For the first time in a decade, the Aberdeen Central boys stand alone on top of the Eastern South Dakota Conference wrestling world.

The Golden Eagles, who shared the ESD crown last year and in 2017, won their first outright title since 2015 with a 66-7 victory over Brookings Thursday night in their final home action of the season.

“We’re going to enjoy what we did here,” said Central coach Donnie Bowden. “We’ve put in a lot of good work to get to this point.”

While Central won most of the matches on the evening, Bowden pointed out how difficult it is to dominate the competition.

“You can see how hard it is in a one-off dual to go out there and kind of manhandle and do what you want,” Bowden said, “because they have to wrestle, too, so that’s what it comes down to.”

On Senior Night it was only fitting that the Golden Eagles received major contributions from their seniors on the squad. All six seniors won matches in convincing fashion including Tate Huff, Brody Aesoph, Mason Schrempp, Elias Biegler, Ryker Meister, and Joran Foss.

Huff had to overcome a rough stretch in his match before recording a 15-3 win at 132 pounds, including nearly giving up back points.

“I just didn’t really fully readjust after weigh-ins and kind of let the match get away from me for a second there,” Huff said. “I thought I had control with a body lock.”

Huff said he had to find another gear to get out of his precarious position.

“I’m not comfortable there. You just got to put your mind to it,” Huff said. “You just got to get off your back. You can’t get pinned. … Home crowd, Senior Night, man you just got to get off your back.”

Aesoph followed up that victory with a pin at 138. He said watching his teammates go out and collect wins motivates him.

“It definlitey helps,” Aesoph said, “they setting the expectations so high.”

Aesoph got down to business immediately on the way to a 43-second pin.

“I just got my under hook and got my body lock,” Aesoph said.

Aesoph, who competed in the state tournament two years ago before losing his spot to a teammate last season, said he is wrestling well as he finishes off his high school career.

“I’m definitely wrestling the best I have in a while,” Aesoph said.

Next up for the Golden Eagles is the state dual tournament a week from Saturday. Central’s only two dual losses this season have come to Sturgis. While the members were pleased with their ESD title, they also have their sites on the state dual tourney.

“The team puts a lot of hard work in to be here, so I’m pretty excited,” Huff said, “but the job’s not finished yet. We’ve still got state (duals) next weekend.”

Before then, however, comes a rare weekend off for the Golden Eagles. Bowden wants his wrestlers to exhale and take a break.

“The biggest thing that we’ve been looking forward to is this weekend. We’ve got the weekend off,” Bowden said. “It’s time to reset, especially their minds. Their bodies will be fine, they’re young and resilient, but their minds, this is a hard push. This is a very hard sport. There’s a reason why not too many people do it.”

So this weekend will be about anything other than wrestling, including maybe even watching the big game.

“They’re going to watch the Super Bowl. … This is to get rid of the stress,” Bowden said, “that’s what this weekend is.”

106: Jackson Dargatz (ABCE) over Bode TeKrony (BROO) (Fall 1:06) 113: Esten Foss (ABCE) over Hunter Mellon (BROO) (Fall 0:57) 120: Micah Stern (BROO) over Will Allen (ABCE) (Dec 11-6) 126: Mason Backous (ABCE) over Haiden Baxter (BROO) (Fall 4:31);

132: Tate Huff (ABCE) over Jacob Milliron (BROO) (MD 15-3) 138: Brody Aesoph (ABCE) over Jack Griggs (BROO) (Fall 1:27) 144: Porter Lozenski (ABCE) over Cayden Westall (BROO) (TF 16-0 2:15) 150: Brody Beitlespacher (ABCE) over (BROO) (For.) 157: Mason Schrempp (ABCE) over James Fitzpatrick (BROO) (TF 19-2 2:20);

165: Elias Biegler (ABCE) over Colten Walsh (BROO) (Fall 0:17) 175: Gabriel Stern (BROO) over Grayden Timm (ABCE) (MD 12-4) 190: Cole Dunlavy (ABCE) over Blake Kannegieter (BROO) (MD 15-3) 215: Ryker Meister (ABCE) over Gabe Armstrong (BROO) (Fall 0:19) 285: Joran Foss (ABCE) over Dylan Reynolds (BROO) (Fall 2:47).