Junior athletes in the Belle Fourche AAU Wrestling Club are wrapping up their season with the run to state competition. On Saturday, March 7th, 38 wrestlers in 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U age divisions competed in District wrestling to earn top 8 placement in order to move on to the Regional competition. All 38 Bronc wrestlers made top 8 placing and moved on to compete on Saturday, March 14th at Rapid City Central hosted by the Cobbler Kids wrestling club. The top 3 placers in 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U, and the top 4 placers in 6U, qualified for state competition this year. The 4th place spot rotates annually between age divisions to fill state slots fairly. Of the 38 Bronc AAU competitors at regionals, 21 earned their way to state qualification.
For the AAU girls in the 8U division, Riley Mehlhaff and Laiklynn Ager both earned 3rd place in their weight classes and Mila Hudson earned 1st in her weight class. For the 10U girls, Gus Walding, Easton Swaney, Joey Tonsager & Addy Graslie watching wrestling at home meet in season. Tonsager photos Nora Hodge earned 1st place in her weight class. For the 12U girls, Gracie Hodge and Lizzy Tonsager each earned 2nd place in their weight classes, and for the 14U girls, Madalynn Rhoads earned 3rd, AnnaBelle Dighton earned 2nd and Charlie Huston earned 1st in their weight classes to qualify for state.
For the boys, in 6U Tatum Rosenau earned 4th place, in 8U Easton Swaney and Joey Tonsager earned 3rd place and Brooks Lynch earned 2nd place in their weight classes. In 10U age division, Riddik Randolph Sports News placed 3rd and Nash LaFrentz placed 2nd, in 12U Royce Bachman and Bayzen Curtis placed 1st, and in 14U boys, Tate Krul placed 3rd, Jaxon Linch placed 2nd and Logan Gleason and Neeko Pfister placed 1st in their weight classes to earn their way to state. Additional Bronc wrestlers in the Juniors division are able to register to compete in the state competition in USA Freestyle wrestling. The Broncs have a couple of wrestlers competing in this division, Caden Swaney at 113lbs and Lucas Tonsager at Heavyweight.
The state competition is being held in Sioux Falls this year in the original arena attached to the Denny Sanford Premier Center. USAW Juniors and 14U AAU wrestling divisions will compete Friday, March 20th.
The 6U-12U divisions will Wrestle Saturday, March 21st to earn their way to placing rounds. Small brackets finish Saturday, while full brackets compete in placing rounds following the Parade of Champions on Sunday, March 22nd. Good luck Bronc wrestlers!
Read the full issue of the Belle Fourche Beacon by clicking here.
