Governors Continue Winning Way at Les Tlustos Invitational in Brookings

As the postseason draws closer with just three more weeks of regular season competition, the Governor Wrestling team traveled to Brookings to compete at the Les Tlustos Invitational over the weekend.  The tournament provided the Governors with their first shot at a number of top twelve ranked teams including teams like Vermillion (#12) Madison (#11), West Central and Dell Rapids that they have yet to compete against resulting in a number of key match-ups they are likely to see come the state tournament.  This year for the first time the SDSHSAA will be seeding the state tournament increasing the importance for winning critical head-to-head match-ups to improve postseason draws.  “We won a majority of the matches we needed to for state seeding criteria,” said head coach Shawn Lewis.  “A couple of those that we did win we will likely see again next weekend in Yankton.”

The Governor Wrestling team poses at the conclusion of the Les Tlustos Invitational as they win their third straight tournament in Brookings.

Despite being slightly shorthanded with Michael Lusk out with an injury, the remainder of the Governors continued their team winning streak by earning the team title after outscoring the field by almost 30 points by racking up a total of 257 team points.  The Governors sent eight wrestlers into the finals, producing four champions, and five other place winners (including three unattached wrestlers).

Individual champions for the Governors over the weekend included William Turman, Lincoln Turman, Aric Williams and Spencer Sarringar.

Governors earned individual titles from Lincoln Turman, William Turman, Aric Williams, and Spencer Sarringer.  Lincoln Turman advanced to the finals with a 5-2 win over #4 ranked Colby Mennis from Madison, then faced off against #2 ranked Lucas Anglin from Vermillion.  Going scoreless into the third period, Turman scored two back-points against Anglin and then held on in the closing seconds as Anglin worked to secure a reversal.  William Turman won by pin over Jack Smith from Brandon Valley in the semifinals and then won 5-2 against #4 Jayden DeCou from Lennox to secure his first individual title of the season. 

William Turman secures  the pin against Blessing Taniah from Sioux Falls Washington during their opening round match.  

Aric Williams maintained control of Cole Houlska from Lennox in the closing seconds of his semifinal match to win 7-6, then needed an additional periods to win in sudden victory against #4 ranked Noah Guse from Madison 7-5.  Following an opening takedown by Guse, Williams looked in harmony as he proceeded to score three straight takedowns in order to secure the win.  At the 195lb weight class #1 ranked Spencer Sarringer defeated Cole Eidiem by major decision 11-2 in order to advance to the finals to wrestle #5 ranked Nate Guthmiller from Madison were he won a close 2-1 match to remain unbeaten in the state and earn his fourth individual title on the year.  Despite traditionally large scoring gaps for Sarringer this year, Guthmiller’s restrictive style made it difficult for him to rack up points and settled for the tight 2-1 victory.  Following a few of the key matchups with first time opponents this season assistant coach John Wayne Kalda noted “The wrestlers that we have seen before we continue to make minor adjustments.  The guys that we haven’t, we do our best to scout them so we are more confident in where we can create scoring opportunities when matches become more critical later in the season.”

Aric Williams secures position on Madison's Noah Guse during overtime of their championship match. 

