Eleven Wildcat wrestlers qualify for state

For the first time in recent memory the Custer High School wrestling team has qualified 11 wrestlers for the state B wrestling tournament. The group, dubbed “The Elite Eleven,” placed second behind Philip at the Region 4B tourney in Rapid City on Saturday to earn a trip back to Rapid this weekend for the state finals.
The state-bound grapplers are Tray Weiss at 106 pounds, Leighton Sander (113), Landon Woodward (120), Pierce Sword (126), Mikael Grace (138), Jonathan Lewis (145), Sterling Sword (152), Parker Noem (160), Eli Steele (170), Zayne Severyn (195) and Ryder Bailey weighing in at 220.
The previous record number of Wildcat wrestlers going to state under the leadership of head coach Jared Webster was nine, which has been the case the past two seasons. While he is pleased to be sending eleven, Webster said he wishes it could have been an even 12 (the “Deadly Dozen,” maybe?).
Webster said he’s disappointed for senior heavyweight Ty Dailey, who was his only wrestler not to advance from region to state.
“He has a tough weight bracket and it could go either way,” said Webster. “That’s tough! Ty’s been here all these years and is an amazing kid. I’m very proud of that kid.”
Webster said the fact that Dailey had stayed with him all that time and his accomplishments in his career “means more than bringing home a gold medal.”
Weiss, Grace and Pierce Sword were the top scorers for the Wildcats at regions with 22 team points apiece for their second place finishes. Lewis was also the runner up in his weight class and scored 20 points for his team.
Each of the four was defeated by a Philip wrestler in his first place match. Webster said the Philip Scotties, who won the tourney with a score of 302, were dominant in the region.
“They’ve got a heck of a team this year,” said Webster. “They’re solid and very impressive.”
Third place medals went to Woodward and Sterling Sword who each scored 16 points. A quartet of Wildcats placed fourth in the region. The group included Sander (16 points), Steele (11), Severyn (16) and Bailey (16).
The Custer wrestlers earned 196 points for their second place finish in a field of 15 teams. They were followed by Lyman (120), Mobridge-Pollock (100), and Hot Springs in fifth place with 92 points.
Six of the state-bound wrestlers remain on Dakota Grappler’s state week ratings for Class B across the state. Weiss is ranked 11th, Woodward 8th, Grace 10th, Lewis 10th, Sterling Sword 12th and Noem 8th in their respective weight classes.
The Elite Eleven are mostly youngsters with Steele being the only senior in the group. Otherwise there are two juniors, three sophomores, three freshmen and Weiss and Sander are both eighth graders.
Webster says while most of the state team is young and in need of experience on the mat at that level of competition he is hopeful “we can take some medals home.”
“These kids,” he said, “they’re zero and zero right now going into state and you know anybody can be beat.”
The 2021 State B Wrestling Tournament is slated to begin Thursday afternoon at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.