Titans qualify ten boys, two girls for State
Tea Area’s Tyler Woodring enters as top wrestler in State at 126 pounds
The Tea Area High School wrestling team is gearing up for the State Class A Wrestling Tournament, which kicks off Thursday, Feb. 27, and runs through Saturday, March 1, at The Summit in Rapid City.
Several Titan boys punched their tickets to the state meet after a strong showing at Regions which found the Titans earning second place as a team, behind top place Watertown. The Region 1A Meet was held this past Saturday, Feb. 22 at West Central.
“The kids competed hard, and we’re blessed to have the opportunity to compete at State,” said Tea Area head coach John Niesen. “Any time you can bring home a plaque from our Region, it’s a successful weekend. I believe that our Region is the deepest in the state, at least for Class A.”
Leading the charge for the Titan boys is Tyler Woodring, who enters the state tournament as the undefeated top seed at 126 pounds.
Woodring, a junior, claimed the Region 1A Championship title at 126 pounds after defeating Watertown’s Brody Randall by fall in 35 seconds in the Championship match.
Woodring brings and impressive 38-0 record and a 97% bonus rate—only one of his victories coming by decision—to State.
“He is one of the most exciting wrestlers across the state to watch in any weight class,” said Niesen.
Woodring will begin his State run with a match up against Camden Tebay from Dell Rapids. Tebay is a freshman with a 21-12 record.
Also ready to make waves at State is Chase DeBoer, who has excelled in the heavyweight division despite weighing approximately 215 pounds.
At Regions, DeBoer took runner-up honors at 285 pounds after falling to Watertown’s Micah Hach in 56 seconds in the Championship match. Hach is the top wrestler in the State in this weight class.
DeBoer, a junior, boasts a 32-4 record, with three of those losses coming against top-ranked Hach. He enters State as the second ranked wrestler in his weight class.
“He’s put together an impressive junior season,” said Niesen.
DeBoer will begin his State facing off against Dylan Reynolds of Brookings. Reynolds, a junior, brings a 19-13 record.
Another Titan wrestler to watch for at State is Dawson Eimers. Eimers enters the 165-pound bracket as the fourth seed but is considered a serious contender for the title.
“That class is about as open as any,” noted Niesen, emphasizing that there is no clear favorite.
Eimers, a senior, earned runner-up honors at Regions at 165 pounds losing by decision, 2-0, to Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Ayden Dooley in the Championship match.
Eimers aims to cap off his senior season with his first state championship. He begins his State run with a match-up against Rapid City Central’s Dylan Ulmer.
Ulmer, a sophomore, comes in with 27-20 record. Eimers comes in with a 27-3 record.
Also earning runner-up honors at Regions was Tea Area’s Parker Wilson. Wilson lost by technical fall to Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Aidan Wells in the Championship match at 144 pounds.
Wilson, a senior has put together a stellar season, compiling a 39-15 record with 25 wins by fall.
“He is a two-time qualifier and looks to earn a spot on the podium once again this season,” said Niesen.
Wilson will begin is State run with a match up against fellow senior, Orland Whiting of West Central. Whiting has a 20-8 record.
Other Titan boys punching their ticket to State included Slater Wilson at 120 pounds who took third at Regions; Braeden Dunkelberger at 132 pounds who took third at Regions; Kade Eimers at 106 pounds who took fourth at Regions; Henry Fortin at 113 pounds who took fourth at Regions; Jeremiah Wilgers at 175 pounds who took fourth at Regions; Gabriel Basstemeyer at 190 pounds who took fourth at Regions and Trevin Audiss at 138 pounds who despite finishing fifth at Regions was selected as the alternate.
On Thursday, Feb. 20 the Tea Area High School girls competed in Region 1 action. Emery Voelker and Lainey Haines both punched their tickets to State with runner-up honors at Regions.
Voelker fell to Groton Area’s Liza Krueger in the Championship match by fall in 3:44 in the 100 pound match at Regions.
Voelker, an eighth graders, brings an 16-11 record to State. She will begin her State run with a match against Canton’s Jewel Gannon. Gannon, a junior, brings a 24-11 record.
At 32 pounds, Haines lost by decision, 9-6, to Sully Buttes Tahnie Yellowhawk in the Championship match at Regions. She enters State with a 26-10 record. Haines, a freshman, will face off against Clark Willow Lake’s Chyanne Guerdet, also a freshman, in the opening round at State. Guerdet has a 6-14 record.
State wrestling action will begin on Thursday, Feb. 27 with first round matches taking place at 10 a.m. at the Summit Arena at the Monument in Rapid City. Quarterfinal matches continue at 4 p.m. On Friday, Feb. 28 1st Round and 2nd Round Consolation matches begin at 9:30 a.m. At 3:30 p.m. semifinals and 3rd Round Consolation matches begin, followed by 4th Round Consolation matches.
On Saturday, March 1 at 10 a.m. places matches begin with Championship matches beginning at 1 p.m.
Complete results from Regions are below: