For the second straight year, the Lennox High School Oriole wrestling team is bringing a record number, nine, wrestlers to the State A Tournament. The LHS team earned second place at Regions this past Thursday and Friday battling in Yankton.
Four LHS wrestlers claimed Region titles while two others earned runner-up honors, two placed third and one earned fourth.
“The boys battled at Regions and it showed on the mat as we qualified nine guys for State,” said Oriole head coach Mike Smit. “This is back to back years we have tied the school record for the number of qualifiers, and it just goes to show how hard these boys work during practice.”
Earning the Region title in their respective weight classes were Jaetin DeCou at 120 pounds, Wesley Weischedel at 126 pounds, Cole Halouska at 145 pounds, and Tyler Zebell at 170 pounds.
DeCou began his title run with a opening bye before facing Sioux Falls Washington’s Blessing Taniah in the quarterfinals. DeCou won by fall in 46 seconds to advance to the semifinals. In the semis, DeCou won by fall in 59 seconds over Kiet Gilberts of Tea Area to place himself in the finals. In the finals, DeCou won by decision, 5-2 over Vermillion’s Jacob Husby to win the title.
Weischedel’s road to the title begin with a bye before he won by fall in 1:51 over Sioux Falls Lincoln’s Amani Boas in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Weischedel won by fall in 3:41 over Ryne Whisler to advance to the finals. In the finals, Weischedel won by decision, 5-1 over Jacob Hanssen to earn the Championship title. Weischedel also became the Orioles’ all-time winning wrestler, recording 194 wins.
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