Watertown Arrows Dominate Region 1A Wrestling Tournament: Five Champions and 12 State Qualifiers Secure Team Title
- Steve Jurrens
- Feb 22
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown Arrows clearly proved their strength on Saturday at the Region 1A tournament, performing well in Dell Rapids to win the team championship with 244.0 points.
The Arrows’ performance was anchored by five individual champions and an impressive 12 state qualifiers, outdistancing runners-up Brookings and West Central, who finished in a dead heat for second place with 194.5 points.
Five Arrows Crowned Champions
Watertown’s dominance was most evident in the middle and upper weight classes, where they reeled off a string of titles that solidified their lead.
· 126 lbs.: Brody Randall secured the top spot on the podium, showing poise and technical precision.
· 132 lbs.: Senior Shea Richter continued his perfect season, improving to 41-0 with a dominant championship run.
· 157 lbs.: Junior Gage Lohr proved he is back at full strength, maintaining his undefeated record (24-0) with a technical fall victory in the finals.
· 175 lbs.: Landen Lewis added to the Arrows’ gold medal count with a gritty performance in the finals.
· 190 lbs.: Senior Cade Kuemper capped off the championship run for the upper weights, defeating Brookings’ Blake Kannegieter in a 7-2 decision.
Strength in Depth and Leadership
While the champions grabbed the headlines, Watertown’s team title was built on depth. The Arrows saw four wrestlers reach the finals and finish as runners-up: Braylon Schell (106), Chase Mathews (120), Kutler Swenson (138), and Markus Pitkin (165). Crucial “consolation” points came from Max Stroup (144) and Keslar Swenson (150), who both battled back to take third-place finishes. Jonah Anderson for the Arrows finished 4th, qualifying for State as an 8th grader in the 113-pound weight class.
The team’s overwhelming success was also recognized on the sidelines, as Head Coach Chas Welch was named the Region 1A Coach of the Year. The award highlights Welch’s ability to peak his roster at the right time, qualifying nearly his entire lineup for the final stage of the season.
Region 1A Final Team Standings
Rank | Team | Score |
1 | Watertown | 244.0 |
2 | Brookings | 194.5 |
2 | West Central | 194.5 |
4 | Tea Area | 155.0 |
5 | O`Gorman | 153.0 |
Road to Sioux Falls
With 12 wrestlers qualified, the Arrows are heading into the State Tournament at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center next weekend with significant momentum. With a Coach of the Year at the helm and five undefeated or top-seeded hammers in the lineup, Watertown has positioned itself as a formidable contender for the state podium.
Photos courtesy of captured.by.avah
