Wrestlers Get Seven Wins at Northeast Conference Tourney

Milbank wrestlers competed in the Northeast Conference Tournament in Webster on Saturday, February 11. Barrett Schneck and Brayden Christensen won first-place medals. Jesse Schneck and Landon Novy each took second place. Owen Fischer, Evan Folk, and Paul Vandover won fourth-place medals. 

As a team, Milbank compiled 96.5 points to take fifth place. Deuel-Deubrook Area earned 125.5 points to edge out Redfield at 125.0 points.

Team scores included: (1) Deuel-Deubrook Area 125.5; (2) Redfield 125.0; (3) Clark-Willow Lake 116.0; (4) Hamlin 100.0; (5) Milbank 96.5; (6) Sisseton 87.0; (7) Groton Area 64.0; (8) Webster Area 51.0; (9) Britton-Hecla 30.

Josh Schmeichel, head coach for MHS, commented on the performances of the Bulldogs in the tournament. “I think all the boys wrestled well with a few who stepped up and surprised me with how well they did. We didn’t finish quite where I wanted to, but a few things that were out of our control set us back some.

Individually, Schmeichel said, “Owen Fischer was dealing with a lingering illness, so he wasn’t at 100 percent. If Owen was at 100 percent, he should have been able to pull off a second- place finish. Evan Folk showed up and was ready to compete. He wrestled really well and was able to come home with fourth place.”

Schmeichel said, “Brayden Christensen pinned his way through the tournament to take first place. He spent less than two minutes wrestling during the match by pinning his three opponents in less than 40 seconds each. 

Barrett Schneck, took first  place,  but according to Schmeichel, Barrett ended up with an extremely small bracket of only three guys. “This didn’t give him the chance to wrestle any matches other than  his finals match, which kept him from getting more team points from advancement and bonus points.”

“Paul VanDover stepped up and started the day off right with a pin, Schmeichel crowed. “From there, he went on to finish in fourth place. Jesse Schneck also had a small bracket of only four that  hurt us for team points. Jesse had a couple tough matches, but was able to get second place.”

“Landon Novy’s small bracket of four also kept him from scoring more team points,” Schmeichel added. “He started off with a pin, but ran into one of the top-ranked wrestlers in class B in the finals. He finished with a second place finish.

Complete individual results for Milbank include:

106 – Owen Fischer (26-9) placed 4th and scored 7.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Owen Fischer (Milbank) 26-9 received a bye () (Bye)
• Semifinal – Cooper Pommer (Clark/Willow Lake) 42-4 won by major decision over Owen Fischer (Milbank) 26-9 (MD 13-4)
• Cons. Semi – Owen Fischer (Milbank) 26-9 won by fall over Gage Landmark (Deuel) 5-10 (Fall 0:12)
• 3rd Place Match – Kayden Tchida (Sisseton) 6-1 won in sudden victory – 1 over Owen Fischer (Milbank) 26-9 (SV-1 4-2)

113- Evan Folk (5-10) placed 4th and scored 6.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Tacey Miller (Webster Area) 19-11 won by fall over Evan Folk (Milbank) 5-10 (Fall 4:39)
• Cons. Round 1 – Evan Folk (Milbank) 5-10 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Semi – Evan Folk (Milbank) 5-10 won by decision over Maddon Odland (Redfield ) 28-22 (Dec 3-0)
• 3rd Place Match – Tacey Miller (Webster Area) 19-11 won by decision over Evan Folk (Milbank) 5-10 (Dec 3-0)

126- Jayce Jonason (3-18) 

• Quarterfinal – Taylor Merkel (Clark/Willow Lake) 21-22 won by fall over Jayce Jonason (Milbank) 3-18 (Fall 3:34)
• Cons. Round 1 – Jayce Jonason (Milbank) 3-18 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Semi – Payton Moore (Redfield ) 15-19 won by fall over Jayce Jonason (Milbank) 3-18 (Fall 1:48)

132- Jacob Johnson (12-19) 

• Quarterfinal – John Yonker (Hamlin) 29-16 won by major decision over Jacob Johnson (Milbank) 12-19 (MD 20-7)
• Cons. Round 1 – Jacob Johnson (Milbank) 12-19 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Semi – Haeden Jorgenson (Webster Area) 32-6 won by fall over Jacob Johnson (Milbank) 12-19 (Fall 3:57)

145- Brayden Christensen (15-8) placed 1st and scored 24.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Brayden Christensen (Milbank) 15-8 won by fall over Blaise McGregor (Webster Area) 6-19 (Fall 0:29)
• Semifinal – Brayden Christensen (Milbank) 15-8 won by fall over Brock Gisselbeck (Hamlin) 30-10 (Fall 0:38)
• 1st Place Match – Brayden Christensen (Milbank) 15-8 won by fall over Chase Chambers (Clark/Willow Lake) 29-15 (Fall 0:35)

