RAPID CITY, SD – The Sturgis Scooper wrestling squad continued its dominance in Class A across South Dakota with a state team championship on Saturday at the Monument.
Sturgis piled up 198 team points to earn the state team championship, their second in a row and eighth overall. Aberdeen Central came in second place with 146.5, Rapid City Stevens and Watertown tied for third with 141 points, and Harrisburg took fifth place with 134 points. The Scoopers also won their second State Dual Championship in a row this season on Feb. 15, their fifth overall dual title.
The Scooper boys qualified all 14 wrestlers for state at the regional competition and had four grapplers vying for a state championship on Saturday.
Tyler Baldwin and Kelson Dirk won state titles at 113 and 190 pounds, respectively. Eighth grader Mason Hagen finished in second place at 120 pounds and Joseph Nadig lost a heartbreaker in the final seconds of the 165-pound championship to Ayden Dooley of Sioux Falls Jefferson to take second place.
Eight other Sturgis wrestlers took spots on the podium on Saturday including Sully Sigman, who earned 7th place at 106 pounds; Tarver Zebroski, who finished in 8th place at 126 pounds; Parker Graveman took 5th place at 132 pounds; Benjamin Nadig finished in 3rd place at 138 pounds; Jace Thurman earned 8th place at 144 pounds; Kalvin Ketelsen took the 4th spot at 150 pounds; Cade Willnerd took 5th place at 157 pounds; and Zhoel Irion finished in 4th place at 175 pounds.
On the girls’ side, the Scoopers qualified three wrestlers for state: eighth grader Analee Pearson, Brooklyn Baird and Shelby Werlinger. Pearson battled with Olivia Anderson from Watertown for the 107-pound title but came up one point short, losing a 6-5 decision to take second place. Baird worked her way to the semifinals but lost to eventual state champion Regina Stoesser of Harrisburg at 132 pounds. Baird beat Tahnie Yellowhawk of Sully Buttes to earn fifth place. The Scooper girls finished in 12 place in team standings with 39 points.
The Scooper boys historic season included an undefeated record in regular season duals and team tournaments and impressive performances and improvements through all weight classes. Assistant Coach Steve Keszler admitted that the coaches did not predict how dominant this team would be when the season began.
“We didn’t see this one coming at all,” said Keszler. “We graduated eight seniors last year off that state championship team and knew we had some good young wrestlers but these guys stepped up and got after it from the first dual against Spearfish and continued battling all year long. What makes me proud is to watch these kids lay it on the line every day. They don’t do it for themselves, they do it for their teammates. They know the name on the front of the uniform is bigger than the name on the back. This state tournament is a three-day grind, both mentally and physically and I’m so proud of our team and how they fought for each other.”
Scooper fans welcomed the state championship team back to town on Saturday night with a gathering at West Gym at Sturgis Brown High School, celebrating all of the accomplishments of the 2024-2025 season.
The other boys West River champion in Class A was Jacob Williams from Rapid City Stevens at 157 pounds. On the girls’ side, Dani Ringstmeyer of Pierre won the girls 126-pound championship, and Abbigail Lewis of Pierre earned the 152-pound title.
