coach Cody Chamblin, along with Severtson and fellow assistant coach Wade Quick all former wrestling teammates are amazed by how many student-athletes have joined the program this year.
Overall, the team took fifth place at the tournament this past weekend.
Kids are really starting to show up again, said Chamblin.
That includes heavyweight wrestler Tyton Peters, a sophomore who hadnt wrestled since fifth grade before returning to the sport this year.
Hes a big asset to have back in the room, Severtson said, adding that Peters has a solid chance of making a run at State.
The Fliers wrestling program also includes six Colman-Egan students this year significantly more than the one or two who typically joined in the past.
It sounds like Colman-Egans football coach encouraged them to try another sport. This is a great opportunity for them, and Im glad to have them. Theyve been a huge asset to our room this year, Severtson said.
But Flandreau itself is also starting to develop a strong wrestling culture, with current wrestlers becoming some of the programs biggest recruiters.
Its probably one of the hardest things Ive ever done, said senior Asael Garreau, who joined the team last year. Its the first sport hes played since elementary school, and it hasnt been easy.
Garreau works often, both with his familys business and at a job in Brookings, where he typically drives four nights a week.
Still, he knew hed regret not wrestling his senior year.
During, I hate it. But afterward, I feel good about it and I know it will help me in life, he said.
He even convinced his younger brother to join the team this year.
He doesnt really do a lot this is probably the best thing hes ever done for himself, Garreau said. I just want him to have some discipline, which is why I got him to come out.
Headrick, who has wrestled nearly his entire life, cant say enough about his teammates and the energy in the wrestling room this season.
Its fun having a lot of kids up here, and it makes duals a lot more fun, because you can win more, Headrick said. Last year, we lost every single match against Garretson because we just didnt have enough on the team. If they keep it up, next year theyll be a state dual team.
Among those on the mat this year are two young female wrestlers eighth-grader Tenley Quick and seventh-grader Dasha Pedraza-Felix who practice with the entire team but typically compete in girls-only matches.
Girls wrestling, according to Chamblin, is the fastest-growing sport in the nation and has been for the past four years. He expects more local female athletes will likely start to consider the sport.
Before, when girls wanted to wrestle, they had to wrestle boys. It would discourage the boys if they got beat, and for the girls, it was hard to wrestle boys all the time, Chamblin said.
As a result, sanctioned girls wrestling has taken off.
My dad always wanted me to do the impossible as a girl, Pedraza-Felix said. Im a hard worker, and these guys are like my family right now.
More on the results from Regions and State on p. 11 of this weeks edition.