BV wrestlers secure runner-up status at Class A tourney

Jill Meier

Journal editor

Brandon Valley head boys’ wrestling coach Tom Meester didn’t hesitate when asked to sum up his team’s performance at the Class A State Tournament.

After three long days of competition March 26-28 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, the Lynx finished second to Sturgis Brown High School in the Class A standings and Meester couldn’t have been prouder. BV qualified 10 wrestlers for the state show, and nine of them reached the podium – a feat Meester recognizes as “a huge accomplishment.”

“Just the way they wrestled was kind of what we asked for and preach to them – wrestling hard. And they did that,” he said. “I’m super proud of them, and I couldn’t have askedfor  any more out of these boys.”

Meester noted that in most years, his squad’s point total might have been enough to bring home a championship trophy.

“In a typical year, this team wins the state title,” he said. “It’s just a team like Sturgis that you’ve got to figure out. The good thing is these 10 guys can see that it takes a little more at times. So next year, we just need to get everyone on that same page.”

While the Lynx have a history of successful seasons, Meester admitted saying goodbye to this year’s seniors will leave a noticeable gap.

He pointed first to seniors Elijah Schunke (285 pounds) and Levi Veskrna (175), calling both “irreplaceable.”

“First of all, Elijah and Levi are irreplaceable, both as leaders, winners and role models,” Meester said. “They’ve done a really good job of just growing up and doing the right things, and that was kind of icing on the cake for those guys going out.”

He describes Schunke as a steady, battle-tested competitor.

“Elijah is just a proven winner. He’s been in these situations before. It doesn’t get to him,” Meester said.

Veskrna’s journey, however, was a bit more emotional.

“Levi, he was really nervous, and I was really nervous for him,” Meester admitted. 

Senior Aaron Tucker (144) also earned a long-awaited trip to the podium in what Meester has called one of the deepest weight classes in the tournament, and all season long.

“Getting him on the stand is awesome because he’s been good enough for the last three years,” Meester said. “It’s probably the deepest weight here, so for him to get it on the stand is huge.”

After what Meester felt was an under-the-radar finish a year ago, this year’s squad entered the season with a something to prove.

“I think they were determined to get us back in the limelight,” he said. “Last year, we had an unfortunate situation where we lost a couple of guys’ points. I thought we were a top-five team last year.”

With nearly the entire lineup returning this season, the motivation was clear.

“I knew we had the same pieces back, maybe without Hayden (McGuire), but the rest were back, and they all had goals in mind,” Meester said.

Five Lynx reached the finals, and four rose to the top of their respective weight classes.

“Those four guys that won the finals, they said they were going to do that and win it,” Meester said.

The intensity of the state tournament wasn’t limited to the action on the mat. A clock malfunction during Tucker’s place match may have changed the outcome of that match. 

“I’m trying to lay back and chill out, but I kind of lose it over stuff like that,” Meester said. “I know it wasn’t maybe a human problem – it was more of a technology error – but that’s frustrating. You’re in the fight for your life, and it’s win-or-go-home. It’s tough.”

Still, Meester credited his athletes for maintaining composure throughout the tournament’s ups and downs.

One reason for BV’s sustained excellence, Meester believes, is the culture within the program that starts in the youth ranks up through high school.

“Wrestling is big. Our youth program is big,” he said.

He credits off-season training and is assistant coaches for helping fuel that pipeline, noting that 25 wrestlers have already signed up for post-season competition and summer events, including a trip to Virginia Beach in the next couple of weeks.

Meester also praised his coaching staff for complementing his style.

“Between Riley Pletten, Matt Schrandt, all those guys, they’re not me, that’s for sure,” he said. “They’re a little more laid back, and they can grab the guys and get their heads in a different spot. Morgan (Engbrecht) and Joel (Evans), they’re the lineup guys. They’re watching film. I’m more of a rusted, straight-up type of guy, and they really complement me.”

Cory Anderson, Kraig Presler and Kobi Terpstra also assist Meester.

He also pointed to the support from alumni and the Brandon Valley faithful, including former standouts who helped calm nerves behind the scenes.

“Damien (Schunke) would talk to the guys and kind of get their heads in the right space,” Meester said. “It helped a lot and calmed them down.”

BV crowns four state champions

Levi Veskrna – 175 pounds

Capping his senior year with a state title, Levi Veskrna admitted the moment still hasn’t fully sunk in.

“It’s almost a surreal feeling. It doesn’t feel real,” Veskrna said. “Coach Meester gave us a speech at the beginning of the year, especially to the football guys, about how we had something special that could happen. A lot of us could double up on championships – football and an individual wrestling title. That was the goal all year. It just doesn’t feel real that it’s done and over.”

