STURGIS, S.D. – The State Champion Sturgis Scooper Wrestling team was welcomed home Sunday in a ceremony at Sturgis Brown High School.
The Scoopers won the title with 219.5 points, crowned one champion and had five finish in the runner-up position.
Sturgis Head Coach Mike Abell says his boys finished a perfect dual season, going undefeated in every dual and tournament they wrestled.
“That’s not easy to do, it’s a lot of pressure as the year goes on. And when it means the most at the end, it means the most pressure.”
Coach Abell says individually, it didn’t end the way he wanted, but it doesn’t take anything away from what his team did this year.
“You know, our kids understood their jobs, and when it comes to points scored, I would have to go back and look, but we probably scored more bonus points then we have in a long, long time. I mean they were all over, major decisions, you know, they were just hungry and we teach a lot of output, and that’s what they were doing.”
Scooper Assistant Coach Steve Keszler concurred and said the boys worked their tails off this year.
“It just doesn’t get old,” Keszler said. “Such a promising and rewarding year and a shout out to the coaches, the fans, the community. And, this program is built on winning and learning. That’s what happening. We’re either winning or learning.”
The Scooper girls wrestling team was also honored at the Sunday evening ceremony. The Scooper girls had their first individual state champion this year with Annalee Pierson at 110 pounds.
“My championship match was tough,” Annalee said. “It is definitely a crazy feeling (winning her first championship), and it feels really good to be up there and to see the girls hitting their stride.”
The Scooper boys will graduate nine seniors from the team this year, but coach Abell says their is no off-season for the team. He says they will begin working to fill those spots right away.
For now though, the spotlight shone on the state champion Sturgis Scooper wrestling team, who brought home their third state title in a row.
