"The Green Mile" for the Governors

For those that have seen the Tom Hank’s film The Green Mile, the guards of the prison featured in the film described the confines of the death row facility as the “Green Mile” because of its green colored walls.  The phrase “dead man walking” was then used for those inmates as they made their way to the electric chair.  Days leading into the 2016 Class A Wrestling Tournament, Panic Button wrote a complementary blog regarding the Governor’s four sophomores who were in contention of winning individual state titles.  The article pondered whether anyone could overtake the Governor’s title hopes assuming they could get through the “Murderers Row” that confronted them in the first four weight classes.  Although only sophomores, Lincoln Turman, William Turman, Michael Lusk and Austin Senger had already earned considerable credential for their age with Lincoln entering the tournament with a 42-0 record ranked #1, William as a returning state champion, and Lusk and Senger both having already earned final appearances during the previous two years.  While the name was fitting as teams struggled to regain momentum after these four racked up points in the finals of most tournaments (and in dual competition), one might consider whether a more fitting name for this governor foursome may be “The Green Mile,” since over the past two seasons they have metaphorically helped put away numerous teams.   Together these four will bring a combined 150-14 record into the Class A State Tournament this weekend in Sioux Falls.

Austin Senger, Lincoln Turman, William Turman, and Michael Lusk pose together after the 2016 State Class A Wrestling Tournament. 

This foursome has a rather lengthy history together over the past decade.  Traveling and competing at local tournaments in Lyman, Kakoda, Highmore and Sturgis quickly turned into road trips each season to wrestle together in Omaha, Cedar Falls, Kansas City and Denver.  Early on the group was separated by less than five to seven pounds making for formidable practice partners, and plenty of opportunities to compete against each other on the weekends.  In their early years Michael Lusk traditionally ended up on top, with Austin finding moments of success during matchups that would be ten-fold in a given year.  Lincoln Turman never lost to William, and their days of competing ended early after a victory by Lincoln in overtime determined which of the two would advance and compete at the AAU State Tournament.  As they grew many in the community recognized the considerable talent among this group, yet also lamented the fact that an impact for Governor wrestling teams would only come at the point that they could spread out in weight.  If asked to comment on the significance of the picture below, the answer would certainly depend on your perspective.  To the casual fan, one can’t help but be impressed by having three straight state titles at 106lb, 113lb, and 120lbs during the state tournament last year from the same program.  From a different vantage point one has to ponder how tough Austin Senger is as a wrestler if this outcome could only be achieved once he grew into the 126lb spot opening the path for all four to finally make the Governor varsity lineup.

Lincoln Turman, William Turman and Michael Lusk each pose with their championship brackets following the conclusion of the 2016 Class A State Wrestling Tournament. 

During their 8^th grade year, Austin, Michael and William began the year competing for the 106lb which was won by Senger during the wrestle-offs before the season.  Oddly enough, Lincoln Turman lost out on the 113lb spot after losing to Aric Williams, the weight he now competes at in 2017.  Senger went on to have an impressive 8^th grade year advancing into the finals at the state tournament in 2014.  In the years that followed, he finished 7^th at 120lbs and then 3^rd overall last year.  In both tournaments, Senger lost in overtime in quarterfinal matches that would have been averted in an environment where seeding would have occurred.  Senger brings a 37-5 record into the state tournament and will compete as the 4^th seed and if successful in the first two rounds will square off against #1 ranked Tyler Waterson from Spearfish who is seeking to cap off his high school career with a fifth straight finals appearance. When commenting on the nature of the wrestle-offs that occurred between these four wrestlers in the two years that followed, assistant coach John Wayne Kalda noted, “It would take to many words to describe how these four battled.  People go to duals and tournaments to see matches of that caliber, and as coaches we got to experience them on a weekly basis.  What’s frustrating about that situation is you know a potential finalist will not be making the trip with us.  But it’s also exciting at the same time because you know that sometime down the line things will work out and they will all be in the lineup.  And we are now experiencing that.