As the final seconds ticked down in his championship match, Veskrna’s mindset was shaped by a simple message he’d heard all week.

“Damien (Schunke) just kept telling us, ‘Why not you?’” Veskrna said. “It’s not like you’re wrestling some 30-year-old college guy. You’re wrestling high school kids going after the same thing as you. Why shouldn’t it be you? Have that mentality.”

Veskrna finished fourth a year ago, making this year’s climb to the top even sweeter.

“It was good coming back and getting it done in the last match,” he said.

There was pressure, both as the top seed and as the son of a former state champion.

“There’s quite a bit of pressure with that,” he said. “My dad won state, his brother won state. I was thinking about that a lot, about keeping that going. But it was nice talking to guys like Tony (Schunke) and Damien. They’ve been here before. They know the nerves.”

Veskrna’s father, Aaron, went on to wrestle at South Dakota State University, making their post-match hug even more meaningful.

“It was fun giving him a hug after knowing it’s finally done,” Veskrna said.

Though his high school wrestling career has ended, Veskrna isn’t slowing down. He’ll compete in track this spring before heading to the University of Sioux Falls to play running back for the Cougars.

Still, Brandon Valley wrestling will always hold a special place.

“Every team I’ve been a part of, it’s something special,” he said. “Brandon Valley wrestling will always have a special place in my heart.”

Beckett Rehorst – 126 pounds

For Beckett Rehorst, winning his first state championship fulfilled a childhood dream.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” Rehorst said. “It’s a moment I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid. I’ve worked so hard for it, and it just feels so good to finally achieve it.”

While a state title was his primary goal, it’s only part of a bigger vision.

“I want to go to national tournaments and become an All-American there, and I want to wrestle in college,” he said. “Those are steps along the way.”

Rehorst said his finals match was his toughest of the tournament, but he didn’t feel overwhelmed by the big stage.

“I honestly didn’t feel any pressure,” he said. “I was just so excited to be here. I was having so much fun.”

When victory became certain, the emotions spilled over.

“I was just saying to myself, ‘Let’s go,’” he recalled. “I was just so excited.”

With younger brother Jagger, a seventh grader, in the program, Rehorst hopes his achievement serves as motivation.

“It’s an amazing moment,” he said. “It’s something he should absolutely work as hard as he possibly can to try and achieve.”

Though the Lynx finished second as a team, Rehorst said the opportunity to chase down Sturgis meant everything.

“This team is so special to me,” he said. “Just having that chance and opportunity is amazing.”

Brendon Oehme – 120 pounds

Brendon Oehme made it back-to-back state titles, adding another championship to a family legacy.

“It’s awesome,” Oehme said. “I love this. Wrestling’s my life, and this tournament is always fun.”

The Oehme family now boasts seven combined state titles among brothers.

“That’s my second,” he said. “Trason has two. Trevon has two. Jordon has one. So that’s seven.”

His toughest test also came in the finals.

“Winning in overtime is always a grind,” Oehme said. “Definitely the toughest one.”

As the final seconds ticked down, the feeling of victory was hard to describe.

“I’m just excited. I don’t even know, you can’t really put it into words,” he said.

Oehme said helping the Lynx secure a team runner-up finish meant just as much as the individual gold.

“It means everything,” he said. “I love this team. We’re all close. Going to practice every day is my favorite part of the day.”

Already looking ahead, Oehme has post-season national tournaments on his schedule and has begun conversations with a handful of in-state Division II programs about wrestling in college.

From day one of the season, he believed this team was capable of contending.

“I’ve had confidence in our team since the first day of practice,” he said. “I know how good we are.”

Elijah Schunke – Heavyweigth

Elijah Schunke captured his second straight heavyweight title, and while proud, he remains his own toughest critic.

“It was expected, nothing less than expected,” Schunke said. “I still should have put up more points. I didn’t open up my offense as much.”

His most challenging match came in the semifinals against practice partner Carlos Rodiguez Jr., who wrestles for Lincoln.

“He knows me better than anybody,” Schunke said. “He baited me into a headlock because he knew I couldn’t resist it. Shot right to a double. It was more about keeping my composure and figuring out how I was going to score.”

A special surprise made Schunke’s title win even sweeter, with family members in attendance, including his brother Navarro, a five-time state champion, and Damion, a three-time state champ.

“It meant a lot more for me to win it for Navarro,” Schunke said. “Two years ago, in the center of the mat, I lost. It meant a lot to avenge that and give him the hug he deserved.”

The title marked the 10th state championship attached to the family name.

“Winning it for them and getting the 10th one for my last name was very special to me,” he said.

