The Aberdeen Central boys’ wrestling squad is building momentum for the upcoming postseason and made major strides on Saturday at Golden Eagles Arena.

The local squad won four individual weight classes and captured the team title in the process during the annual Lee Wolf Wrestling Tournament.

“It feels really good,” said Central coach Donnie Bowden. “We’ve had a good season. It’s all been building.”

The Golden Eagles received championships from Esten Foss at 120 pounds, Ridley Waldo at 157, Grayden Timm at 175, and Owen Ward at 190.

In the final home match of his career, Foss dominated his foe on the way to an 11-5 victory. He was later named the Stan Opp Outstanding Wrestler.

“I know I have good shots,” Foss said. “I’ve been trying to get better at shots from space, don’t tie up with people, especially that double leg I’m trying to get to, and I was able to that match.”

Foss defeated Rylan Robbins of Winner, the top-rated wrestler in Class B, in the title match.

“I’m used to wrestling these Class A guys,” Foss said, “so once in a while it’s interesting to see where I stack up in Class B, so now I know.”

Foss, who also won a Lee Wolf title last year, said this year was special because it’s his last chance and the competition was solid.

“I think this year was better,” Foss said. “Last year was good, I faced ranked opponents, but this year I think they’re a little sharper and I was still able to get it done.”

Bowden said now is when Foss steps up his game.

“He’s been on a tear. … This (is the) time he starts hitting that stride,” Bowden said. “The last week, the guys that that kid has beaten and to come in here and beat them the way he did, he’s a buzz saw.”

Waldo did not even have to compete in his final after his opponent suffered an injury in the semifinals and was unable to wrestle.

“It’s unfortunate how it happened,” Waldo said. “I hope that my opponent that I was supposed to be wrestling is able to be alright.”

Waldo was still planning to prepare as if he was going to be wrestling on the mat.

“I’m still going to treat it like a normal wrestling match,” Waldo said. “Go out there, warm up, kind of get everything ready, just how I would a normal match, but then I guess just go out and get my hand raised.”

There were numerous past Central wrestlers in attendance watching the Golden Eagles compete during the tourney. Waldo said that’s a testament to the program.

“Great environment, obviously thanks to our coaches. They built this stuff. They built us as wrestlers,” Waldo said. “Obviously, the guys (are) coming back because of such a great program that these coaches are able to help build.”

Timm finished fourth at the Lee Wolf as an eighth-grader and third last season. The junior was able to finish on top this season.

“It feels good,” Timm said of winning his first Lee Wolf title. “You’re in the hometown, it’s one of the last tournaments of the season, quite a few decent teams here, decent competition.”

After finishing third at state a year ago, Timm said the goal is to win the state championship this season.

“I just gotta wrestle my best and not worry about it, and act like there’s nothing to lose,” Timm said.

A loss earlier this season has taken the pressure off he said.

“I already have a loss on the season,” Timm said. “There’s no point (worrying). I’m not going undefeated.”

Ward made quick work of his opponent in the title match. The junior, who lost in the finals of the Lee Wolf last year, used that as motivation.

“Every loss motivates me,” Ward said.

Ward said he enjoyed wrestling in front of the local fans.

“It’s a little different. You feel like you’ve got more eyes on you,” Ward said. “I think it’s good. I like it. I like when there’s people watching. It makes it more fun.”

The Timm-Ward 1-2 punch is a formidable combination in the Central lineup.

“They’re the monsters. Those two up top are the monsters and people don’t like wrestling them,” Bowden said. “We like to let them loose and they’re figuring out how to pin people, so it’s a good thing.”

Jacksen Carter of Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington, won his third straight Lee Wolf championship. The undefeated wrestler said there is one particular key.

“It’s all about consistency, really,” Carter said. “If you’re consistent you can expect to do well.”

The Class B top-rated junior at 138 finished second at state last season and has grown accustomed to having a target on his back.

“It definitely does feel different, but you kind of learn to live like that,” Carter said. “You have to prove yourself every tournament.”

While Carter refines his skills during the summer, he said there are also ways to improve throughout the course of the season.

“You just have to know what you need to get better at,” he said, “and just constantly think about it in the room.”

Sisseton’s Holden Hawkins also won a championship without having to compete in his final. His opponent at 165 pounds took a medical forfeit.

