Aberdeen Central placed four girls in the finals led by champion Lilly Nelson, and the Golden Eagles finished second as a team at the Lee Wolf Invitational wrestling tournament on Saturday.

Central, which was second to Pierre in the team points, made a strong showing in front a large crowd at Golden Eagles Arena.

“I was really happy with the day,” said Central coach Jake Flakus. “I’m sure I could nit pick and find little matches, but I thought there was a lot more good than bad that happened today. I’m really proud of them.”

The highlight of the day for the Golden Eagles was Nelson winning the championship at 165 pounds with a second-period pin.

“I guess I just found some adrenaline,” Nelson said following the victory.

Nelson tried to explain the sequence of events that saw her overcome an early takedown to record the fall.

“I don’t know. I’m usually not that fast of a wrestler,” Nelson said, “but I think I just really wanted it today, being in front of my home crowd and everything.”

The junior said the having a large delegation of hometown fans made a big difference.

“I’m so happy. My family is here watching me today, I’ve got a lot of people supporting me,” Nelson said. “It’s good to win at home.”

She plans to use the momentum from the match as she heads into the rest of the season.

“It gives me a big confidence boost,” Nelson said. “I’m ready for ESD, regions and all those.”

It was the second win over the Lemmon opponent for Nelson, and Flakus said the matches were extremely similar.

“That was kind of the way it looked the last time we wrestled that girl out in Rapid,” Flakus said. “We give up a takedown, it was looking a little down. We just stay in the match. We find our throw and we hit it, and it paid off again.”

Central’s Allison Neitzel was involved in one of the more memorable matches on the day. She battled back from a seven-point deficit to record a win in the closing seconds in the third place match at 132 pounds.

Before her dramatic comeback, Neitzel had to nearly rearrange her teeth after crashing to the mat.

“We were scrambling and then she threw me and I landed on my head. My teeth hit,” Neitzel said. “Two of my top teeth are chipped and one on the bottom. They’re still hanging on, but they’re kind of a little crooked now.”

Neitzel said was a painful experience.

“Your teeth have so many nerves in them,” Neitzel said, “and it was really painful.”

What transpired next made Neitzel feel much better. She somehow scored eight late points, including a nearfall in the final seconds to secure a win, she didn’t even know she produced.

“I didn’t think I got that many back points on her,” Neitzel said, “because I was down by seven after injury time was ran.”

Neitzel had a surprised look on her face as she looked at the scoreboard when the match ended.

“I didn’t know that I scored eight points in 30 seconds,” she said.

Flakus was proud of the way that Neitzel battled through that match.

“Allison there at the end, had a crazy comeback,” Flakus said. “We were down by seven with only 30 seconds left. We still find a way to win even after chipping our teeth.”

Central had three second place finishes in Rakyrah Wallace, Avery Bendewald, and Madison Little.

Wallace battled before being pinned by her foe. Wallace talked about the experience of competing in front of family and friends.

“It is packed. It is a little nerve wrecking. It is my home town you know?” Wallace said. “They’re all watching me. I am a little nervous.”

The junior would like to earn a spot on the podium at state this season.

“I’m trying to place at state,” Wallace said. “I’m ranked sixth right now.”

Her effort on Saturday drew the attention of Flakus.

“I think Rakyrah Wallace has been wrestling really well,” Flakus said. “She had a runner-up finish today.”

Bendewald has only wrestled a handful of matches as she battles back from an injury.

“Avery Bendewald, who has been injured all season, and her first match back against Harrisburg was a little rough, she wrestled outstanding today,” Flakus said. “She showed a lot of heart just being out there wrestling with her wrist injury, just fighting through it.”

The Stan Opp Outstanding Wrestler Award went to Bon Homme-Scotland-Avon standout Peyton Hellmann. The senior is a four-time state champion and rated among the top five wrestlers in the country at 145 pounds.

“My goals are to finish it out strong, hopefully get my 150th pin,” Hellman said. “I’m close to that.”

She is the cousin of five-time state champion Hannon Hisek.

While Hellman obviously didn’t know Stan Opp, she was pleased to be associated with him through the award.

“It means a lot to be represented in the same aspect as him. I know he was a great wrestler,” Hellmann said. “Just to be represented as an outstanding wrestler out of all the wrestlers that are here is a big accomplishment.”

Central hosts Brookings in dual on Thursday.

