In a final tune-up before the state dual tourney, Aberdeen Central looked to be in prime form at Golden Eagles Arena Thursday night.

The Golden Eagles recorded pins in five of the six contested matches on the way to a 54-12 Eastern South Dakota Conference girls’ wrestling win over Brookings.

“Their mission was to pin their girl and that’s what they did,” said Central coach Jake Flakus. “We talked all week that getting ready for the unofficial girls’ state duals (on Friday), that if we get a girl on their back we need to pin them. That’s what we’ve been working all week in practice and that’s what we did tonight.”

It started at 114 pounds where Madyson Gillen stuck her foe in the opening period, setting off a string of wins by fall for the Eagles.

“It gives me motivation, the confidence,” said Central junior Ula Martin, who also recorded a first-period pin at 120 after watching Gillen. “She’s a big leader. She’s a very important role to the team. I’m very appreciative of her.”

Martin had a big smile on her face on the way to pinning her opponent.

“I like my pins. I like my pins. I like winning,” Martin said. “I take losses and I’ll even smile through those, too.”

While Gillen motivated Martin, it was Martin who helps to push Allison Neitzel, who also won by fall at 126.

“Picking your practice partner is probably one of the most important things,” Neitzel said, ” because you need someone who’s going to push you.”

Neitzel said she picked Martin, who helps to make her better.

“Anytime we’re drilling, she just pushes the pace and I like that, and I like that when we do shots, she defends them,” Neitzel said. “We’re like on the same brain-wave all the time.”

Neitzel said she tries to get more shots and throws in than what she did against her Brookings foe, but it still worked out just fine.

“I threw her in a headlock, but that was kind of a last-resort thing,” Neitzel said. “She was trying to work on my head and I felt the pressure, so I just went.”

Central also received pins from Jasmine Maas and Katrina Gibson.

The Eagles will face Watertown in the opening round of the dual tournament today in Canton (which will be livestreamed). The teams split two matches during the regular season.

“We need to come out ready to wrestle,” Flakus said, “and I think tonight was a big confidence booster for that.”

100 – Claire Milliron, B, won by forfeit.

107 – no match

114 – Madyson Gillen, AC, pinned Lilly Toft, 1:35.

120 – Ula Martin, AC, pinned MaKenna Hudy, 1:42.

126 – Allison Neitzel, AC, pinned Ramsie Hinricher, 2:21.

132 – Jasmine Maas, AC, pinned Cierra Strand, 3:39.

138 – Rakyrah Wallace, AC, won by forfeit.

145 – Johanna Steinlicht, B, pinned Lin Paw Jone, 1:59.

152 – Grace Reszler, AC, won by forfeit.

165 – Katrina Gibson, AC, pinned Maizy Mathis, 1:32.

185 – Lilly Nelson, AC, won by forfeit.

250 – Nina Howard, Ac, won by forfeit.