RAPID CITY – A pair of Aberdeen Central girls’ wrestlers have assured themselves a spot on the podium with a pair of victories to open the first day of action at the girls’ wrestling state tournament at the Monument.

Madison Little (100 pounds) and Lilly Nelson (165) each wrestled their way into the semifinals of their respective weight classes. The two were the lone Golden Eagles to advance out of the quarterfinal round. 

“Mixed feelings about the day,” said Central coach Jake Flakus. “Some girls performed well, and others couldn’t quite get there.”

Four others, including Jasmine Maas (126), Allison Neitzel (132), Rakyrah Wallace (138) and Lin Paw Jone (145), won their first-round matches, but dropped their quarterfinal bouts and will compete in the wrestlebacks when action resumes today.

“Our first round, I thought we wrestled well,” Flakus said. “Second round, I thought we came out a little flat in some of those matches.”

While Little and Nelson are assured of a spot on the podium, all nine of Central’s wrestlers remain alive for today’s action and still have a shot at a placing match.

A handful of other area wrestlers also advanced to the semis, including a pair of Doland wrestlers in Kyla Logan (138) and Reganne Miles (165). Groton’s Liza Krueger, last year’s third place finisher at 100 pounds, is also on to the semis at that same weight.

Sully Buttes’s Cateri Yellow Hawk (126) is also back in the semis after finishing third a year ago, while Webster’s Brooke Grajczyk advanced at 145. Grajczyk was third at 138 a year ago.

Vi Anderson of Sisseton also advanced at 114 for the Redmen.

Day 2 of the three-day state tournament begins today.

To see complete first day results: https://www.trackwrestling.com/predefinedtournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&TIM=1740712544370&pageName=%2Fpredefinedtournaments%2FTournamentHub.jsp&twSessionId=azxrhbjzeh