PIERRE – Aberdeen Central won its first region wrestling title in nearly a decade while qualifying all 14 wrestlers for the Class A state tournament after a top-tier performance at the Region 3A boys’ wrestling tournament Saturday.

“We’re taking all 14,” said Central coach Donnie Bowden. “We did that last year, but then it’s been a while. The time before that was when we won the state tournament (2014).”

Central put 12 of the 14 through to the finals of Saturday’s brackets and came away with five champions and seven runner-ups. The Golden Eagles also had one third place finisher and one fourth.

“That’s always the goal,” Bowden said, “to get all 14 qualified. Twelve in the finals, that’s a pretty good day.”

Central got championship efforts from Esten Foss (106), Porter Lozenski (120), Rayden Zens (126), Mason Schrempp (157) and Ayden Gisi (215).

Tate Huff (132), Ridley Waldo (138), Owen Ward (144), Elias Biegler (165), Ryker Meister (175), Cole Dunlavy (190) and Bryce Beitelspacher (285) all finished in second, while Grayden Timm (150) was third and Paxton Ewing (113) finished in fourth.

Together, those efforts earned the Golden Eagles a 277.5 to 261.5 margin of victory over Pierre in the team standings. 

“That’s the first time we’ve won a region (title) since 2015,” Bowden said. “So it’s been a while. Seemed like we were always the bridesmaid to Pierre.”

Bowden said it was nice to see his team focused and prepared for Saturday’s action and expects it to continue into next weekend’s state tournament.

“Very proud of them all,” he said. “They stood there and fought. They’re dinged up; it’s the end of the year, but they narrowed that focus and went in there and fought for each other.”

The Class A and B boys’ and girls’ state wrestling tournaments will begin Thursday morning at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls with the place and championship matches slated for Saturday.

Central results

106: Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) – 1st

Quarterfinals – Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) received a bye

Semifinals – Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) over Gable Uhrig (Pierre T.F. Riggs) (Dec 9-3)

1st Place Match – Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) over Kale Hofer (Mitchell) (Dec 7-4)

113: Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) – 4th

Quarterfinals – Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) over Ryder Siedschlag (Huron) (Fall 1:11)

Semifinals – Kayden Tchida (Sisseton) over Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 6-1)

Cons. Semis – Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) over Evan Folk (Milbank) (Dec 2-1)

3rd Place Match – Walker West (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) (TF 23-6 5:00)

120: Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) – 1st

Quarterfinals – Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) over Crayton Siedschlag (Huron) (Dec 8-2)

Semifinals – Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) over Blake Steiner (Sisseton) (Fall 1:25)

1st Place Match – Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) over Owen Fischer (Milbank) (Dec 6-0)

126: Rayden Zens (Aberdeen Central) – 1st

Quarterfinals – Rayden Zens (Aberdeen Central) over Patrick Iron Cloud (Todd County) (Fall 1:22)

Semifinals – Rayden Zens (Aberdeen Central) over Jacob Johnson (Milbank) (Fall 3:35)

1st Place Match – Rayden Zens (Aberdeen Central) over Ian Metz (Sisseton) (Fall 3:46)

132: Tate Huff (Aberdeen Central) – 2nd

Quarterfinals – Tate Huff (Aberdeen Central) received a bye

Semifinals – Tate Huff (Aberdeen Central) over Van  Johnson (Mitchell) (TF 15-0 4:43)

1st Place Match – Alex Oedekoven (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Tate Huff (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 7-4)

138: Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) – 2nd

Quarterfinals – Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) over Boe Iverson (Sisseton) (TF 16-1 5:54)

Semifinals – Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) over Xavier Donovan (Chamberlain) (MD 11-2)

1st Place Match – Tristan Spencer (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 3-1)

144: Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) – 2nd

Champ. Round 1 – Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) received a bye

Quarterfinals – Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) over Evan Mitchell (Mitchell) (Fall 1:11)

Semifinals – Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) over Kruse Brennan (Chamberlain) (TF 16-0 4:00)

1st Place Match – Holden Hawkins (Sisseton) over Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) (MD 11-3)

150: Grayden Timm (Aberdeen Central) – 3rd

Quarterfinals – Grayden Timm (Aberdeen Central) over Justin Muehler (Sisseton) (Fall 3:38)

Semifinals – Joe French (Milbank) over Grayden Timm (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 9-6)

Cons. Semis – Grayden Timm (Aberdeen Central) over Brock Moser (Pierre T.F. Riggs) (Dec 5-0)

3rd Place Match – Grayden Timm (Aberdeen Central) over Sutton Powers (Chamberlain) (Fall 1:55)

157: Mason Schrempp (Aberdeen Central) – 1st

Quarterfinals – Mason Schrempp (Aberdeen Central) received a bye

Semifinals – Mason Schrempp (Aberdeen Central) over TJ Lien (Huron) (Fall 0:42)

1st Place Match – Mason Schrempp (Aberdeen Central) over Jaxon Ducheneaux (Pierre T.F. Riggs) (Dec 13-8)

165: Elias Biegler (Aberdeen Central) – 2nd

Quarterfinals – Elias Biegler (Aberdeen Central) over Lucas  Chaparro (Huron) (Fall 1:43)

Semifinals – Elias Biegler (Aberdeen Central) over Kaiden  Allen (Mitchell) (Fall 2:21)

1st Place Match – Lucas Chamberlin (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Elias Biegler (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 5:14)

175: Ryker Meister (Aberdeen Central) – 2nd

Quarterfinals – Ryker Meister (Aberdeen Central) over Dusty Rose (Chamberlain) (Fall 3:23)

Semifinals – Ryker Meister (Aberdeen Central) over Tate Schlueter (Milbank) (Fall 5:00)

1st Place Match – Trey Lewis (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Ryker Meister (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:07)

190: Cole Dunlavy (Aberdeen Central) – 2nd

Quarterfinals – Cole Dunlavy (Aberdeen Central) over Ryan  Farlee (Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Dupree/Tiospaye Topa) (Fall 0:18)

Semifinals – Cole Dunlavy (Aberdeen Central) over Jesse Schneck (Milbank) (MD 12-1)

1st Place Match – Chance Carda (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Cole Dunlavy (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 3:11)

215: Ayden Gisi (Aberdeen Central) – 1st

Quarterfinals – Ayden Gisi (Aberdeen Central) over Noah Bury (Chamberlain) (Fall 0:22)

Semifinals – Ayden Gisi (Aberdeen Central) over Bryan  Ramirez (Huron) (Fall 0:53)

1st Place Match – Ayden Gisi (Aberdeen Central) over Elijah Boutchee (Pierre T.F. Riggs) (Dec 3-0)

285: Bryce Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) – 2nd

Quarterfinals – Bryce Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) over Cooper Gerard (Chamberlain) (Fall 0:27)

Semifinals – Bryce Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) over Lucas Colman (Pierre T.F. Riggs) (Fall 2:49)

1st Place Match – Rocky Clark (Mitchell) over Bryce Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) (SV-1 2-4)