Titans send 10 wrestlers to State: Woodring, Audiss and Steveson claim Region Titles
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The Region 1A championship performances highlighted a strong showing for the Tea Area High School wrestling teams, with 10 Titans — eight boys and two girls — earning spots at the State Tournament.
Competing Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Region 1A Tournament in Dell Rapids, the Tea Area boys qualified eight wrestlers for this week’s State Tournament.
Leading the way were two Region champions — Tyler Woodring and Trevin Audiss.
Tyler Woodring captured the 138-pound Region title to improve to a perfect 42-0 record on the season. Woodring received a forfeit in the quarterfinals, then pinned West Central’s Alex Siemonsma in 35 seconds in the semifinals. In the championship match, he earned a technical fall (17-2) over Watertown’s Kutler Swenson. Woodring enters the State Tournament as the No. 1 seed and will open against Mekhi Morgado of Sioux Falls Washington.
At 150 pounds, Trevin Audiss also stood atop the podium as Region champion. After receiving a first-round bye, Audiss pinned O’Gorman’s Liam Fitzpatrick in the quarterfinals and earned a technical fall over West Central’s Grayson Pischke in the semifinals. He sealed the title with a pin of Brookings’ Jacob Milliron in the first-place match. Audiss will begin his State Tournament run against Maverick Johnson of Rapid City Stevens.
At 175 pounds, Jeremiah Wilgers advanced to the championship match after pinning Dell Rapids’ Breck Evans in the semifinals. He finished second after falling by major decision to Watertown’s Landen Lewis. Wilgers opens State competition against Pierre’s Will Eilers.
Four other Tea Area wrestlers earned third-place finishes at Regions, securing State berths:
• Kade Eimers (113 pounds) took third place. Eimers recorded two falls and a 7-4 decision in the third-place match. At State Eimers will face Madison’s Charles Aldana.
• Aaron Halbur (120 pounds) took third place. Halbur battled back through the consolation bracket, earning a fall and a decisive 6-1 win for third. At State, Halbur will face Tyler Baldwin of Sturgis Brown.
• Slater Wilson (132 pounds) took third place. Wilson earned a technical fall in the consolation semifinals and a 4-2 decision in the third-place match. At State, Wilson will take on Dakota Valley’s Landen Adams.
• Jaeden Waltner (215 pounds) took third place. Waltner rebounded from a semifinal loss with a decision and a pin to claim third. At State, Waltner will face SFW’s Hayes Petersen.
Also qualifying for State was Trevor Cordell, who placed fourth at 157 pounds. Cordell secured a quarterfinal win and a major decision in the consolation semifinals to earn his State berth. Cordell will face Ridley Waldo of Aberdeen Central.
Other Titans competing at Regions included Ashton Smit (fifth, 190 pounds), Braylon Hoyer (fifth, 106 pounds), Michael Bastemeyer (sixth, 165 pounds), Jackson Herbek (126 pounds) and Mason Woodring (144 pounds).
The Tea Area girls competed at their Region Tournament on Thursday, Feb. 19, with two Titans advancing to State.
Aliyah Steveson captured the 100-pound Region championship. After receiving a bye, she pinned Brookings’ Claire Milliron in 1:29 in the semifinals and secured the title with a fall over Sisseton’s Clara Iverson in 5:30. Steveson will face Clara Iverson again in her opening State match.
At 125 pounds, Emery Voelker placed fourth to qualify for State. Voelker earned two pins during the tournament, including a 25-second fall in the consolation semifinals. She will open State competition against Moo B. Say of Huron.
Also competing for the Titan girls were Charlie Herrboldt, who placed fifth, and Lexi Duffy, who did not reach the podium.
The South Dakota State Wrestling Tournament for all classes will be held Thursday, Feb. 26 through Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.
Thursday weigh-ins begin at 7:30 a.m., with first-round matches at 10 a.m. Quarterfinals resume at 4 p.m. Friday’s action begins with 7 a.m. weigh-ins and matches at 9:30 a.m., followed by semifinals at 3 p.m. Championship matches are set for 1 p.m. Saturday following 7:30 a.m. weigh-ins and place matches at 10 a.m.
With multiple Region champions and several podium finishers, the Titans head to Sioux Falls with momentum and strong State aspirations.