Austin Senger works to turn an opponent at The Clash earlier this year in Rochester, MN. 

During his freshman year William Turman took over the 106lb spot for the Governors and went on to win his first state title with a victory over Watertown’s Tim Lawrence in 2015.  Turman achieved a 44-2 record in his first year in the varsity spot, and followed that up with a second state title during his sophomore year with a 4-1 victory over Crieghton Klinkhammer from Brandon in 2016.  This weekend Turman will enter the state tournament with a 41-4 record and the #2 seed with a goal of making the finals for the third straight year to compete against #1 ranked Cody Bevier.  The two have met three times this year with Bevier winning 3-1 and 3-2 in the first two head-to-heads, but Turman winning 1-0 during their match at the Yankton Invitational championship match. 

William Turman squares off against Carson Klinkhammer during their dual against Brookings earlier this year. 

Michael Lusk and Lincoln Turman battled for a varsity spot at 113lbs their freshman year, and while Turman won out in a series of 1 point victories early in the season, Michael Lusk secured the spot the week prior to the Mitchell Invite where he knocked off a highly ranked Stas Sutera in the finals.  “Wrestle-offs at any level are great for a team,” said Kalda.  “They lead to competition in the practice room, and that makes all wrestlers involved just that much better.  A lot of their success can be contributed to wrestling each other on a day-to-day basis.”  The transition was a significant one for the Governors as Lusk went on to make the finals at 113lbs that year and the advancement points proved influential in securing a one and one-half point victory over an Aberdeen Central team that was projected to walk away with the team trophy.  Last year Lusk entered the state tournament with a 40-1 record and went on to win his first state title over Wesley Weischedel from Lennox in a 3-2 overtime victory.  Lusk enters this year’s state tournament with a 30-4 record and again with the #1 seed and will have important matches against Shillingstad/Dahlen in the semifinals, and Stoebner/Klinkhammer if he is able to make it back to his third straight finals match.

Michael Lusk attempts to secure a takedown at The Clash in Rochester, MN earlier this season.

Lincoln Turman became the last of this foursome to secure a varsity spot during the group’s sophomore season.  Relegated to watching his brother William win a state title from the corner, Lincoln committed to returning the next year with an intent of wrestling the 106lbs spot with a goal of ensuring that all four could be the linchpin for a successful team title.  Turman entered the season ranked #1 and went on to finish with an undefeated 46-0 record and a championship win against Jacob Wood from Sturgis in the 106lb finals.  “Seeing Lincoln winning a State Championship and doing it in the dominating fashion that he did was total satisfaction as a coach” said head coach Shawn Lewis.  “You have a kid who has been behind others who have been in the state finals for the last two years, bounced in between weight classes before making the sacrifice to get to 106lb which finally allowed Lincoln to reach his goal.  The amount of sweat, blood and tears that he had put into it all became worth it.  Seeing an athlete put as much into it as he did was again one of the most satisfying things to see as a coach.  Then watching his emotion pour out after making a dream of his come true topped it all off.” This year Turman has only one blemish on his record bringing a 42-1 record into the state tournament where he is seeded #1 with a goal of making the finals again for the second straight year.  In his way are Eli Kadoun from SF Roosevelt as a possible semifinal match, and then a talented Lucas Anglin from Vermillion who has given up only one takedown the entire season. 

Lincoln Turman works to maintain control on top against a Bismarck Century opponent during The Clash in Rochester, MN. 

The Governors will need these four wrestlers to wrestle consistently this weekend if they are to bring back another state championship for the third straight year to the capital city.  Wrestling begins on Friday at 10:00, with the 2:45 session on Friday afternoon being broadcast on PBS for those unable to make the trip to Sioux Falls.  Finals are expected to begin at 6:00 on Saturday evening with coverage on local PBS stations.