Bulldogs Wrestlers Review 2023-2024 Season and Earn Awards

The Bulldogs wrestling team, led by head coach Josh Schmeichel paid homage to their 2023-2024 season by presenting year-end awards on Tuesday, March 12.

Keaton Johnson and Lawson Novy shared the title of Rookie of the Year. About Keaton, Schmeichel said, “This young man got a taste of varsity action last year, when I threw him to the wolves to fill in some spots at our duals. This year, we did the same thing, but he also proved himself and came along to some varsity tournaments, which was a big jump from the middle school tournaments he was used to dominating.” Schmeichel continued, “Lawson had some big shoes to fill when the varsity wrestler at his spot got hurt. And he did.  (I think he wears size 16 or 17.) Lawson  stepped up and had some great tournaments, and even placed at the Sioux Falls Lincoln tournament. 

Hunter Reade was named Most Improved Wrestler. “Hunter was another wrestler that didn’t have a varsity spot at the beginning of year,” Schmeichel noted, “ but he stepped up and won some really big dual matches for us. He had a very tough bracket at Regions, but proved himself enough to become an alternate at the state tournament.”

Joe French won the Pinner award. Joe topped the team with 24 pins, “Besides being a great pinner, he also led the team in match points with 202, wins with 35, takedowns with 58, escapes with 28, stalling warnings at five, and  just one penalty point shy of leading the team with his five of those.Joe was unable to compete last year due to an injury, so just think of where he might have been if he  hadn’t gotten hurt last year.”

Tate Schlueter was named the Most Valuable Wrestler.Tate started the season last year by getting injured shortly into it, so he had some catching up to do and he did. Tate was just shy of leading in pins with 23, but that didn’t stop him from placing in every tournament he was in and even being our lone conference champion,” Schmeichel reviewed. “Tate led the team with 10 pins during duals, one tech fall, three forfeits, and only one loss by decision to a two-time state champ. He also brought home the highest finish at State this year at sixth place.”

The Justin Maas Spirit Award and Senior Award went to Jacob Johnson. Schemichel explained, “Jacob has a huge passion for wrestling. He went to a handful of tournaments throughout the offseason and even decided to run cross country to get ready for wrestling this year. When we had open lifting in the off season, Jacob was one of our regulars in the weight room. During practice, Jacob stepped up into the role of a leader and was always working his tail off. Even though his career didn’t end the way he was hoping, he was a huge part of our wrestling program throughout all the years and he will be greatly missed.”

Landon Novy received the Senior Award. It was fun to watch Landon grow up.This year was definitely one with some ups and downs. We had high hopes at the beginning of the season for Landon to place at State, and those hopes were almost eliminated with an injury at the conference tournament. Luckily, he was able to come back from it. He is about the only athlete I have ever known that came back from an injury almost better than when he started. Out of all the 285-pound wrestlers  in the state, he was probably the best conditioned one too. Landon was able to complete his goal and finish off his wrestling career with a win to finish seventh at State.”

Major M Winners and Grade
Jacob Johnson – 12th
Landon Novy – 12th
Owen Fischer – 11th
Jayce Jonason – 11th
Joe French – 11th
Nollen Sheeley – 11th
Reese Rabe – 11th
Tate Schlueter – 11th
Jesse Schneck – 11th
Jacob Giles – 10th
Hunter Reede – 10th
Carter Gloe – 10th
Lawson Novy – 8th
Evan Folk –  8th 
Keaton Johnson –  8th
Kyle Schneck – 7th

Minor M Winners
Andrew Folk – 10th
Lane Johnson – 9th
Rashawn Gertsma – 9th
Cody Wiik – 9th
Brody Job – 9th
Tanen Schmieg – 9th
Andrew Karels – 8th
Zack Karges – 8th
Tayson Tillma – 8th

Girl Wrestlers
Aza Scavariel – 8th
Mackenzie Mueller – 8th
Kyra Tostenson – 7th

Statisticians 
Allie Meyer 10th
Megan Wiese – 10th
Morgean French –  9th
Tayla Trapp – 9th

Submitted Photo: Keeton Johnson, Joe French, Tate Schlueter, Landon Novy, Lawson Novy, Hunter Reede, Jacob Johnson