SIOUX FALLS – Aberdeen Central put a pair of wrestlers through to the semifinals of the girls state tournament, which got underway Thursday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

Central’s Madison Little (110 pounds) and Rakyrah Wallace (140) each won their first two matches of the tournament, bulldozing their way into the semifinals. Four others – Jasmine Maas (115), Allison Neitzel (145), Lin Paw Jone (155) and Lilly Nelson (170) won their opening round match before falling into the wrestlebacks.

“The day had ups and downs as usual,” said Central coach Jake Flakus, “but we punched two into the semis with Rakyrah Wallace and Madison Little. We have seven more in the wrestlebacks (Friday) looking to fight for a spot on the podium.”

A highlight on the day was Neitzel winning her 100th career match.

Thursday’s opening-day efforts put the Golden Eagles in eighth place in the team standings heading into day two action. Central finished the day with 35.5 points, a mere half-point back of Pierre in seventh and just 2.5 points behind Sturgis in fourth place.

“With a tight gap in the team race as well, we hope to close the gap with those teams we are close to,” Flakus said.

All nine Golden Eagle wrestlers will be in contention when action resumes this morning with the first and second-round consolation matches.

Four area wrestlers earned spots in today’s semifinals. That group includes Liza Krueger of Groton and Kadee Frankfurth of Clark-Willow Lake at 105, Tahnie Yellow Hawk of Sully Buttes at 120, and Cateri Yellow Hawk of Sully Buttes at 130.

Aberdeen Central results

100: Paisley Stewart

Champ. Round 1 – Jamii Washechek (Rapid City Central) over Paisley Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:05)

110: Madison Little 

Champ. Round 1 – Madison Little (Aberdeen Central) over Kyliegh Schuller (West Central) (Dec 4-1)

Quarterfinals – Madison Little (Aberdeen Central) over Isabella Current (Sisseton) (Fall 2:55)

115: Jasmine Maas

Champ. Round 1 – Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) over Izzy Myer (Wagner) (Fall 0:16)

Quarterfinals – Gabrielle Nelson (St. Thomas More) over Jasmine Maas (Aberdeen Central) (TF 18-3 6:00)

130: Imani Pippens

Champ. Round 1 – Hadlee Kracht (Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon) over Imani Pippens (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 2:46)

140: Rakyrah Wallace 

Champ. Round 1 – Rakyrah Wallace (Aberdeen Central) over Paige Jonas (Sully Buttes) (Fall 0:15)

Quarterfinals – Rakyrah Wallace (Aberdeen Central) over Kenzie King (Canton) (TF 16-0 3:50)

145: Allison Neitzel 

Champ. Round 1 – Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) over Citori Edwards (Todd County/White River) (Fall 3:06)

Quarterfinals – Sarah Rickenbach (Hot Springs) over Allison Neitzel (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 0:48)

155: Lin Paw Jone

Champ. Round 1 – Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) over Jayce Turbiville (Harding County) (Fall 1:58)

Quarterfinals – Bella Morteo (Rapid City Stevens) over Lin Paw Jone (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 10-7)

170: Lilly Nelson

Champ. Round 1 – Lilly Nelson (Aberdeen Central) over Adilynn Ahrens (Clark/Willow Lake) (Fall 1:46)

Quarterfinals – Blair Merkwan (Vermillion) over Lilly Nelson (Aberdeen Central) (Dec 6-3)

190: Meleane Mounga

Champ. Round 1 – Allison Konrad (Watertown) over Meleane Mounga (Aberdeen Central) (Fall 1:43)