by Oran Sorenson, coach
Last Friday night February 14th saw a full house witness the last home wrestling event of the year. Besides wrestling Kingsbury County, Tri Valley, and Flandreau, it was parent’s night and a special night to commemorate 50 years of wrestling in our town. At 4:55 introductions began with all wrestlers from the four programs meeting in the middle of the mat to shake hands as their weight class was called. Simultaneously, each varsity wrestler from the 1969-70 first year team was introduced, even though the weights have changed some since then. Next, all alumni who ever wore a GHS wrestling singlet to continue on the success of that first season were asked to stand and be recognized. Then just before mat action, a special duo sang the national anthem. Hannah and Lucy Frewaldt, whose dad, grandpa, uncles, and great uncles also wore singlets for the Blue Dragons, blessed us with their beautiful rendition of our beloved national anthem.
In first round action, Kingsbury Co. was just too much for the home team. Kingsbury Co., made up of the former programs of the Arlington Cardinals, DeSmet Bulldogs, and Lake Preston Divers, currently has three highly ranked individuals and currently is 5th ranked as a dual team. According to head Coach Francis Ruml, “We don’t look for excuses in a loss. They have a good team and put it to us.” According to assistant coach Sorenson, we did have three starters out that night and sure wished we could have given them a better match up. We did come away with four victories in round one. Jayse Miller at 113 and Dominic Abraham at 145 both earned falls. Our only senior, 182 pounder Hayden Stotereau earned a 6-4 decision, and 7th grader Marty Welch picked up a forfeit at HWT. The final score was a 56-21 loss.
During the break in action between round one and two, parent night recognition took place. After all the wrestlers, statisticians, and cheerleaders and their parents were recognized, two other special designations took place. First, our only senior, Hayden Stotereau was called to the middle of the mat where Coach Ruml gave him a special gift. According to Ruml, “Hayden has learned a lot in his short time in our program and has won some special matches. I only wish we could have had him more years, then who only knows what he could have accomplished!” Next a special grandmother in the stands was recognized. Loren and Marge Schleuter had their son Randy on that very first team. And for almost every year in the next 49 there were fifteen more, be it another son, grandsons, or great grandsons on the squad as well as two daughters as cheerleaders and granddaughters keeping stats or holding some position to assist the program in any possible way. “In all my years in wrestling I know I have not witnessed one couple in the stands in Garretson for more years than Loren and Marge,” said volunteer coach Oran Sorenson.
“They were the last of a very special group of people who followed us from the very beginning. We lost Loren just a few weeks ago, but it felt good to honor Marge as a special grandparent on this special night.” According to information received by the Gazette, Marge also learned wrestling in high school PE many years ago when one of the legends of South Dakota wrestling, Warren Williamson, was her gym teacher. Williamson, as most older wrestling fans know, went on to be the legendary coach at SDSU.
Back to mat action, in round two the Mustangs of Tri Valley would move to the host mat and take on the Blue Dragons. This was one dual the coaches had hoped they could win. “Besides having three starters out of the lineup, we still needed to win a couple of key matches in this contest that we did not,” said assistant coach Jason Bohl. After giving up a forfeit at 106, Jayse Miller again got things going with a pin at 113. A short time later, teammates Braxten Rozeboom at 126 and Hunter Abraham at 132 picked up seven team points with decisions and major decisions respectfully. Our last 12 points came by way of forfeits for Parker Schlenker and Jayden Richter. Tri Valley went on to win the dual 45-29.
Between the final rounds of action, a couple more special recognitions took place. While GHS fans are expected to be loyal first to their team, most people who love a sport or activity are able to also compliment their competition when the time arises. First, long time Flandreau coach Jim “Tiger” McGlone was asked to be in the stands and was now called on to be recognized for his years of dedication and love for the sport. Next, a name synonymous with Tri Valley wrestling, Randy Lamer, was asked to stand and be recognized. And finally, the announcer Oran Sorenson asked all in attendance to rise to help honor long time Coach Al Bowar, for which he earned a well-deserved standing ovation. From that first team, two members offered their observations for why Garretson started with much more success than most teams were able to find. Retired farmer Dick Dubbelde, a senior that first year, said, “The sport was new in every school, it was new to all of us. We were just lucky enough to have the best and most knowledgeable coach of all.” Ron Nelson, just a freshman that first year, brought it to even a higher level. “There was something special about Coach Bowar. He believed in us and we believed in him and in each other. He was such a great guy; you didn’t want to let him down.”
In the final round of action, the Blue Dragons would finally pick up their long sought-after victory for the night. After an opening forfeit again, Jayse Miller hit the triple crown earning his 3rd pin of the night. Next, Preston Bohl was used to step on the mat at 120 to pick up a forfeit. Earning additional pins to excite the home crowd were Hunter Abraham at 132 and Jaden Richter, who moved up to heavyweight. Picking up 12 more points sealing the victory were Dominic Abraham and Hayden Stotereau, who won by forfeit. The final score was Garretson 42 and Flandreau 30.
In summing up the night, Coach Oran Sorenson put it this way. “Of course, the focus of the night was our current team, helping them win matches, do their best, and get ready for the all-important Region 2B meet next Saturday in Salem. But the night was also an opportunity to introduce to our young people to their heritage and the success that can come with hard work, dedication, and believing in your coaches, your teammates, and yourselves. Only after all that does real success happen. And that is what we want for all of our kids, no matter what activities they choose, classes they take, and what paths they follow throughout the rest of their life.”