Also advancing to the finals were Austin Senger, Lucas Stoltenburg, Levi Stoltenburg and Ty Paulsen.  During his semifinal match #2 rated Senger won by pin over #4 rated Bailey Mennis in a match-up with important state tournament seeding implications.  Down 0-2 after the first period, Senger rebounded to score 6 unanswered points which conclude a feet-to-back takedown for the pin late in the third period.  Senger eventually lost 8-2 against #1 rated Tyler Waterson from Spearfish in the finals.  Lucas Stoltenburg also performed well in his semifinal match against #5 ranked Jarred Mettler where a late second period reversal put him up 5-3 going into the third period where he threw Mettler to his back for the pin.  During the finals Stoltenburg lost by tech fall 17-2 against #2 ranked Colby Kost from Rapid City Central.  Levi Stoltenburg won by fall over Sam Detert from Harrisburg in the semifinals, then lost by fall over #2 ranked Timmy Paris from RC Central in the finals.  Ty Paulsen defeated #8 Donovan Spencer from RC Central by pin to advance to the semifinals where he matched up against #2 ranked Eddie Miller from Brookings, but eventually lost lost 3-0 to finish second. The eight wrestlers in the finals matched the performance of the Governors at the Mitchell Invitational establishing a solid team core that can put up the numbers needed at the state tournament.  “As a staff we have a certain mindset that we want our wrestlers to establish and show,” said Kalda.  “We need to be confident in our training and preparation for our matches and not get away from what we do well.  But we also have to have the ability to adapt during matches and understand situations that will allow us to win by not being one dimensional.” 

Ty Paulsen secures a pin against Keithen Funk from Spearfish in the quarterfinals.  Paulsen went on to finish second overall.  

Three other varsity wrestlers placed at the event including a 5^th place finish by Maguire Raske who defeated #7 ranked Briggs Havlik from Mitchell by pin in the quarterfinals before losing to #1 ranked Carter Lohr from Roosevelt in the semifinals.  Gage Gehring competed for the first time prior to The Clash and finished 7^th overall at 170lbs as did Jack Van Camp at 106lbs.  Lewis noted “We competed very well at Brookings.  We are definitely seeing the development that we need and our older kids are getting into post season form.  More importantly our younger kids are nailing down their consistency.”

Keegan Bineger works to turn Brooking's Justice Devine during their 145lb wrestle back match to secure placing at the event. 

An advantage of the Tlustos Invitational is the opportunity to also include non-scoring wrestlers as unattached into the brackets.  Three Governor wrestlers took advantage of the opportunity to compete in Brookings with Logan Meyer, Keegan Binegar and Pryce Dyk each finishing 7^th at the event.  “The coaches were pleased with the outcome of the non-varsity kids that placed,” said Kalda.  It shows the hard work these guys have been putting in all season and how deep our team can be.  It’s nice to know that in a pinch we have guys that are ready to step up.  However we can’t have these guys satisfied as they need to establish a mindset that they can wrestle with anyone and there is still room for improvement so that they can work toward higher placings in the future.”  Individual results for the Governors included:

• 106lbs – Jack Van Camp – 7^th (3-2)
• 113lbs – Lincoln Turman – Champion (4-0)
• 120bs – William Turman – Champion (4-0)
• 126lbs – Jace Bench-Bresher – DNP (1-2)
• 132lbs – Lee Snyder – DNP (1-2)
• 138lbs – Austin Senger – 2^nd (3-1)
• 138lbs – Logan Meyer – 7^th (3-2)
• 145lbs – Aric Williams – Champion (4-0)
• 145lbs – Keegan Bineger – 7^th (3-2)
• 152lbs – Maguire Raske – 5^th (4-2)
• 160lbs – Garrett Leesman – DNP (1-2)
• 170lbs – Gage Gehring – 7^th (3-2)
• 182lbs – Lucas Stoltenburg – 2^nd (3-1)
• 195lbs – Spencer Sarringer – Champion (3-0)
• 220lbs – Levi Stoltenburg – 2^nd (3-1)
• 285lbs – Ty Paulsen – 2^nd (3-1)
• 285lbs – Pryce Dyk – 7^th (3-2)

Pryce Dyk attempts to turn SF Lincoln's Dylan Muth during their opening round match-up.  Dyk went on to finish seventh overall as an unattached wrestler for the Governors.

The Governors do not have an opportunity to be placid as they travel to Yankton this coming weekend where they will face a majority of the top Class A and B teams.  Additionally, a tough Millard South team from Omaha will be in attendance which was the only team to beat the Governors in tournament competition last season when they won the Yankton Invitational by 1 ½ points.