Experience meets youth as Tea Area wrestling builds toward another State run

The Tea Area High School wrestling program enters the 2025 season with a mix of youthful energy and proven talent. Under the leadership of Head Coach John Niesen, now in his 10th year guiding the Titans, the team looks to build on last year’s strong showing that culminated in a 6th-place finish at the State Tournament. Niesen holds an overall record of 100–75 at Tea Area.

Niesen brings a deep coaching background to the program. He began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Madison and Dell Rapids from 2009 to 2014 while attending college. He then spent two seasons at DC West in Valley, NE, serving one year as an assistant coach and another as head coach. Since 2016, he has led the Titans’ program, building it into a consistent contender.

He is joined this season by assistant coaches Jacob Nikolaisen, Todd Gannon, Josh Sundall, Jordan Biehn, and Blake Bietz.

The Titans will work to fill several key vacancies after graduating a highly accomplished group, including:

Dawson Eimers – 3rd Place at State; Gabriel Bastemeyer – 4th Place; Parker Wilson – 7th Place; Sam Werdel – 2x State Champion; and Braeden Dunkelberger – State Qualifier. 

Despite the losses, Tea Area returns an exceptional core on both the boys’ and girls’ sides.

Returning for the boys will be State Champion and four-time medalist, Tyler Woodring. Woodring recently committed to wrestle at Augustana. Also returning will be last year’s State Runner-Up, Chase DeBoer. Slater Wilson returns after finishing fourth at State last year; Jeremiah Wilgers returns after an eighth-place finish at State last year, and both State qualifiers, Kade Eimers and Henry Fortin return. 

For the girls, Lainey Haines, who finished seventh at State last year, will return, and Emery Voelker, a state qualifier also returns. 

These athletes will anchor a roster that blends seasoned leadership with enthusiastic newcomers.

“We’re going to be on the younger end of the spectrum as a team this year, but we’ve got a great core-group of kids who are committed to each other and fierce competitors,” said Niesen. “Our primary focus is going to be on being the best version of ourselves and doing things the right way. It’ll be fun to see some new faces in the lineup and let the kids showcase what they can do. “

The Titans expect to benefit from improved depth across a wider range of weight classes compared to past years. Coach Niesen noted the roster’s “ton of flexibility” as a key advantage heading into the season.

2025 Team Roster is as follows (*denotes returner): 

BOYS TEAM—Kyler Audiss (7), Trevin Audiss (10), Michael Bastemeyer (10), Raphael Bastemeyer (7), Trevor Cordell (10), Chase DeBoer (12), Kooper Dumdei (9), Kade Eimers (10), Levi Finnegan (8), Henry Fortin (9), TJ Fortin (7), Trigg Gaspar (7), Adam Giles (8), Aaron Halbur (9), Nathaniel Halbur (6), Jackson Herbek (10), Jack Hilleson (6), Beckett Hoyer (6), Braylon Hoyer (8), Brody Lee (9), Thiik Lual (10), Carver Mitchell (6), Drake Mitchell (8), Anders Munoz (8), Greyson Schmidt (9), Ashton Smit (12), Mason Smit (9), Wyatt Tempel (7), Brady Voelker (7), Jaeden Waltner (12), Moris Wasesa (10), Jack Werdel (7), Jeremiah Wilgers (11), Slater Wilson (10), Mason Woodring (9), Ruger Woodring (7), Tyler Woodring (12)

GIRLS TEAM—*Sydney Brown (11), Allie Forseth (11), Lillia Matthews (11), Lainey Haines (10), Lexie Marlow (10), Lexi Duffy (9), *Emery Voelker (9), Charlie Herrboldt (7), Aliyah Steveson (7), Ella Haines (6)

The Titans will begin their 2025 season on Friday, Dec. 5 when they play host to Chamberlain and Mitchell, beginning at 6 p.m. 

On Saturday, Dec. 6 the team will be in Watertown.