The Parkston Trojans not only ripped through the State B wrestling field this past weekend, they also ripped a page out of the state record book.
Parkston accumulated a whopping 168 points to win its third-ever state team title Saturday at Wachs Arena. The point total easily surpassed the old record of 157 set by Redfield back in 1981. Philip Area was a distant second with 115 points.
"It was a great tournament for us," said Parkston coach Jared Digmann. "These kids don't stop fighting. There's not words for it. It's great."
The tourney concluded when Groton's Dalton Locke captured a state championship at heavyweight.
"It's really great to end the year on a win," Locke said. "It's been a fun ride; very eventful."
While it was the senior's first title, it was not the first time a Locke has been a state champion for Groton. Randy Locke, Dalton's uncle, was a two-time state champ back in the 70s.
"He was a heckuva wrestling back in the day," Locke said. "He's taught me it don't matter what you are or who you are, you can win a match as long as your mind is in it."
It proved to be a night that carried on all sorts of family tradition.
Brady Reiff of Parkston became the third sibling of his family to win a state championship. The sophomore spent only 2 minutes on the mat on the way to four dominating victories at 220 pounds.
"Usually I just try and go out there and wrestle my best and dominate," Reiff said. "That's what I did."
Reiff's brothers, Riley and Eric, were also state champs and both were in attendance to watch their younger brother win his first.
Riley, a first-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions, won three state titles.
"It's a tradition," Brady said. "I'm just trying to keep it going."
Life Reiff, David Kocer of Wagner knows the pressure of trying to win a state championship after having two brothers pave the way.
Kocer won his first crown by claiming the 160 pound title.
"There's been a lot of pressure the last couple of years, but I finally succeeded," Kocer said.
His brother Alex was a five-time state champ and his other brother Ryan won three state titles.
"I don't want to be left out," Kocer said. "It feels awesome. It's what I've been waiting for."
There were actually two brothers who both walked away as state champs Saturday night.
Tri-Valley's Ryan Schuman at 126 pounds and Zach Schuman at 152 pounds topped the competition.
"Me and Ryan are completely different people," Zach said. "We function a lot different. It's great to see him go out there and get a win. That almost takes the pressure off once he wins. It kind of comforts me a little bit."
Ryan won his second straight state title. He ended up having to defeat defending state champ Nolan Richie of Webster in the semifinals.
"It was difficult," Schuman said. "He wanted it just as bad as I did. It's not easy to beat a two-time state champ in the semifinals."
Alex Davies of Canton also carried on some family tradition. The 145-pound junior not only won his second state title, he also did it in the same building where his brother, Tom won a championship in 2008.
"I always think about stuff like that before matches," Davies said.
When asked who would win a match between the two if they rolled out the mat today, Alex did not hesitate before saying, "He'd probably pin me in about 10 seconds."
Luke Loudenburg of Howard and Eugene Martin of Kingsbury County also were repeat champions on the night.
Loudenburg, who won the 106-pound title last season, claimed the 120 crown this year.
"It's a lot different," Loudenburg said. "It's a lot harder wrestling heavier guys and trying to move them instead of the lighter guys.
Martin, who will compete for Southwest Minnesota State next season, said the current title meant more to him than last year's championship.
"This last one was just a lot more memorable, the last match of my high school career," Martin said after winning the 195-pound championship.
The senior lost just one match all season en route to the title.
"I just go out there with my head on straight and give it everything I've got every match," Martin said.
Beresford's Josh Casperson was selected the Outstanding Wrestler of the tourney after his run to the 182 championship. Casperson defeated a pair of one-loss wrestlers in the event.
"I just stayed low and stuck to my game plan," Casperson said.
He was still trying to absorb the Outstanding Wrestler award following the action.
"I don't even know what to say," Casperson said. "I don't even have words for it."
Wagner's Tyler Dion captured one of the most exciting finals, by outscoring Tate Lacey of Flandreau 16-10 at 138 pounds.
Dion found himself on his back twice before holding on for the win.
"I just tried to keep my composure," Dion said. I knew what to do. I just tried to hold onto his leg so that way I could scoop my hips out. I just kept calm."
There were three pins in the finals and one of them belonged to Blake Bietz of Parkston who stuck his foe at 113 pounds.
It was a memorable night for him, winning his first state title, being part of a state team championship and also helping the Trojans to the points record.
When asked which meant the most, Bietz responded, "All of them, just helping our team win the state title."
He said the points record was meaningful, but that the championship trophy meant more.
"We were just mostly trying to win matches and trying to win the tournament," Bietz said.
Other state champions on the night were Duncan Stoebner of Bon Homme at 106, Austin Oyen of Tri-Valley at 132, and Tate Novotny of Winner at 170.
Aberdeen Roncalli's Tyson Mitzel finished third at 160. He dropped a heart-breaking 12-11 decision in the semifinals before rebounding to win his last two matches.
"He had one little slip up. That's the way it is in wrestling," said Roncalli coach Justin Briese. "He wrestled a great tournament. He came back and he wrestled strong. He talks about being mentally tough and he was."
State B champs
|Saturday in Aberdeen|
106: Bon Homme sophomore Duncan Stoebner (41-0) def. Hot Springs eight-grader Brice Harkless (36-8), 3-2.
113: Parkston eighth-grader Blake Bietz (47-3) pinned Bon Homme freshman Alex Caba (36-10), 5:27.
120: Howard sophomore Luke Loudenburg (49-1) def. Burke/Gregory sophomore Kurt Braun (34-2), 11-0.
126: Tri-Valley junior Ryan Schuman (54-1) def. Bon Homme senior Lincoln Stoebner (39-4), 4-1.
132: Tri-Valley senior Austin Oyen (49-2) def. Clark/Willow Lake junior Jakob Weisbrod (39-2), 11-6.
138: Wagner senior Tyler Dion (37-2) def. Flandreau senior Tate Lacey (40-3), 16-10.
145: Canton junior Alex Davies (50-4) pinned Parkston sophomore Weslee Dvorak (36-5), 1:22.
152: Tri-Valley senior Zach Schuman (55-1) def. Philip junior Lane Blasius (32-4), 13-4.
160: Wagner junior David Kocer (36-1) def. Philip junior Chandler Sudbeck (34-9), 3-0.
170: Winner senior Tate Novotny (42-4) def. Wagner sophomore Trevor Lensing (32-10), 13-5.
182: Beresford junior Josh Casperson, Beresford (37-4) def. Canton senior Kase Jacobs (39-2), 7-3.
195: Kingsbury County senior Eugene Martin (46-1) def. Webster senior Chad Sjurson (38-4), 12-2.
220: Parkston sophomore Brady Reiff (44-0) pinned Clark/Willow Lake senior Logan Tonak (37-2), :59.
285: Groton senior Dalton Locke (38-2) def. Harding County senior Tate Gress (31-2), 5-2.