Hawkins said he enjoys wrestling against the different competition he sees at the Lee Wolf.

“I like it more than wrestling a guy that you’ve already wrestled, because you get a different feel,” Hawkins said. “It’s like if you beat a guy really bad, you’re going into that match thinking, oh, I’m going to beat this guy really bad again, and then it doesn’t turn out.”

The defending state champ who plans on wrestling at Northern State next season, enjoyed his role as an underdog last year when he knocked off a two-time state champion in the final. While he may not have that role this year, he tries to wrestle like he does despite being the reigning state champion.

“It’s a little nerve wracking. I try to just keep it in the back of my head, don’t let it get to me,” Hawkins said. “Just wrestle like I still am the underdog going into the match.”

Central has one dual match remaining on Thursday at Brookings before the state dual tourney, regions and the state tournament. The Golden Eagles are gearing up for a big finish.

“We just gotta make sure now that we stay healthy and get everyone healthy,” Bowden said. “If we can get everyone in the lineup at one time, it’s going to be great.”

To see complete tournament results, click on the following link:

https://www.trackwrestling.com/predefinedtournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&TIM=1769912515363&pageName=%2Fpredefinedtournaments%2FTournamentTeams.jsp&twSessionId=stnfxfseqq

Aberdeen Central results

Will Allen
Champ. Round 1 – Will Allen (Aberdeen Central) over Owen Engel (Chamberlain) (Fall 5:16)
Quarterfinals – Kasey Hermann (Redfield) over Will Allen (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 7-2)
Cons. Round 2 – Will Allen (Aberdeen Central) over Luke Olson (Mobridge-Pollock) (M. For.)
Cons. Round 3 – Will Allen (Aberdeen Central) over Jack Stuwe (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 4:00)
Cons. Semis – Blake Steiner (Sisseton) over Will Allen (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 4-2)
5th Place Match – Will Allen (Aberdeen Central) over Carter Wylde (Bismarck Century) (Fall 4:12)

Mason Backous
Champ. Round 1 – Mason Backous (Aberdeen Central) over Will Norman (O`Gorman) (Dec 7-0)
Quarterfinals – Roukyn Robbins (Winner) over Mason Backous (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 15-8)
Cons. Round 2 – Mason Backous (Aberdeen Central) over Angelo Ebah (Bismarck Century) (MD 10-0)
Cons. Round 3 – Mason Backous (Aberdeen Central) over Aykre Piotter (Sisseton) (MD 15-2)
Cons. Semis – Kaden Wookey (Clark/Willow Lake) over Mason Backous (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 3-1)
5th Place Match – Mason Backous (Aberdeen Central) over Benny Pommer (Clark/Willow Lake) (TB-1 10-9)

Brodene Beitelspacher
Champ. Round 1 – Brayden Nayes (West Fargo Horace) over Brodene Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 6-4)
Cons. Round 1 – Brodene Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Jed Blare (Winner) over Brodene Beitelspacher (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:47)

Max Borns
Champ. Round 1 – Max Borns (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Quarterfinals – Max Borns (Aberdeen Central) over Kaleb Khalil (Watertown) (Fall 3:09)
Semifinals – Matthew Angiolelli (Webster Area) over Max Borns (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:54)
Cons. Semis – Max Borns (Aberdeen Central) over Ethan Falk (Mobridge-Pollock) (Dec 8-6)
3rd Place Match – Mathew Cartwright (West Fargo Horace) over Max Borns (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 7-0)

Ryder Burkett
Champ. Round 1 – Isaac Folk (Sisseton) over Ryder Burkett (Aberdeen Central) (MD 11-1)
Cons. Round 1 – Ryder Burkett (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Will Hosman (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Ryder Burkett (Aberdeen Central) (TF 19-2 4:04)

Cael Dreis
Champ. Round 1 – Cael Dreis (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Quarterfinals – Holden Hawkins (Sisseton) over Cael Dreis (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:46)
Cons. Round 2 – Cael Dreis (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 3 – Austin Vig (Clark/Willow Lake) over Cael Dreis (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 4-3)
7th Place Match – Cael Dreis (Aberdeen Central) over Abe Kaiser (Winner) (MD 10-2)

