Six Bulldogs Wrestle at State Tomorrow

Six Bulldogs head to the mat tomorrow at the 2023 South Dakota HSAA Wrestling Tournament in Rapid City at The Monument. The championships start Thursday, February 23. The winners will be decided on Friday, February 24. 

MIlbank’s Owen Fischer, Jacob Johnson, Brayden Christensen, Reese Rabe, Barrett Schneck, and Jesse Schneck all punched their tickets to the state gig during the Region 3A meet at Todd County High School on Saturday, February 18.

The Pierre Governors captured the Region 3A team title with 274.5 points.  Aberdeen Central took second with 244 points. Chamberlain was third at 125.

Josh Schmeichel, head coach for Milbank, said, “Regions is one of those bittersweet tournaments. As a coach you are excited for all the wrestlers that make it to state, but sad for the ones that don’t. To make it to state, you need to place in the top four at Regions.”

Results for the Bulldog wrestlers, including comments from Coach Schmeichel:

106 – Owen Fischer secured a first-place finish. Owen had an illness last week, so he had something to prove this week. He pinned both of his opponents to win the tournament.

113 – Evan Folk competed hard for a light and young 113-pounder. He wasn’t quite able to make it to State, but he wrestled back to a fifth-place finish. 

120 – Jacob Giles wrestled hard and well. This was only his second year of wrestling. He finished the season with a sixth-place finish.

126 – Jayce Jonason ended last season with an injury and is definitely a better wrestler than his record shows. I’m confident next year he will have a successful season.

132 – Jacob Johnson had a tough draw for Regions because he came in as an unseeded wrestler. He has also been dealing with a shoulder injury all year. Despite that, he was able to wrestle hard and punch his ticket to the state tournament with a fourth-place finish.

145 – Brayden Christensen had a few setbacks due to a recent injury and illness. He still was able to make it to State with a fourth-place finish. With an extra few days of practice, I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do at the tournament.

152 – Nollen Sheeley had a really rough bracket with a lot of tough wrestlers and just couldn’t get a break to make it into the state tournament. He made huge gains this year, so I’m excited to see what next year brings when he’s a junior.

160 – Reese Rabe has come a long way since I coached him in middle school. His hard work has paid off and he was able to wrestle his way to a fourth-place finish and make it to state.

170 – Even though Barrett Schneck was able to secure a first-place finish and head to State, he was a bit disappointed. Barrett had hoped for a good match against a tough wrestler from Pierre, but in the finals that wrestler was dealing with a shoulder injury and the match ended with an injury default to Barrett.

182 – Senior Paul VanDover finished his career with a sixth-place finish at Regions. I appreciate everything Paul brought to the team and we all would love it if we could have him for another year.

195 – Jesse Schneck had a tough match in the semi’s, but came back to take a third-place finish. I am looking forward to seeing how the state meet goes.

220 – Hunter Reede has been our JV wrestler at 220 all year. With an opening at 220, we decided to throw him in and see what he could do. It was a tough weight in our region. He wasn’t able to make it, but he is just a freshman, so I’m excited to see where we can take him over the next three years.

285 – Landon Novy – We came into the tournament with high hopes for Landon, but knew it was going to be a battle. He ended up losing his first round in a close 2-1 match. The loss made it necessary for him to win an extremely tough match to make it to State, and he just didn’t get there. Landon is a hard worker, and I have high hopes for his senior year next year.

Complete results for the Bulldogs:

106–Owen Fischer (29-9) placed 1st and scored 24.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Owen Fischer (Milbank) 29-9 received a bye () (Bye)
• Semifinal – Owen Fischer (Milbank) 29-9 won by fall over Colton Blow (Mitchell) 13-25 (Fall 3:09)
• 1st Place Match – Owen Fischer (Milbank) 29-9 won by fall over Jacob Mason (Pierre T.F. Riggs) 28-21 (Fall 2:47)

113–Evan Folk (8-12) placed 5th and scored 8.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Blake Steiner (Sisseton) 22-17 won by major decision over Evan Folk (Milbank) 8-12 (MD 14-0)
• Cons. Round 1 – Evan Folk (Milbank) 8-12 won by decision over Alec Pester (Huron) 5-24 (Dec 7-4)
• Cons. Semi – Cruze Allhiser (Mitchell) 25-16 won by major decision over Evan Folk (Milbank) 8-12 (MD 10-1)
• 5th Place Match – Evan Folk (Milbank) 8-12 won by fall over Owen Engel (Chamberlain ) 4-22 (Fall 4:23)

120–Jacob Giles (3-16) placed 6th and scored 3.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Lincoln Schoenhard (Pierre T.F. Riggs) 31-19 won by fall over Jacob Giles (Milbank) 3-16 (Fall 0:37)
• Cons. Round 1 – Jacob Giles (Milbank) 3-16 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Semi – Brady Meyer (Huron) 16-25 won by fall over Jacob Giles (Milbank) 3-16 (Fall 2:22)
• 5th Place Match – Van Long (Mitchell) 9-18 won by fall over Jacob Giles (Milbank) 3-16 (Fall 0:26)

126–Jayce Jonason (3-21) 

Quarterfinal – Rayden Zens (Aberdeen Central) 41-4 won by fall over Jayce Jonason (Milbank) 3-21 (Fall 1:22)

• Cons. Round 1 – Lincoln Houska (Pierre T.F. Riggs) 9-22 won by fall over Jayce Jonason (Milbank) 3-21 (Fall 3:20)

