REDFIELD – Grady Fey understands the ups and downs of high school athletics.

The Redfield senior has experienced success, as well as heartbreak, during his career on the football field and wrestling mat for the Pheasants. However, he has enjoyed the sport of wrestling more for obvious reasons.

“I’ve had a lot of success with it over the years,” Fey said. “I take a lot of pride in it and just enjoy doing it.”

Fey has seen himself improve in many ways throughout his wrestling career, which has helped him defeat some tough opponents.

“Learning different techniques and getting better at my own stuff that I need to work on more,” Fey said of his progress through the years. “I’m able to go out and be a pretty solid guy in our lineup as a young kid and beating some older kids, it felt cool. Being able to improve is something I’ve always done and I really like going out there and winning as many matches as I can.”

Early on, Fey was able to hold his own, and during his eighth-grade year, he finished in eighth place at the state wrestling tournament in the 220-pound weight class. Fey returned to the state tournament as a freshman in 2021, hoping to improve on his finish from the year before. However, the tournament did not go as planned.

“I went in ranked fifth and in the (quarterfinals) I fell to a kid that had beaten me pretty much all year, so I figured I could go get a pretty good wrestlebacks match to get myself into the placings,” Fey said.

However, Fey also fell in the wrestlebacks, and after failing to place, left the tournament disappointed with his efforts.

Despite a tough finish to his freshman campaign, Fey refused to give in. He made it back to the state tournament as a sophomore, but this time it was a much different result as he wrestled his way to the state championship match in the 285-pound weight class, where he fell to Quinten Christensen of Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington.

Last season as a junior, Fey saw both success and heartbreak. During the football season, the Pheasants experienced playoff success by earning a narrow 7-6 win over Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central in the opening round of the Class 11B playoffs, before falling to eventual champion Elk Point-Jefferson in the quarterfinal round, 42-0.

Redfield finished the season with a 6-4 record, and despite losing in the playoffs, Fey said the experience of winning with his teammates was special.

“We haven’t had a whole lot of success with football during my time, so it was really fun just to win some games with my friends,” Fey said. “Being able to go out and have a home crowd and everything is really fun.”

Once the football season was over, it was back to the wrestling mat, where Fey once again proved to be among the best in the state. For the second consecutive year, he wrestled his way to the state championship; and for the second consecutive year, it was the same result. Fey fell to Canton’s Traun Cook in the 285-pound title match, once again tasting bitter defeat on the state’s biggest stage.

While the back-to-back runner-up finishes have been hard on Fey, he has tried to focus on the future instead of the past.

“It’s definitely heartbreaking, for sure, but I try not to focus on it,” Fey said of the two runner-up finishes. “Can’t be worried about stuff like that anymore. I’m just going go out and do my best this year.”

This season, Fey has continued to prove that he is one of the best wrestlers in the state as he is currently the top-rated wrestler in the 285-pound weight class with a record of 42-0 as the region tournament nears this weekend. He says the state championship losses have motivated him to take care of the unfinished business he has in his career.

“I’ve just got one last time to go get it done and nothing to lose anymore, so can’t leave anything hanging,” Fey said. “So, I’m just ready to go out and get mine.”

Fey says he knows what will need to done to get through the region and state tournaments to win the coveted title.

“Staying ready, staying mentally prepared, and not doing any dumb moves or anything, and (being) technically sound,” Fey said.

After his high school days are completed, Fey plans on extending his wrestling career to the collegiate level at Northern State where he plans on pursuing a degree in Business Administration. He then plans on returning to the family farm to take over the farming operations there.

When reflecting on his time in athletics at Redfield, Fey says he is grateful for those that have helped him represent the community on the wrestling mat.

“I’m just grateful for everyone that has come back to help the program and help everyone out,” Fey said. “It’s something that not a lot of towns get to experience. I’m grateful for everything that has been available to me here, and it’s really nice to be from a wrestling town.”