Aberdeen Central’s Rayden Zens, top, tries to turn Brandon Valley’s Jesse Johnson during their 120 pound match earlier this season at the Golden Eagles Arena. Zens finished fifth at 120 pounds at the state tournament in Sioux Falls on Friday. Photo by John Davis taken 2/1/2022
SIOUX FALLS – Aberdeen Central concluded its season with five wrestlers grabbing medals at the State A tournament on Friday at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.
Mason Schrempp had the highest finish, taking fourth at 126 pounds. He lost in the semifinals to a multiple state champion, but bounced back to take fourth, two spots higher than he placed a year ago.
“He moved up the ladder a little bit from last year,” said Central coach Donnie Bowden.
Ryden Zens was also in the semifinals at 120 pounds and suffered a heart-breaking one-point loss in a match that he led by three in the opening period.
“He wrestled the number one seed to a really tight match,” Bowden said. “We were winning the whole way until right at the end.
Zens later won a one-point decision and ended up in fifth.
Samson Flakus took eighth place at 220 pounds and gained valuable experience.
“It was good for Samson to get into today and to get a medal,” Bowden said. “We’re just building for next year now.”
Madyson Gillen and Autum Gauer each finished seventh. Both girls ended their season with a victory.
Aberdeen Central’s Madyson Gillen, center, lifts Brandon Valley’s Grace Carson during their 113 pound match earlier this season at the Golden Eagles Arena. Gillen finished seventh at the state tournament. Photo by John Davis taken 2/1/2022
“It was good for them to end the day with a win,” Bowden said. “It gives them confidence looking forward to next year.”
Bowden said his young squad learned a lot this past season.
“We were trying to take another step in the right direction,” he said.
He is hoping that his team can continue to build on the momentum generated this past year.
“We got a lot of kids experience,” Bowden said. “We got a lot more kids qualified for the state tournament. We just have to keep getting more kids into that second day.”
G-285: Autum Gauer 7th
Champ. Round 1 – Autum Gauer (Aberdeen Central) over Madison Nicolaisen (Hot Springs) (Fall 1:15)
Quarterfinals – Kiara King (Canton) over Autum Gauer (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:54)