PRESS RELEASE

Aberdeen Central announced two new head coaches for the upcoming season. Jake Flakus has been named the new girls’ wrestling coach while Eric Pedersen is the new girls’ cross country coach.

Coach Flakus is a graduate of Central High School who placed in the SDHSAA State Wrestling Meet in 2015, 2016, 2017. After graduation, he went on to wrestle at Northern State University before joining the teaching staff as a science teacher at Central High School.

Coach Flakus has been working with the Golden Eagle Wrestling Program as a volunteer for the past two seasons. His close association with the Aberdeen wrestling community will be helpful in establishing a strong girls wrestling program. Coach Flakus will begin his duties in the 2023-24 season.

Coach Pedersen graduated from Brookings High School in 2016 where he competed in cross country and track. After graduation, he attended Northern State University. He is currently in his second year of teaching special education at Central High School and is an assistant track coach.

Coach Pedersen assisted in the girls cross country program last season. He is looking forward to carrying on the strong cross country tradition at Aberdeen Central beginning in the 2023 season.