132–Jacob Johnson (15-21) placed 4th and scored 13.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Hudson Shaffer (Pierre T.F. Riggs) 21-21 won by major decision over Jacob Johnson (Milbank) 15-21 (MD 15-4)
• Cons. Round 1 – Jacob Johnson (Milbank) 15-21 won by fall over Van Johnson (Mitchell) 9-13 (Fall 0:11)
• Cons. Semi – Jacob Johnson (Milbank) 15-21 won by fall over Aiden Zavesky (Huron) 9-27 (Fall 2:53)
• 3rd Place Match – Hudson Shaffer (Pierre T.F. Riggs) 21-21 won by fall over Jacob Johnson (Milbank) 15-21 (Fall 3:53)

145–Brayden Christensen (17-10) placed 4th and scored 10.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Brayden Christensen (Milbank) 17-10 received a bye () (Bye)
• Semifinal – Mason Schrempp (Aberdeen Central) 32-6 won by tech fall over Brayden Christensen (Milbank) 17-10 (TF-1.5 4:32 (23-8))
• Cons. Semi – Brayden Christensen (Milbank) 17-10 won by fall over Ryder White (Sisseton) 6-17 (Fall 0:27)
• 3rd Place Match – Chase Carda (Pierre T.F. Riggs) 19-11 won by fall over Brayden Christensen (Milbank) 17-10 (Fall 2:55)

152–Nollen Sheeley (11-21) 

• Quarterfinal – Elias Biegler (Aberdeen Central) 25-18 won by fall over Nollen Sheeley (Milbank) 11-21 (Fall 1:37)
• Cons. Round 1 – Colt Dunkelberger (Huron) 18-12 won by fall over Nollen Sheeley (Milbank) 11-21 (Fall 2:06)

160–Reese Rabe (11-18) placed 4th and scored 12.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Reese Rabe (Milbank) 11-18 won in sudden victory – 1 over Jozey Nesladek (Chamberlain ) 10-23 (SV-1 4-2)
• Semifinal – Deegan Houska (Pierre T.F. Riggs) 34-7 won by fall over Reese Rabe (Milbank) 11-18 (Fall 0:24)
• Cons. Semi – Reese Rabe (Milbank) 11-18 won by fall over Keondray White (Sisseton) 3-18 (Fall 0:48)
• 3rd Place Match – Cole Ochsner (Huron) 24-13 won by fall over Reese Rabe (Milbank) 11-18 (Fall 1:30)

170–Barrett Schneck (29-0) placed 1st and scored 24.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Barrett Schneck (Milbank) 29-0 received a bye () (Bye)
• Semifinal – Barrett Schneck (Milbank) 29-0 won by fall over Ty Graesser (Chamberlain ) 15-20 (Fall 0:33)
• 1st Place Match – Barrett Schneck (Milbank) 29-0 won by injury default over Trey Lewis (Pierre T.F. Riggs) 30-9 (Inj. 0:54)

182–Paul VanDover (5-19) placed 6th and scored 3.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Cole Dunlavy (Aberdeen Central) 26-12 won by fall over Paul VanDover (Milbank) 5-19 (Fall 0:42)
• Cons. Round 1 – Paul VanDover (Milbank) 5-19 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Semi – Swade Reis (Chamberlain ) 25-18 won by fall over Paul VanDover (Milbank) 5-19 (Fall 3:33)
• 5th Place Match – Seth Foote (Mitchell) 18-24 won by fall over Paul VanDover (Milbank) 5-19 (Fall 0:23)

195–Jesse Schneck (22-12) placed 3rd and scored 12.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Jesse Schneck (Milbank) 22-12 received a bye () (Bye)
• Semifinal – Samson Flakus (Aberdeen Central) 25-17 won by major decision over Jesse Schneck (Milbank) 22-12 (MD 12-1)
• Cons. Semi – Jesse Schneck (Milbank) 22-12 won by fall over Hser Wah (Huron) 8-22 (Fall 2:36)
• 3rd Place Match – Jesse Schneck (Milbank) 22-12 won by decision over Connor Degen (Mitchell) 18-20 (Dec 10-6)

220–Hunter Reede (0-2) 

• Quarterfinal – Bryce Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) 29-13 won by fall over Hunter Reede (Milbank) 0-2 (Fall 1:15)
• Cons. Round 1 – Trevon Austell (Mitchell) 2-14 won by fall over Hunter Reede (Milbank) 0-2 (Fall 2:46)

285–Landon Novy (21-17) placed 6th and scored 6.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Bryan Ramirez (Huron) 26-18 won by decision over Landon Novy (Milbank) 21-17 (Dec 2-1)
• Cons. Round 1 – Landon Novy (Milbank) 21-17 won by fall over Carter Brave (Todd County) 6-19 (Fall 1:31)
• Cons. Semi – Canyon Burkard (Chamberlain ) 35-6 won by fall over Landon Novy (Milbank) 21-17 (Fall 1:37)
• 5th Place Match – Carson Podhradsky (Mitchell) 22-27 won by fall over Landon Novy (Milbank) 21-17 (Fall 1:31)

Good Luck to all the Milbank wrestlers at the 2023 South Dakota HSAA Wrestling Tournament in Rapid City on Thursday and Friday, February 23-24!  Keep up with The Valley Express for the Bulldogs’ results.