Pierre Governor Wrestling to kick-off season in unique way tonight

The Pierre Governor boys and girls wrestling teams will conduct wrestle-offs as a way to set their lineups for the start of the season at 6:00 Tuesday night at Riggs High Gym. The event is open to the public, and the cost of admission will be at least one bottle of sports drink, which the teams will be able to use throughout the season. Shawn Lewis will begin his 13^th season as the head boys coach as the Govs will try to improve upon an 11^th place finish at last year’s State Meet. They’ll return four State place finishers, including senior Alex Oedekoven, who finished runner-up at 132 pounds, as well as sophomore Gable Uhrig, a runner-up two years ago and a fifth-place finisher last season at 106. Meanwhile the five-time defending State Champion Governor girls squad will begin the season with a new head coach for the first time, as Ben Caven replaces Matt Thorson, who just completed his first season as the head football coach at West Central in Hartford. Caven has been instrumental in guiding a strong Pierre youth program in recent years. Pierre returns five State place finishers from last season, including junior Abbigail Lewis, who won her second straight State individual title at 152 pounds. Senior Kezrey Benning, runner-up at 138 pounds, and sophomore Lexie Hillmer, who finished third at 132, will be back to help lead this year’s team as well. The season schedule begins on Dec. 5 with a girls invitational tournament at Watertown, while the boys open at a Mandan, ND, tournament Dec. 5-6.