Governors Dominate Yankton 75-6 in ESD Matchup

Despite an early loss to Aberdeen in ESD Dual competition prior to the holiday break, the Governors are still eyeing a potential ESD title following a 45-23 loss on January 26th by Aberdeen against a Watertown team that is coming on strong late in the season.  The Governors had suffered a 34-33 loss to Aberdeen in December which required officials to utilize the 8th criteria to determine the team winner after the two teams tied following a win by Aberdeen at the 285lb weight class.  Pierre defeated Watertown 38-30 during the first weekend of action at the Watertown Dual Tournament which counted as their ESD match-up.  "Watertown beating Aberdeen makes all of the remaining duals that much more important," said head coach Shawn Lewis.  "If we can win out, and Aberdeen and Watertown do as well, it will be a three way tie for the ESD championships."  

Jack Van Camp works to maintain control over Yankton's Giovanni Ruffo during thier 106lb match.  Van Camp went on to win in overtime 5-3.  

With the hopes of maintaining the current three-way tie for the ESD title, the Governor Wrestling program traveled to Yankton on Friday evening to compete against the unranked Bucks.  The most competitive match-up of the night occurred at the opening match as #7 ranked Jack Van Camp squared off against #4 Giovanni Ruffo with the match requiring overtime to determine the eventual winner.  Van Camp knocked off the higher ranked opponent with a takedown down :42 seconds into the sudden victory overtime.  Lincoln Turman and William Turman extended the Governor lead to 15-0 with pins over Taten Bahm and Joseph Smith.  At 126lbs Yankton scored their only points in the dual as Kyler Lillie earned a second period pin over Jace Bench-Bresher who bumped up from his traditional 113lb spot.  

Lee Snyder looks to secure the pin over Yankton's John Sawyer during the 132lb match.  

Over the next nine matchups the Governors racked up a total of 45 team points with pins by Lee Snyder, Logan Meyer, Aric Williams, Maguire Raske, Garrett Leesman, Gage Gehring, Lucas Stoltenburg, Spencer Sarringar and Levi Stoltenburg.  Ty Paulsen finished the dual with an additional six points as the Yankton Bucks were open at 285lbs.  The complete results from the dual competition include: 

• 106lbs - #7 Jack Van Camp wins by decision over #4 Giovanni Ruffo in Overtime (5-3)
• 113lbs - #1 Lincoln Turman wins by pin over Taten Bahm (1:25)
• 120lbs - #2 William Turman wins by pin over Joseph Smith (0:44)
• 126lbs - Kyler Lillie wins by pin over Jace Bench-Bresher (2:42)
• 132lbs - Lee Syder wins by pin over John Sawyer (0:56)
• 138lbs - Logan Meyer wins by pin over Josh Rowell (5:11)
• 145lbs - #2 Aric Williams wins by pin over Ben Tellus (0:22)
• 152lbs - Maguire Raske wins by pin over Donovan Bain (1:15)
• 160bls - Garrett Leesman wins by pin over Connor Davenport (1:17)
• 170lbs - Gage Gehring wins by pin over Owen Warren (2:16)
• 182lbs - #4 Lucas Stoltenburg wins by pin over Korbin Postma (0:39)
• 195lbs - #1 Spencer Sarringar wins by pin over Trevor Ellis (0:19)
• 220lbs - #4 Levi Stoltenburg wins by pin over Cole Diedrichsen (1:41)
• 285lbs - #7 Ty Paulsen wins by Forfeit

Back in action for the first time since the holiday break Gage Gehring secures the pin over Yankton's Owen Warren to start the second period.

Over the weekend the Governors also competed at the Les Tlustos Invitational in Brookings where eight of the top twelve ranked teams in Class A battled. The Governors faced a number of highly ranked wrestlers from Madison and Vermillion for the first time this season.  Lewis noted, " Seeing Madison, Vermillion, West Central, and Dell Rapids for the first time can be critical in seeding.  Getting those match-ups and wrestling well will mean more then the team outcome this weekend."