152 – Nollen Sheeley (11-18)  scored 6.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Nollen Sheeley (Milbank) 11-18 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Troy Randall Jr. (Hamlin) 25-15 won by fall over Nollen Sheeley (Milbank) 11-18 (Fall 0:52)
• Cons. Round 2 – Nollen Sheeley (Milbank) 11-18 won by fall over Easten Ekern (Groton Area) 4-16 (Fall 2:09)
• Cons. Round 3 – Nollen Sheeley (Milbank) 11-18 won by fall over Reed VanWormer (Deuel) 9-13 (Fall 3:59)
• Cons. Semi – Elliot Bratland (Clark/Willow Lake) 27-11 won by major decision over Nollen Sheeley (Milbank) 11-18 (MD 14-0)

160 – Reese Rabe (8-16) scored 2.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Reese Rabe (Milbank) 8-16 won by decision over Braeden Johnson (Clark/Willow Lake) 12-24 (Dec 3-1)
• Semifinal – Korbin Kucker (Groton Area) 9-3 won by fall over Reese Rabe (Milbank) 8-16 (Fall 3:30)
• Cons. Semi – Isaac Nelson (Webster Area) 5-16 won by fall over Reese Rabe (Milbank) 8-16 (Fall 3:44)

170 – Barrett Schneck (26-0) placed 1st and scored 17.5 team points.

• Semifinal – Barrett Schneck (Milbank) 26-0 received a bye () (Bye)
• 1st Place Match – Barrett Schneck (Milbank) 26-0 won by tech fall over Cole Bisbee (Groton Area) 19-13 (TF-1.5 4:43 (17-2))

182 – Paul VanDover (5-15) placed 4th and scored 8.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Paul VanDover (Milbank) 5-15 won by fall over Riley Popp (Clark/Willow Lake) 9-20 (Fall 1:24)
• Semifinal – Mason Shultz (Sisseton) 27-8 won by fall over Paul VanDover (Milbank) 5-15 (Fall 1:38)
• Cons. Semi – Paul VanDover (Milbank) 5-15 received a bye () (Bye)
• 3rd Place Match – Camden Murray (Redfield ) 16-13 won by major decision over Paul VanDover (Milbank) 5-15 (MD 11-1)

195 – Jesse Schneck (20-10) placed 2nd and scored 12.0 team points.

• Semifinal – Jesse Schneck (Milbank) 20-10 won by decision over Seth Siebrecht (Redfield ) 18-12 (Dec 3-2)
• 1st Place Match – Justin Granum (Deuel) 22-6 won by decision over Jesse Schneck (Milbank) 20-10 (Dec 9-4)

285 – Landon Novy (20-13) placed 2nd and scored 14.0 team points.

• Semifinal – Landon Novy (Milbank) 20-13 won by fall over Noah Smith (Hamlin) 15-9 (Fall 0:58)
• 1st Place Match – Grady Fey (Redfield ) 35-1 won by fall over Landon Novy (Milbank) 20-13 (Fall 2:22)

What’s next for the Dawgs? Regional competition takes place at Todd County High School in Mission on Saturday, February 18.

JV Match 

Milbank vs. Watertown Also on Saturday, February 11, the Bulldog JV wrestlers competed in Watertown. At 285 pounds, Anthony St. Martin brought home third place.

 145 – Jesse Rutherford

• Champ. Round 1 – Max Hunsley (Pierre T.F. Riggs) won by fall over Jesse Rutherford (Milbank) (Fall 0:14)
• Cons. Round 1 – Jesse Rutherford (Milbank) received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 2 – Jaxon Ducheneaux (Pierre T.F. Riggs) won by fall over Jesse Rutherford (Milbank) (Fall 0:12)

160 –  Lane Johnson

• Champ. Round 1 – Will Dose (Sioux Falls Jefferson) won by tech fall over Lane Johnson (Milbank) (TF 20-2)
• Cons. Round 1 – Lane Johnson (Milbank) received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 2 – Fabian Lujardo (Sioux Falls Roosevelt) won by fall over Lane Johnson (Milbank) (Fall 1:52)

285 –  Anthony St. Martin placed 3rd and scored 9.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Anthony St. Martin (Milbank) won by fall over Seth Arntzen (Madison) (Fall 0:37)
• Round 2 – Rocky Clark (Mitchell) won by fall over Anthony St. Martin (Milbank) (Fall 3:00)
• Round 3 – Lucas Colman (Pierre T.F. Riggs) won by fall over Anthony St. Martin (Milbank) (Fall 0:38)

Photos: Top- Evan Folk, Coaches, Bottom- Reese Rabe