RAPID CITY – Regan Bollweg has serious redemption.
After a heartbreaking loss in the 2020 195-pound final, Bollweg completed an unbeaten senior season Saturday with the 220-pound Class A state championship at SDHSAA State Wrestling at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center’s Ice Arena.
Bollweg took a 3-0 decision over Brandon Valley’s Owen Warren, beating Warren for the third time this season. Bollweg completed his final season as a Governor wrestler at 29-0.
Overall, Pierre finished third in the team standings with 144 points. Brandon Valley won its first team state title with 188 points, 21.5 points more than Rapid City Stevens, who defeated Brandon Valley by one point in 2020.
Two other Governor boys fell short in state championship matches. Tyson Johnson lost a tough 3-2 decision to Gabe Skustad of Chamberlain in the 145-pound title bout. Blake Judson fell in a 3-0 decision to Trason Oehme of Brandon Valley at 126 pounds.
Preston Taylor finished third at 285 pounds, winning by fall over Canyon Burkhard of Chamberlain in just 13 seconds. All four of Taylor’s wins in the tournament were pins, earning him the award for most wins by fall.
Kahlor Hindman and Hayden Shaffer were fourth-place finishers. Hindman lost the 132-pound third place match to Kelton Olson of Sturgis. At 138, Shaffer lost third place to Logan O’Connor of Harrisburg.
Deegan Houska placed sixth at 152 pounds. Jacob Larson was seventh at 195 pounds. 182-pounder Gavin Stotts was eighth.
In the first year of girls’ wrestling, two Pierre female wrestlers are champions. Marlee Shorter, who won a tennis state championship last fall, won the Class A 185-pound title, pinning Lincoln’s Betsy Martinez. Ciara McFarling won at 285 pounds with a pin of Lennox’s Brooke Otte.
Gianna Stangeland lost the 131-pound championship match to Nevaeh Leonard of Yankton. Hattie Baldwin was pinned by Spearfish’s Taylor Graveman in the 143-pound title bout. Sidney Uhrig was third at 112 pounds, Mary Melhaff was third at 167 and Emalee Larson was third at 185.
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