To see complete tournament results, click on the following link:

https://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/predefinedtournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=902899132

Aberdeen Central results

G100: Madison Little – 2nd
Champ. Round 1 – Madison Little (Aberdeen Central) over Kayla Pageler (West Central) (Fall 1:28)
Quarterfinals – Madison Little (Aberdeen Central) over Sydney Johnson (Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon) (Fall 2:19)
Semifinals – Madison Little (Aberdeen Central) over Hailey Schafer (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) (Dec 9-4)
1st Place Match – Shaylee Speck (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Madison Little (Aberdeen Central) (MD 11-3)

G114: Arianna Goldade
Champ. Round 1 – Bailey Yost (Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington) over Arianna Goldade (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:13)
Cons. Round 1 – Arianna Goldade (Aberdeen Central) over Jullisa Moreno (Huron) (Fall 2:15)
Cons. Round 2 – Gemma Stangeland (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Arianna Goldade (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:53)

G107: Avery Bendewald – 2nd
Champ. Round 1 – Avery Bendewald (Aberdeen Central) over Morah Swartzendruber (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) (Fall 0:18)
Quarterfinals – Avery Bendewald (Aberdeen Central) over Kyliegh Schuller (West Central) (TF 21-6 4:00)
Semifinals – Avery Bendewald (Aberdeen Central) over Chalie Sah (Huron) (Fall 1:58)
1st Place Match – Olivia Anderson (Watertown) over Avery Bendewald (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 2:54)

G120: Eva Hinkle
Champ. Round 1 – Moo B Say (Huron) over Eva Hinkle (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 3:41)
Cons. Round 1 – Alexandra Schmiedt (Chamberlain) over Eva Hinkle (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 2:27)

G120: Stella Person – 8th
Champ. Round 1 – Stella Person (Aberdeen Central) over Lilyonna Erdmann (Huron) (Fall 0:43)
Quarterfinals – Harper Kracht (Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon) over Stella Person (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:09)
Cons. Round 2 – Stella Person (Aberdeen Central) over Renee Uberty (McCook Central/Montrose) (Fall 1:16)
Cons. Round 3 – Jocelyn Rumpca (Webster Area) over Stella Person (Aberdeen Central) (Inj. [time])
7th Place Match – Rae Fryer (Sisseton) over Stella Person (Aberdeen Central) (M. For.)

G120: Jashila Williams
Champ. Round 1 – Dana Wallace (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Jashila Williams (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:13)
Cons. Round 1 – Jashila Williams (Aberdeen Central) over Jersey Lewis (Pierre T.F. Riggs) (Fall 0:39)
Cons. Round 2 – Jocelyn Rumpca (Webster Area) over Jashila Williams (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 3:20)

G126: Jasmine Maas – 3rd
Champ. Round 1 – Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) over Bella Nelson (West Central) (Fall 1:33)
Quarterfinals – Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) over Mohrgan Werdel (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) (Fall 1:37)
Semifinals – Hadlee  Kracht (Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon) over Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 2:44)
Cons. Semis – Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) over Natalie Dreiske (Lemmon) (Dec 19-15)
3rd Place Match – Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) over Mohrgan Werdel (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) (Fall 1:42)

G126: Say Ri
Champ. Round 1 – Shelby Shrake (Chamberlain) over Say Ri (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:22)
Cons. Round 1 – Say Ri (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Josie Althoff (Watertown) over Say Ri (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 2:55)

G132: Wylynn Drevlow
Champ. Round 1 – Say Glay (Huron) over Wylynn Drevlow (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 4:25)
Cons. Round 1 – Wylynn Drevlow (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Evelyn Olson (Chamberlain) over Wylynn Drevlow (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:30)

G132: Jayda Hoffman – 8th
Champ. Round 1 – Jayda Hoffman (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Quarterfinals – Quinn Butler (Lemmon) over Jayda Hoffman (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:55)
Cons. Round 2 – Jayda Hoffman (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 3 – Say Glay (Huron) over Jayda Hoffman (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:00)
7th Place Match – Evelyn Olson (Chamberlain) over Jayda Hoffman (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 2:03)

G132: Allison Neitzel – 3rd
Champ. Round 1 – Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) over Brylee Garry (West Central) (Fall 0:35)
Quarterfinals – Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) over Evelyn Olson (Chamberlain) (Fall 0:50)
Semifinals – Lexie Hillmer (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:27)
Cons. Semis – Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) over Say Glay (Huron) (Fall 1:37)
3rd Place Match – Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) over Bailey Kemnitz (Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon) (Dec 15-14)

