Six LHS wrestlers qualify for State after strong showing at Regions: Rohrer, Thoms, Rasmussen to represent LHS girls Williams, Larson, Fergen to represent LHS boys

The Lennox High School wrestling teams turned in an impressive performance at the Region meets last week, with six Oriole wrestlers qualifying for the State Tournament after top podium finishes.

The girls competed Thursday, Feb. 19 at Elk Point-Jefferson, qualifying three athletes, while the boys took to the mat Friday, Feb. 20 at the Region 2A Meet, also qualifying three. Both teams will now prepare for the State Tournament at the Denny Sanford Premier Center Feb. 26-28.

The girls began their Regions on Thursday, Feb. 19 at Elk Point Jefferson. All four competing reached the podium, with three earning bids to State.

Roseria Rohrer, competing at 140 pounds, claimed the Region Champion Title, punching her ticket to State. Rohrer dominated her bracket en route to the title; after receiving a first-round bye, she pinned Brooklyn Robinson of Marion/Freeman in 20 seconds in the quarterfinals and followed with a fall over Grace Carson of Brandon Valley in 1:36 in the semifinals. In the championship match, Rohrer needed just 29 seconds to pin Ellie Stofferahn of McCook Central/Montrose and claim the title.

Rohrer will open her State Tournament run against Lead-Deadwood’s Eddy Adkins.

Jocelyn Thoms, competing at 130 pounds, earned third place at Regions securing her spot at State. Thoms battled back after a semifinal loss to secure her State spot. She opened with a 52-second pin of Taylor Kayser of Hanson before falling in the semifinals to Regina Stoeser of Harrisburg due to an injury. In consolation action, Thoms advanced with a forfeit over Sofia Delgado of Yankton. Thoms sealed her State qualification with a pin of Marin Rhode of Canton in 2:30 in the third-place match.

Thoms is set to face Brenna Reker of Brandon Valley in the opening round at State.

Nika Rasmussen placed fourth at 115 pounds to earn her trip to State. After a bye, she posted an 8-0 major decision over Soobin Seo of Sioux Falls Lincoln in the quarterfinals. Following a semifinal loss to Canton’s Nayelia Ortega, Rasmussen rebounded with a 12-0 major decision over Avery Christensen of Brandon Valley in the consolation semifinals before finishing fourth, falling to Chole Caton of Yankton by decision, 12-6 in the third/fourth place match. Rasmussen will meet Canton’s Nayeli Ortega again in the opening round at State.

Marin Bartscher finished sixth at 135 pounds at Regions, narrowly missing State qualification. 

For the LHS boys, four wrestlers reached the podium with three advancing to State during the Region 2A Meet held in Harrisburg on Friday, Feb. 20. 

Ramsey Williams secured his State berth with a runner-up finish at 150 pounds. After a bye, he defeated Lincoln Peters of Harrisburg, by decision, 7-3 in the semifinals before falling to Braden Shoemaker of Brandon Valley in the championship match by decision, 8-1. 

Ranked third at 150 pounds entering State, Williams will face Madison’s Levi Quam in the opening round.

Grant Larson fought back through the consolation bracket to finish third at 175 pounds at Regions. He opened with a 24-second pin of Zayden Lee from Sioux Falls Washington before dropping a semifinal match to Tayge Privett of Harrisburg by decision, 6-1. Larson responded with a 16-0 technical fall over Corbin Sayler of Yankton and another technical fall, 16-1, over Bennett Lukken of Dakota Valley in the third-place match.

Ranked fifth at 175 pounds, Larson will begin his State Tournament against Rapid City Stevens’ Samuel Brink.

Kedren Fergen earned fourth place at 138 pounds to qualify for State. After a bye, he pinned Brandon Valley’s Braylon Bach in the quarterfinals. Following a semifinal loss to Harrisburg’s Steven Lamont, Fergen secured his State spot with a 56-second pin over Braxton Beach of Vermillion in the consolation semifinals. In the third/fourth place match, Fergen lost by technical fall, 20-2, to Mekhi Morgado of Sioux Falls Washington, giving him fourth.  

Fergen will face Harrisburg’s Steven Lamont in his State opening match. 

Cade Aasheim placed fifth at 132 pounds, just missing qualification. After falling in the quarterfinals, he rebounded in the consolation bracket with a pin of Gunnar Deffenbaugh of Brandon Valley. Aasheim lost in the consolation semifinals to Vermillion’s Matt Roob by decision, 7-1. He closed his tournament with a pin over Escher Ellenbecker of Sioux Falls Lincoln in the fifth-place match.

Others competing for Lennox at Regions but unable to make the podium included Sullivan Weeldreyer (106), Preston Otte (144), and Nate Airens (157).

The State Tournament for all classes will be held Thursday, Feb. 26 through Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. On Thursday, weigh-ins begin at 7:30 a.m. with the first round matches set to get underway at 10 a.m. The quarterfinal matches continue in the afternoon at 4 p.m. On Friday, weigh-ins begin at 7 a.m. with first round consolation and second round consolation matches beginning at 9:30 a.m. At 3 p.m. the semifinals and third round consolation matches will begin followed by the fourth round consolation matches. 

On Saturday, weigh-ins begin at 7:30 a.m. with place matches beginning at 10 a.m. At 1 p.m. Championship matches begin.