Paxton Ewing
Champ. Round 1 – Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) over Isaiah Rau (Bismarck Century) (TF 19-3 5:20)
Quarterfinals – Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) over Carter Nelson (Huron) (Fall 3:27)
Semifinals – Kaden Haakinson (West Central) over Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) (TF 17-2 3:50)
Cons. Semis – Jonah Anderson (Watertown) over Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 14-9)
5th Place Match – Carter Nelson (Huron) over Paxton Ewing (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 6-1)

Esten Foss
Champ. Round 1 – Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) over Jack Jones (West Fargo Horace) (Fall 0:38)
Quarterfinals – Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) over Gavin Fryer (Sisseton) (Fall 0:32)
Semifinals – Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) over Cade Gaikowski (Clark/Willow Lake) (Dec 8-3)
1st Place Match – Esten Foss (Aberdeen Central) over Rylan Robbins (Winner) (Dec 11-5)

Henry Gillen
Champ. Round 1 – Cadyn Sailer (Bismarck Century) over Henry Gillen (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 2:47)
Cons. Round 1 – Henry Gillen (Aberdeen Central) over Evan Booth (West Fargo Horace) (TF 15-0 3:21)
Cons. Round 2 – Henry Gillen (Aberdeen Central) over Noah Hofer (Huron) (Dec 10-4)
Cons. Round 3 – Henry Gillen (Aberdeen Central) over Isaac Folk (Sisseton) (Dec 8-5)
Cons. Semis – Jace Edgar (Redfield) over Henry Gillen (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:42)
5th Place Match – Macyn Gardner (O`Gorman) over Henry Gillen (Aberdeen Central) (MD 16-4)

Felipe Gonzalez
Champ. Round 1 – Cooper Gerard (Chamberlain) over Felipe Gonzalez (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 3:05)
Cons. Round 1 – Felipe Gonzalez (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Felipe Gonzalez (Aberdeen Central) over Wyatt Zeigler (Mobridge-Pollock) (Fall 1:58)
Cons. Round 3 – Felipe Gonzalez (Aberdeen Central) over Jacob Hawk (Chamberlain) (Fall 0:16)
Cons. Semis – Derek Fenenga (Winner) over Felipe Gonzalez (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:47)
5th Place Match – Cooper Gerard (Chamberlain) over Felipe Gonzalez (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:34)

Logan Heier
Champ. Round 1 – Logan Heier (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Quarterfinals – Evan Folk (Sisseton) over Logan Heier (Aberdeen Central) (TF 18-3 3:06)
Cons. Round 2 – Logan Heier (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 3 – Logan Heier (Aberdeen Central) over Gus Tobin (Winner) (Fall 4:59)
Cons. Semis – Cade Werdel (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Logan Heier (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 3:49)
5th Place Match – Brody Neilan (Chamberlain) over Logan Heier (Aberdeen Central) (MD 10-0)

Porter Lozenski
Champ. Round 1 – Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) over Micaiah Coleman (Bismarck Century) (Fall 1:19)
Quarterfinals – Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) over Lyric Mauk (West Fargo Horace) (Fall 1:12)
Semifinals – Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) over Kruse Brennan (Chamberlain) (Fall 3:41)
1st Place Match – Ryken Orel (Winner) over Porter Lozenski (Aberdeen Central) (MD 10-0)

Hunter Opitz
Champ. Round 1 – Sutton Powers (Chamberlain) over Hunter Opitz (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 11-4)
Cons. Round 1 – Hunter Opitz (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Hunter Opitz (Aberdeen Central) over Langdon Klinkhammer (West Central) (M. For.)
Cons. Round 3 – Hunter Opitz (Aberdeen Central) over JD Chavez (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) (Fall 4:42)
Cons. Semis – Ethan Rearick (Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington) over Hunter Opitz (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:50)
5th Place Match – Hunter Opitz (Aberdeen Central) over Ash Kaiser (Winner) (Dec 9-7)

Isaac Price
Champ. Round 1 – Landen Lewis (Watertown) over Isaac Price (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:38)
Cons. Round 1 – Isaac Price (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Isaac Price (Aberdeen Central) over Canyon Ford (Mobridge-Pollock) (Fall 3:36)
Cons. Round 3 – Max Fiesterman (Winner) over Isaac Price (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 3:00)
7th Place Match – Bayze Helgeson (Bismarck Century) over Isaac Price (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 4:02)

