Bryce Hawkinson and Ceci Anderson brought home Northeast Conference championships and two other teammates placed among the top four in the league tournament held in Groton on Friday after being postponed due to weather on Thursday.
Hawkinson took top honors in the 150-pound class, boosting his season record to 9-1 with his only loss to the number one ranked 150-pounder in the state. Anderson was the 165-pound girls winner in a two-girl bracket. Tucker Hardy, 8-3, placed second in the 215-pound bracket, while Ben Suther, 9-4, was third at 175 pounds.
Complete girls’ results wree not available.
The local grapplers have two weeks off for the holidays and are back in action at a tournament in Webster on Jan. 4.
“I was pleased overall with the way we wrestled,” said B-H coach Josh Hawkinson. “Everything we worked on in the room I saw at least one time from different kids. Our experienced kids are not wrestling like they are afraid to lose and going out and trying things, being the aggressor, and putting points on the board to win matches. That’s where we need to be.”
Coach Hawkinson took special note of progress he has seen from Suther.
“I was really pleased with how Ben wrestled at the conference meet. He has been a different kid as far as being aggressive and a very offensive-minded wrestler.”
Wrestlers will be allowed an extra two pounds in each weight class after Christmas, and Hawkinson said his squad will continue to focus on fine-tuning technique during the holiday break.
“We’ve changed up our strategy a little bit and we’re not doing as much live wrestling in the room but are working a lot more on the technical stuff. I think the result has been that the kids are wrestling better and now that we have some matches the kids will start looking at more video of future opponents.”
TEAM POINTS: Clark-Willow Lake 198, Sisseton 148, Redfield 121, Groton Area 110, Deuel 77, Milbank 70.5, Webster Area 61, Britton-Hecla 60.5, Hamlin-Castlewood 35, Tiospa Zina 0.
106 POUNDS: Lincoln Kilker (BH) pinned by Aykre Piotter (SISS) 5:46; lost dec. to Jace Edgar (RED) 15-5
120 POUNDS: Carter Grobe (BH) pinned by Kyson Kucker (GA) 4:35; pinned Erich Fokken (DEU) 2:58; dec. Karstyn Schlechter (WA) 10-1; pinned by Chace Odland (RED) :39
126 POUNDS: Jade Tisher (BH) pinned by Lincoln Krause (GA) 1:15; pinned by Aiden Warren (DEU) 1:55
144 POUNDS: Max Suther (BH) pinned by Reed Gray (SISS) 1:50; won by tech fall over Dante DeGeest (HAM) 5:00, 19-2; pinned by Logan Foster (CWL) 3:36
150 POUNDS: Bryce Hawkinson (BH) won by tech fall over Zane Miller (DEU) 2:29, 16-0; First place match: dec. Tate Everson (HAM) 8-3
165 POUNDS: Dashel Davidson (BH) pinned by Gage Baumgarn (WA) 2:13; pinned by Collin Dean (RED) 1:46
175 POUNDS: Ben Suther (BH) won by tech fall over Hunter Bourassa (WA) 2:36, 16-1; lost dec. to Korbin Kucker (GA) 11-2; pinned Zachary Fisher (HAM) :53; Third place match: pinned Lincoln Reidburn (CWL) 4:30
190 POUNDS: Liam Paxton (BH) pinned by Isaac Nelson (WA) :31; pinned by Owen Shea (HAM) 1:29
215 POUNDS: Tucker Hardy (BH) pinned Sam Leen (DEU) 1:18; won by injury default over Hunter Reede (MIL) 1:24; First place match: pinned by Camden Murray (RED) 3:05