G138: Katie Maack – 6th
Champ. Round 1 – Dora Bonen (Mobridge-Pollock) over Katie Maack (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:53)
Cons. Round 1 – Katie Maack (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Katie Maack (Aberdeen Central) over Camille Rearick (Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington) (Fall 2:27)
Cons. Round 3 – Katie Maack (Aberdeen Central) over Kayla Schoolmeester (Viborg-Hurley/Irene-Wakonda) (Fall 2:09)
Cons. Semis – Hailey Fortney (West Central) over Katie Maack (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:21)
5th Place Match – Gabby Werdel (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Katie Maack (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 2:49)

G138: Rakyrah Wallace – 2nd
Champ. Round 1 – Rakyrah Wallace (Aberdeen Central) over Adalynn Gustafson (Pierre T.F. Riggs) (Fall 1:22)
Quarterfinals – Rakyrah Wallace (Aberdeen Central) over Kayla Schoolmeester (Viborg-Hurley/Irene-Wakonda) (Fall 0:29)
Semifinals – Rakyrah Wallace (Aberdeen Central) over Gabby Werdel (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) (Dec 8-4)
1st Place Match – Kezrey Benning (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Rakyrah Wallace (Aberdeen Central) (TF 16-1 4:19)

G138: Rike Wiedenhoever – 7th
Champ. Round 1 – Rike Wiedenhoever (Aberdeen Central) over Baw Eh (Huron) (Fall 1:47)
Quarterfinals – Kezrey Benning (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Rike Wiedenhoever (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:20)
Cons. Round 2 – Rike Wiedenhoever (Aberdeen Central) over Adalynn Gustafson (Pierre T.F. Riggs) (Fall 0:19)
Cons. Round 3 – Dora Bonen (Mobridge-Pollock) over Rike Wiedenhoever (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 3:54)
7th Place Match – Rike Wiedenhoever (Aberdeen Central) over Kayla Schoolmeester (Viborg-Hurley/Irene-Wakonda) (Fall 0:48)

G145: Mila Hobbs – 5th
Champ. Round 1 – Mila Hobbs (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Quarterfinals – Brooke Grajczyk (Webster Area) over Mila Hobbs (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:50)
Cons. Round 2 – Mila Hobbs (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 3 – Mila Hobbs (Aberdeen Central) over Valonny Walking Bull (Chamberlain) (Dec 7-5)
Cons. Semis – Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) over Mila Hobbs (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:50)
5th Place Match – Mila Hobbs (Aberdeen Central) over Maddie Feiock (Viborg-Hurley/Irene-Wakonda) (M. For.)

G145: Lin Paw Jone – 4th
Champ. Round 1 – Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Quarterfinals – Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) over Maddie Feiock (Viborg-Hurley/Irene-Wakonda) (Fall 2:40)
Semifinals – Peyton Hellmann (Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon) over Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:16)
Cons. Semis – Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) over Mila Hobbs (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:50)
3rd Place Match – Brooke Grajczyk (Webster Area) over Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) (MD 10-0)

G152: Grace Reszler – 4th
Champ. Round 1 – Grace Reszler (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Quarterfinals – Grace Reszler (Aberdeen Central) over Kyler Foreman (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) (Fall 1:52)
Semifinals – Abbigail Lewis (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Grace Reszler (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 2:49)
Cons. Semis – Grace Reszler (Aberdeen Central) over Nevaeh Schanbeck (Watertown) (Dec 7-2)
3rd Place Match – Samantha Dreiske (Lemmon) over Grace Reszler (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 3:54)

G185: Augustina Hieb – 5th
Champ. Round 1 – Augustina Hieb (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Quarterfinals – Kyanne Traversie-Johnson (Pierre T.F. Riggs) over Augustina Hieb (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 3:28)
Cons. Round 2 – Augustina Hieb (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 3 – Augustina Hieb (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Semis – Hope Kemnitz (Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon) over Augustina Hieb (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 2:51)
5th Place Match – Augustina Hieb (Aberdeen Central) received a bye

G165: Lilly Nelson – 1st
Champ. Round 1 – Lilly Nelson (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Quarterfinals – Lilly Nelson (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Semifinals – Lilly Nelson (Aberdeen Central) over Jayda Steinke (Pierre T.F. Riggs) (Fall 2:47)
1st Place Match – Lilly Nelson (Aberdeen Central) over Lainee Gebhart (Lemmon) (Fall 2:18)