HARRISBURG – Aberdeen Central came within a match of a runner-up finish at the Eastern South Dakota Conference girls’ wrestling tournament Thursday night, but instead finished in fourth place, a mere five and a half points back of second-place Harrisburg.

“In a tournament that close, it all comes down to a match,” said Central coach Jake Flakus. “If we flip one of those matches against Watertown, we would have finished second.”

Pierre, claimed the top spot by a fair distance, but three teams – Central, Harrisburg and Watertown – duked it out for the next three spots. Harrisburg ended in second with 125.5 points, followed by Watertown at 125 and Central with 120.

Flakus admitted there was a tinge of disappointment amongst his squad despite a number of top individual finishes.

“It’s a little disheartening,” Flakus said, “but it can easily flip the other way in our favor at state.”

Central finished with one individual champion in Madyson Gillen at 107 pounds, three runner-ups – Lin Paw Jone (145), Katrina Gibson (165) and Lilly Nelson (185) – and four third place finishers – Allison Neitzel (126), Jasmine Maas (132), Rakyrah Wallace (138) and Nina Howard (250).

Gillen’s title came in swift fashion for the senior, who got a bye in the quarterfinals. She earned a pin in 19 seconds in the semis and needed just 12 seconds for the fall in the championship match.

“She only wrestled for 31 seconds,” Flakus said. “She wanted it, and went out there and put the girls on their backs.”

Flakus also noted the efforts of Jone and Neitzel. Jone, in particular, earned a big win over Sammie Reil of Harrisburg in the semifinals to claim a spot in the championship bout at 145 pounds.

“She had lost to her twice already,” Flakus said. “But she did what she needed to do, and got a big takedown at the right time.”

After a rough start to the year, Neitzel’s season began an upward swing starting with the Bismarck Rotary tournament, Flakus said. 

“She lost in the semis but came back and got two pins in a row,” he said. “She’s come a long way this year.”

Central will turn its attention to the state tournament Feb. 22-24 in Sioux Falls.

“Hopefully we can keep that momentum rolling,” Flakus said.

107 – Madyson Gillen (35-11) placed 1st.

Quarterfinal – Madyson Gillen (Aberdeen Central) 35-11 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal – Madyson Gillen (Aberdeen Central) 35-11 won by fall over Susu Kamara (Harrisburg) 19-15 (Fall 0:19)

1st Place Match – Madyson Gillen (Aberdeen Central) 35-11 won by fall over Brooklynn Randall (Watertown) 28-14 (Fall 0:12)

120 – Ula Martin (20-19)

Quarterfinal – Ula Martin (Aberdeen Central) 20-19 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal – Danny Borja (Mitchell) 34-6 won by fall over Ula Martin (Aberdeen Central) 20-19 (Fall 3:58)

Cons. Semi – Hayden Thomas (Watertown) 22-20 won by decision over Ula Martin (Aberdeen Central) 20-19 (Dec 2-0)

126 – Allison Neitzel (28-18) placed 3rd.

Quarterfinal – Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) 28-18 won by fall over Liliana Luque (Mitchell) 9-17 (Fall 0:24)

Semifinal – Lexie Hillmer (Pierre TF Riggs) 29-7 won by fall over Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) 28-18 (Fall 3:13)

Cons. Semi – Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) 28-18 won by fall over Kmui Paw (Huron) 7-22 (Fall 0:40)

3rd Place Match – Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) 28-18 won by fall over Ramsie Hinricher (Brookings) 21-17 (Fall 1:52)

132 – Jasmine Maas (37-12) placed 3rd.

Quarterfinal – Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) 37-12 won by fall over Jeryn Fieber (Watertown) 4-21 (Fall 0:36)

Semifinal – Brenna Reker (Brandon Valley) 26-16 won by decision over Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) 37-12 (Dec 14-13)

Cons. Semi – Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) 37-12 won by fall over Teagan Bowers (Harrisburg) 11-19 (Fall 2:18)

3rd Place Match – Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) 37-12 won by fall over Cierra Strand (Brookings) 23-10 (Fall 1:31)

138 – Rakyrah Wallace (21-19) placed 3rd.

Quarterfinal – Rakyrah Wallace (Aberdeen Central) 21-19 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal – Katelyn Yexley (Watertown) 28-14 won by major decision over Rakyrah Wallace (Aberdeen Central) 21-19 (MD 13-0)

Cons. Semi – Rakyrah Wallace (Aberdeen Central) 21-19 won by decision over Jayda Steinke (Pierre TF Riggs) 16-15 (Dec 4-1)

3rd Place Match – Rakyrah Wallace (Aberdeen Central) 21-19 won by decision over Addi Viox (Harrisburg) 1-3 (Dec 9-7)

145 – Lin Paw Jone (25-19) placed 2nd.

Quarterfinal – Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) 25-19 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal – Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) 25-19 won by decision over Sammie Reil (Harrisburg) 23-11 (Dec 6-3)

1st Place Match – Ireland Templeton (Pierre TF Riggs) 26-4 won by decision over Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) 25-19 (Dec 8-3)

152 – Grace Reszler (13-15) placed 4th.

Quarterfinal – Grace Reszler (Aberdeen Central) 13-15 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal – Abbigail Lewis (Pierre TF Riggs) 37-0 won by fall over Grace Reszler (Aberdeen Central) 13-15 (Fall 0:59)

Cons. Semi – Grace Reszler (Aberdeen Central) 13-15 received a bye () (Bye)

3rd Place Match – April Peterson (Watertown) 26-12 won by decision over Grace Reszler (Aberdeen Central) 13-15 (Dec 7-2)

165 – Katrina Gibson (36-8) placed 2nd.

Quarterfinal – Katrina Gibson (Aberdeen Central) 36-8 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal – Katrina Gibson (Aberdeen Central) 36-8 won by fall over Taylor DeJong (Mitchell) 27-10 (Fall 4:25)

1st Place Match – Maizy Mathis (Brookings) 21-2 won by fall over Katrina Gibson (Aberdeen Central) 36-8 (Fall 2:36)

185 – Lilly Nelson (33-14) placed 2nd.

Quarterfinal – Lilly Nelson (Aberdeen Central) 33-14 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal – Lilly Nelson (Aberdeen Central) 33-14 won by fall over Tayla Schiltz (Harrisburg) 6-15 (Fall 0:18)

1st Place Match – Allison Konrad (Watertown) 40-2 won by fall over Lilly Nelson (Aberdeen Central) 33-14 (Fall 1:55)

250 – Nina Howard (15-22) placed 3rd.

Quarterfinal – Nina Howard (Aberdeen Central) 15-22 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal – Heavenly Thompson (Pierre TF Riggs) 21-18 won by fall over Nina Howard (Aberdeen Central) 15-22 (Fall 4:36)

Cons. Semi – Nina Howard (Aberdeen Central) 15-22 received a bye () (Bye)

3rd Place Match – Nina Howard (Aberdeen Central) 15-22 won by decision over Sally Beal (Brandon Valley) 4-11 (Dec 7-3)