Tate Schlueter Takes Fifth at State Wrestling Tourney

Six Milbank wrestlers competed in the 2025 SDHSAA Class A State Championships on February 27 to March 1 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. Josh Schmeichel, head coach for the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs, said, “The state tournament is one filled with lots of excitement and heartbreak. It is the one tournament where anything can happen. Wrestlers know that each match could be the end of their season and or career, so they wrestle like it and leave everything on the mat.”

At 175 pounds, senior Tate Schlueter started the tournament with a pin in 24 seconds. He followed with a loss in overtime. He then pinned his next opponent in the first period. “His next match was to determine what place he would be going for,” Schmeichel explained. “He was down 2-5 in the third period, going after a takedown but ended up in the wrong position and got put to his back to lose 12-2. During Tate’s final match, he was able to put up some points and finish with a 15-3 major decision.” Tate earned a  fifth-place finish for Milbank.

At 157 pounds, senior Joe French started his tournament action with a close match, but got caught in the third  period. In his next match, Joe pinned his opponent in the first  period. “His final match was a close one,” Schmeichel commented. “It was 0-0 going into the third period. Joe gave up a reversal early in the period, but couldn’t get anything back and lost 0 – 2.”

Senior Reese Rabe battled the odds at 165 pounds. “Reese knew his first match was going to be a tough one going against the  No. 3 seed, and he ended up getting pinned,” Schmeichel said.  “From there he came up with a 17-11 win against his next opponent. For his final opponent, he ended up losing by fall in the second period.”

Jesse Schneck, a 190- pound senior,  started off the tournament with the same wrestler he lost to at Regions. “This time was different,” Schmeichel noted. “Jesse beat him with a 9-2 decision. His next match was against the wrestler who went on to win at 190. His final match was against another opponent from our region, but this time Jesse ended up losing by a close 5-7 decision.”

According to Schmeichel, at 214 pounds, junior Hunter Reede’s first assignment was to take on the returning runner up at 215. Hunter ended up losing in a tech fall. In his second match, Hunter lost a fairly close match with a final score of 7 – 12.  

In the girls division, Kyra Tostenson at 185 pounds, started with a quick pin in 1:27. She followed with a loss to the runner up. “Her last match to place was a heartbreaker. She was up 3-2 going into the third period and ended up getting head locked and pinned in the third,” Schmeichel reported.

Boys Top-Five Teams:  (1.) Sturgis Brown  (2.) Aberdeen Central  (3.) Rapid City Stevens tie  (3.) Watertown  (5.) Harrisburg

Girls Top-Five Teams:  (1.)  T. F. Riggs – Pierre  (2.) Canton (3.) Harrisburg  (4.) Watertown  (5.) Bon Homme-Scotland- Avon

Photo: Tate Schlueter