Wildcat boys take third at Black Hills Classic

Staying close to home last week, the Custer Jr./Sr. High School boys wrestling team headed to Hill City to compete in the Black Hills Classic Tournament Feb. 7. The Wildcats placed third in the tournament with 167 points. 
“It was a good weekend for the kids. We got to  wrestle only one day, so that was nice. Get a little break for them,” said head coach Jared Webster. “We had a bunch of close matches where we just made some little mistakes. We’ve got to be able to know the situations in the match and where we can still score instead of going for desperate moves when we don’t have to.” 
Cole Scott placed third in the 106 weight class and scored 21.5 team points.
In round two, Scott won by fall over Langdon McAmis of Hulett at 0:41. Scott won by tech fall 16-1 over Xavier Jaramillo of Sturgis Brown in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, Elijah Nadig of Sturgis Brown won by fall over Scott at 5:59. Scott won by fall over Aspen Frasier of Hill City at 1:43 in the consolation semi. Then, in the third place match, Scott won by fall over Caden Swaney of Belle Fourche at 2:19.
Myles Woodward placed fourth in the 113 weight class and scored 13.5 team points. Woodward received a bye in round two. In the quarterfinal, Jaxson Avery of Sturgis Brown won by major decision 8-0 over Woodward. Woodward won by fall over Conner Gray of Douglas/Rapid City Christian at 0:52 in the consolation round three. In the consolation quarter, Woodward won by tech fall 18-0 over Micheal Coombs of Newcastle. Woodward won by decision 7-2 over Nate Gallardo of St. Thomas More in the consolation semi. Then, in the third place match, Jaxson Avery of Sturgis Brown won by fall over Woodward at 2:05.
Relic Bailey placed fourth in the 120 weight class.
In round two, Bailey won by decision 6-0 over Deacon Wilkins of Sturgis Brown. Gatlin Cordes of Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall won by tech fall 20-4 over Bailey in the quarterfinal. In the consolation round three, Bailey won by fall over Gavin Dollick of Upton at 2:52. Bailey won by fall over Dayton Dreamer of Lakota Tech at 4:06 in the consolation quarter. In the consolation semi, Bailey won by medical forfeit over Emmet Ohrtman of Rapid City Stevens. Then, in the third place match, Retro Benson of Lemmon won by decision 7-0 over Bailey.
Riley Trout placed fourth in the 126 weight class and scored 18 team points.
In round two, Trout won by fall over Shaymus McKelvey of Rapid City Stevens at 3:17. Trout won by fall over Colt Jackson of Upton at 0:33 in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, Quintin Kelly of Sturgis Brown won by decision 13-10 over Trout. Trout won by fall over Alex Velez of Rapid City Central at 4:32 in the consolation semi. Then, in the third place match, Gavin Freitag of Rapid City Stevens won by decision 13-8 over Trout.
Ayden Dooley placed fourth in the 132 weight class and scored 16 team points. In round two, Dooley won by fall over Colton Diischer of Faith at 4:55. Dooley won by fall over Jaxson Turbiville of Harding County at 4:57 in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, Landon Norman of Upton won by fall over Dooley at 3:54. Dooley won in sudden victory 10-7 over Marshall Redmond of Wright in the consolation semi. Then, in the third place match, Taten Adams of Sturgis Brown won by medical forfeit over Dooley.
Riley Scott placed first in the 144 weight class and scored 30 team points.
In round two, R. Scott won by fall over Sinquah Nelson of Lakota Tech at 1:23. R. Scott won by fall over Tristin Costello of Gordon-Rushville at 1:07 in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, R. Scott won by fall over Jake Peters of Sturgis Brown at 1:37. Then, in the first place match, R. Scott won by fall over Trinity Thompson of Sturgis Brown at 1:34.
David Lewis placed fifth in the 157 weight class and scored 18 team points.
In round one, Lewis won by major decision 14-5 over Frank Hansen of Rapid City Stevens. Lewis won by fall over Reo Edwards of Wright at 2:34 in round two. In the quarterfinal, Lewis won by fall over TJ Harrington of Newcastle at 1:29. William Thompson of Douglas/Rapid City Christian won by decision 4-1 over Lewis in the semifinal. In the consolation semi, Reo Edwards of Wright won by major decision 10-2 over Lewis. Then, in the fifth place match, Lewis won by forfeit over Parker Anderson of Sturgis Brown.
Blaise Arp placed fourth in the 165 weight class and scored 19 team points.
In round two, Arp won by fall over Dane Crabtree of Newcastle at 4:28. Oakley Menzel of Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall won by fall over Arp at 3:14 in the quarterfinal. In the consolation round three, Arp won by tech fall 15-0 over Noah Castro of Sturgis Brown. Arp won by tech fall 20-5 over Brayden Secrest of Harding County in the consolation quarter. In the consolation semi, Arp won by fall over Jordan Risse of Bennett County at 4:35. Then, in the third place match, Menzel won by fall over Arp at 0:49.
Zayden LaPlaca placed second in the 285 weight class and scored 20 team points.
LaPlaca received a bye in round two. In the quarterfinal, LaPlaca won by fall over James Mitchell of Lakota Tech at 2:39. LaPlaca won by decision 2-1 over Marty Reeve of St. Thomas More in the semifinal. Then, in the first place match, Lucas Tonsager of Belle Fourche won by fall over LaPlaca at 1:13.
Next up, the Wildcats have the opportunity to compete in the South Dakota High School Activities Association State Class B Dual Championship in Pierre at T.F. Riggs High School Saturday, Feb. 14. Currently, Custer is seeded sixth out of the top eight ranked teams. 
“This one is going to be a fun one,” said Webster. “Hopefully, we can bring a plaque home and get in the top six.”
To qualify, the Wildcats had to compete in 10 duals over the course of the season, including head to heads with power point teams in the state. Webster said the Wildcats only lost one dual this season to the top ranked team, Winner. 
It has been about two years since the Wildcats qualified for the state dual championship, but Webster said, “(The team) stepped up, and they want to bring home a plaque from state.”
The tournament will be live streamed so fans can support their Custer Wildcats from home.