Landon Schaffner
Champ. Round 1 – Landon Schaffner (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Quarterfinals – Rylan Robbins (Winner) over Landon Schaffner (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 3:56)
Cons. Round 2 – Landon Schaffner (Aberdeen Central) over Jack Jones (West Fargo Horace) (Fall 2:51)
Cons. Round 3 – Maddon Odland (Redfield) over Landon Schaffner (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 8-3)
7th Place Match – Landon Schaffner (Aberdeen Central) over Coltyn Mueller (West Fargo Horace) (TF 15-0 4:56)

Jack Stuwe
Champ. Round 1 – Blake Steiner (Sisseton) over Jack Stuwe (Aberdeen Central) (MD 15-6)
Cons. Round 1 – Jack Stuwe (Aberdeen Central) over Aiden Wick (West Fargo Horace) (Fall 1:24)
Cons. Round 2 – Jack Stuwe (Aberdeen Central) over Noah Rau (Bismarck Century) (TB-1 10-8)
Cons. Round 3 – Will Allen (Aberdeen Central) over Jack Stuwe (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 4:00)
7th Place Match – Jack Stuwe (Aberdeen Central) over Braxten Petersen (Watertown) (Dec 13-7)

Kaylor Swenson
Champ. Round 1 – Kaylor Swenson (Aberdeen Central) over Josh Hewitt (West Fargo Horace) (Fall 0:19)
Quarterfinals – Kaylor Swenson (Aberdeen Central) over Austin Vig (Clark/Willow Lake) (Fall 4:30)
Semifinals – Holden Hawkins (Sisseton) over Kaylor Swenson (Aberdeen Central) (TF 19-4 4:19)
Cons. Semis – Kaylor Swenson (Aberdeen Central) over Jerrod Larsen (Chamberlain) (Fall 2:25)
3rd Place Match – Kaylor Swenson (Aberdeen Central) over Austin Vig (Clark/Willow Lake) (MD 16-7)

Grayden Timm
Champ. Round 1 – Grayden Timm (Aberdeen Central) over Tre Zeigler (Winner) (Fall 1:03)
Quarterfinals – Grayden Timm (Aberdeen Central) over Tristen Johnson (Chamberlain) (Fall 0:46)
Semifinals – Grayden Timm (Aberdeen Central) over Malachi Anderson (Sisseton) (MD 14-0)
1st Place Match – Grayden Timm (Aberdeen Central) over Landen Lewis (Watertown) (Fall 0:45)

Jakob Van Der Meid
Champ. Round 1 – Rory Current (Sisseton) over Jakob Van Der Meid (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 15-10)
Cons. Round 1 – Jakob Van Der Meid (Aberdeen Central) received a bye
Cons. Round 2 – Jakob Van Der Meid (Aberdeen Central) over Lyric Mauk (West Fargo Horace) (Fall 0:51)
Cons. Round 3 – Jakob Van Der Meid (Aberdeen Central) over Keslar Swenson (Watertown) (Dec 10-4)
Cons. Semis – Sam Crago (Miller/Highmore-Harrold) over Jakob Van Der Meid (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 4:11)
5th Place Match – Jakob Van Der Meid (Aberdeen Central) over Rory Current (Sisseton) (Fall 3:46)

Ridley Waldo
Champ. Round 1 – Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) over Gavyn Nelson (Bismarck Century) (Fall 1:21)
Quarterfinals – Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) over Andrey Hall (West Fargo Horace) (TF 16-0 3:52)
Semifinals – Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) over Kalib Keller (Mobridge-Pollock) (Fall 1:30)
1st Place Match – Ridley Waldo (Aberdeen Central) over Carson Finn (Wessington Springs/Woonsocket/Wolsey-Wessington) (M. For.)

Owen Ward
Champ. Round 1 – Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) over Forfeit Forfeit (Chamberlain) (For.)
Quarterfinals – Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) over Jordan Drummond (Winner) (Fall 1:20)
Semifinals – Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) over Cade Kuemper (Watertown) (Fall 1:13)
1st Place Match – Owen Ward (Aberdeen Central) over Chisum Blum (Chamberlain) (Fall 1:21)