Titan qualify 11 wrestlers for State Slykhuis, Werdel named Region Champs

Following the Region 1A Wrestling Tournament in Madison on Saturday, Feb. 18, the Tea Area High School wrestling team saw ten more wrestlers punch their ticket to state, joining the lone girls representative, Brianna Johnson, who previously qualified.

The Titans saw much success at Regions with Maddix Slykhuis and Sam Werdel both claiming the Region Championship title in their respective weight classes.

Slykhuis, wrestling at 126 pounds, faced off against Madison’s Henry Meyer in the quarterfinals and won by technical fall 25-7 in 5:47. In the semifinals, Slykhuis won by decision, 17-10 over West Central’s Orlando Whiting and in the Championship match, Slykhuis defeated Brookings’ Nolan Miles by decision, 7-5 to win the Region title and punch his ticket to State.

Werdel, wrestling at 170 pounds, started Regions with a forfeit from Sioux Falls Roosevelt. In the quarterfinals, Werdel pinned Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Niyongabo Yohana in 33 seconds. In the semifinals, Werdel won by decision, 10-4, over O’Gorman’s Aidan Kenable. In the Championship match, Werdel claimed victory over Jax Kettwig of Watertown winning by major decision, 11-3, to grab the Region title and claim his spot at State.

Earning runner-up honors at Regions and punching their tickets to State were Tyler Woodring, wresting at 113 pounds; Jackson Tschetter, wrestling at 132 pounds; Parker Wilson, wrestling at 138 pounds; and Wyatt Stuntebeck, wrestling at 145 pounds. Also qualifying for State were Austin Eimers who claimed fourth at 152 pounds, Dawson Eimers who took fourth at 160 pounds, Chase DeBoer who took fourth at 195 pounds and Keegan DeYoung who took fourth at 220 pounds.

The 2023 State A Tournament will begin on Thursday, Feb. 23 and continue through Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Summit Arena in Rapid City.

Woodring, a freshman, brings a 32-8 record to the State Tournament. He is set to face off against Brooking’s Jacob Milliron in the opening round.

Slykhuis is one of two seniors representing the Titans at State. He brings a 46-3 record to State and is set to face off against Rapid City Steven’s Jacob Williams in the opening round.

Tschetter, a junior, comes into State with a 21-9 record. He will face off against Jacob Johnson of Milbank in the opening round.

Wilson, a sophomore, comes into State with a 39-17 record. His first opponent at State is SF Lincoln’s Dawson Wallen.

Stuntebeck, the other senior representing Tea Area, comes into State with a 35-7 record. He will face off against O’Gorman’s Sterne Pankratz to open State.

A. Eimers, a junior, is set to face off against Belle Fourche’s Thomas McCoy in the opening round. Eimers comes in with a 29-15 record.

D. Eimers, a sophomore, brings a 30-14 record into State. He is set to face off against Deegan Houska of Pierre in the opening round.

Werdel, a sophomore, comes in with a 41-5 record. Werdel is set to take on Aberden Central’s Ayden Gisi in the opening round.

DeBoer, a freshman, will square off against Brock Eitreim of Watertown in the opening round at State. DeBoer comes in with a 17-23 record.

DeYoung, a junior, comes into State with a 19-19 record. DeYoung will face off against Elijah Boutchee, of Pierre, in the opening round.

Johnson, the lone girl representative, will face off against Kaitlyn Florey in the opening round at State. Johnson, a junior, brings a 14-9 record into the Tournament.

Results from the Region 1A Tournament are as follows:

106—Quarterfinals - Gage Lohr (Watertown) over Trevin Audiss (Tea Area) (Fall 1:20); Cons. Round 1 - Alex Siemonsma (West Central) over Trevin Audiss (Tea Area) (MD 13-3)

113—Quarterfinals - Tyler Woodring (Tea Area) over Colton Kline (Sioux Falls Roosevelt) (Fall 0:47); Semifinals - Tyler Woodring (Tea Area) over Leo Stroup (Watertown) (Fall 4:56); 1st Place Match - Karson Vessells (West Central) over Tyler Woodring (Tea Area) (Dec 5-2)