With three Region 2A Champions, one runner-up and a fourth place finisher, the Lennox High School wrestling team will be sending five wrestlers to the 2018 South Dakota State A Wrestling Tournament this Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24.
“The boys came to battle at Regions as we had four guys in the finals! I am proud of how hard they have worked this season and hope to put them all on the medal stand this weekend at State,” said Oriole head coach Mike Smit. “State is always a tough test, but the boys will be ready.”
Headed to state will be Region Champions: Riley Williams, Jaetin DeCou, Tyler Zebell; Region runner-up Tyson Stoebner; and fourth place finisher Brandon Otte.
Williams, wrestling at 113 pounds, began Regions will a pin over Sioux Falls Washington’s Adam McManus in 34 seconds. This advanced him to the semi-final where he faced off against Beresford/Alcester-Hudson’s Jovey Christensen. Williams won by technical fall, 17-0, to move on to the finals. In the finals, Williams won by decision, 5-0, over Brandon Valley’s Carson Askdal for the Region title. Williams brings a 44-12 season record into State.
DeCou managed to claim the Region title at 132 pounds by first receiving a bye before facing Vermillion’s Ryne Whisler in the semi-finals. DeCou pinned Whisler in 5:31 to secure his spot in the finals. In the first place match, DeCou took on Jack Smith of Brandon Valley and won by decision, 4-2, to claim the Region title. DeCou also recorded his 150th win at Regions. DeCou brings a 46-6 season record into State.
Another Region title was captured by the Orioles’ Zebell at 182 pounds. Zebell began with a pin over Beresford/Alcester-Hudson’s Alex Jensen in 15 seconds. In the semi-finals, Zebell won by fall in 1:55 over Dakota Valley’s Sam Wente to advance to the final round. In the match for first place, Zebell won by decision, 1-0, over Vermillion’s Brett Culver to claim the Region title. Zebell brings a 41-11 season record into State.
Lennox’s Stoebner also found himself in the Region Championship match after first receiving a bye at Regions and then defeating Dakota Valley’s Robert Streeter by fall in 1:34 in the quarterfinals. He then won by decision, 5-1, over Brandon Valley’s Kobi Terpstra to reach the Championship round. In the finals, undefeated Carlos Ruffo of Yankton won in a tight one by decision, 2-1 over Stoebner, giving Stoebner second place at Regions. Stoebner brings a 42-6 season record into State.
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