Lennox youth wrestling crowns five champions at SD State Tournament

The Lennox Youth Wrestling Program delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association (SDWCA) State Tournament, held March 20–22 at the Sioux Falls Arena. More than 1,900 wrestlers from across the state competed for AAU and USA state titles, with Lennox represented by a strong field of 20 athletes.

Sixteen Lennox wrestlers qualified to compete in the AAU Folkstyle Tournament: Parx Fergen, Liam Atkins, Tharyn Schmidt, Crew DeJong, Mason VandeHoef, Lincoln Schmidt‑Hinrichs, Daeston Fergen, Marin Bartscher, Khloe Sauers, Cason Zens, Ayden Schmidt, Carsyn Schmidt, Jase Thoms, RJ VandeHoef, Maverick Mellegard, and Ben Hanson. Four additional Lennox athletes—Nika Rasmussen, Rosearia Rohrer, Kedren Fergen, and Grant Larson—earned spots in the USA Freestyle Tournament.

Lennox athletes made their presence known, with 12 of the 20 wrestlers reaching the podium. Five Lennox competitors captured state championship titles: Daeston Fergen, Cason Zens, Khloe Sauers, Rosearia Rohrer, and Grant Larson.

Parx Fergen finished as a state runner‑up, while Marin Bartscher earned a fifth‑place finish. Crew DeJong and Liam Atkins both placed sixth. Kedren Fergen and Nika Rasmussen finished seventh in their respective divisions, and Tharyn Schmidt rounded out the podium finishes with an eighth‑place result.

The Lennox Youth AAU Wrestling Program is led by head coach Derek Schmidt, with assistance from Ethan Kanable. Their guidance and dedication continue to help develop young athletes and maintain Lennox’s strong tradition in youth wrestling.