Though this closes the chapter on the Schunke boys in the Lynx program, a younger sister is now carrying the torch.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “She’s loving it.”

But Schunke isn’t done wrestling.

“It’s been very special being part of this program. As a team, we knew we were better than people thought. We guaranteed we’d be in that top two, and second place is nothing to be ashamed of,” he said.

SD State Boys Wrestling Tournament

Feb. 26-28 • Sioux Falls

Team scores: 1.) Sturgis Brown, 219.5; 2.) Brandon Valley, 174.5; 3.) Watertown, 169; 4.) Aberdeen Central, 136.5; 5.) West Central, 129; 6.) O’Gorman, 98; 7.) Harrisburg, 87; 8.) Sioux Falls Lincoln, 86; 9.) Pierre TF Riggs, 83; 10.) Rapid City Central, 82.5; 11.) Madison 70.5; 12.) Yankton, 58; 13.) Tea Area, 56.5; 14.) Brookings, 46; 15.) Beresford/Alcester-Hudson, 33.5; 16.) Sioux Falls Jefferson, 27; 17.) Lennox, 26; 18.) Vermillion, 25.5; T19.) Mitchell & Rapid City Stevens, 25; 21.) Belle Fourche, 15.5; 24.) Huron, 13.5; 25.) Chamberlain, 13; 26.) Dakota Valley, 12.5; T27.) Dell Rapids & Douglas/Rapid City Christian, 11; 29.) Spearfish, 10; T30.) Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, Lakota Tech & Pine Ridge, 0.

Lynx results

113: Isaac Weerheim (BV) dec. Micah Bennett (Mit), 3-2; Charles Aidana (Mad) tf. Weerheim, 24-8 (6:00); Weerheim dec. Colby Even (Ver), 9-7; Jonah Anderson (Wat) p. Weerheim, 4:28; Seventh place: Carter Nelson (Hur) dec. Weerheim, 4-2.

120: Brendon Oehme (BV) p. Demetrius Sanchez-Gonzales (CEB), 1:50; Oehme p. Griffin Felder (Har), 4:22; Oehme tf. Owen Serck (B/A-H), 2:46; Championship: Oehme dec. Tyler Baldwin (Stur), 4-1.

126: Beckett Rehorst (BV) p. Ethan Smith (Yan), 1:44; Rehorst tf. Tarver Zebroski (Stur), 19-4 (3:51); Rehorst md. Mason Backous (AC), 21-9; Championship: Rehorst dec. Karson Vessells (WC), 4-1.

144: Graham Wilde (SFJ) dec. Aaron Tucker (BV), 5-1; Tucker p. Jude Sumner (AC), 3:58; Tucker dec. Sutton Powers (Cham), 7-0; Langdon Klinkhammer (WC) dec. Tucker, 10-4; Seventh place: Josiah Drummer (Stur) md. Tucker, 16-7.

150: Braden Shoemaker (BV) tf. Keslar Swenson (Wat), 17-0 (2:42); Shoemaker dec. Porter Lozenski (AC), 9-4; Shoemaker md. Ramsey Williams (Len), 13-3; Championship: Benjamin Nadig (Stur), 9-6.

165: Mason Mathis (Brk) md. Harmon Kramer (BV), 10-1; Kramer p. Jett Whiting (WC), 2:09; Paiden Sandal (D/RCC) md. Kramer, 14-3.

175: Levi Veskrna (BV) tf. Breck Evans (DR), 17-1 (5:09); Veskrna tf. Bennett Lukken (DV), 19-3 (2:23); Veskrna md. Gavin Werlinger (Stur), 13-2; Championship: Veskrna dec. Grayden Timm (AC), 7-3.

190: Anneyso Ahmed (BV) p. Brody Nielsen (Mad), 1:31; Ahmed dec. Cade Kuemper (Wat), 6-2; Kelson Dirk (Stur) tf. Ahmed, 15-0 (4:19); Ahmed dec. Blake Kannegieter (Brk), 4-2; Third place: Ahmed dec. Wyatt Kleinschmit (SFL). 8-5.

215: Cody Lindekugel (BV) p. Carver Rahn (TCWR), 2:48; Lindekugel dec. Zach Hagemann (Brk), 7-2; Lindekugel md. Zhoel Irion (Stur), 10-2; Lindekugel p. Morgan Woods (RCC), 4-1; Third place: Lindekugel (BV) dec. Hayes Petersen (SFW), 4-1.

285: Elijah Schunke (BV) p. Cooper Gerard (Cham), 0:44; Schunke p. Noah Duran (SFJ), 1:09; Schunke p. Carlos Rodriguez Jr. (SFL), 1:56; Championship: Schunke dec. Rip Siemonsma (O’G)l 11-6.