Davis victorious at Hot Springs meet

By: 
Leslie Silverman
The Hill City Rangers Wrestling team had a huge win at the Hot Springs Holiday Extravaganza. Eli Isakason  placed eighth and scored 10 team points, while Tanner Davis placed first and scored 28 team points. 
It was a great feeling but weird,” Davis said about winning the tournament. “All of these tournaments I’ve walked into I always had the ‘I wish I was on top of that podium’ idea and I never got it.” 
And while the victory was exciting it’s also slightly bittersweet, knowing as he puts it, “I will never walk into the same gym to wrestle again.”
Davis is a senior with the ultimate personal goal of bringing home the state championship title for Hill City.
“No one has ever brought one back,” Davis said.
Humbled and appreciative of the support he’s gotten, he’s not after it for himself, but rather for “the feeling of being able to give back for the whole community.”
He's proud of his own accomplishments so far this season and isn’t afraid to admit there’s still “a lot more hard work” to achieve his goal.
The team practices in Custer with coach Dakota Hunsaker, whose wife, Blake,  passed away unexpectedly recently. 
Dakota and Blake have three young children at home. The family did not have life insurance and are also looking at medical bills for their youngest  child, Darius, who was born with medical issues requiring ongoing treatments.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the family. Davis wants the Rangers community to keep his coach in their prayers.
“That would be a huge blessing,” he said.
The Rangers next compete at the Presho tournament is Jan. 7-8. 

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