Larson and Crabtree claim hardware
Photo by Ivy Bau/NLJ First-year senior wrestler Aidan Butler, in the 165-pound weight class, battled a Sturgis wrestler in round one of the Belle Fourche Invitational tournament Friday.
The Dogie Wrestlers competed in just one tournament last week when they traveled to Belle Fourche on Friday and Saturday. Head coach Teigen Marchant’s team finished 14th out of 19 teams, as only two young men advanced from Friday’s rounds into the placing rounds on Saturday.
“All things considered, I don’t think we did too bad,” Marchant said. “We faced a lot of tough South Dakota kids, so I was happy with the guys. It was a good way to start off our end-of-year tournaments.”
Scott Larson, wrestling in the 138-pound weight class, was the highest placer for the Dogies as he finished second, losing to a third-ranked Sturgis wrestler by tech fall at the end of the second period of the championship match.
On his way to that match, Larson blew through Rapid City Stevens and Spearfish in round one and the quarter-finals by pinning each in the first period. In the semi-finals, Larson defeated a Lead-Deadwood wrestler by tech fall early in the third period.
“Scott did what Scott should be doing,” Marchant said. “He got some great matches to start off on Friday, and his championship match was against a really tough kid.”
Dane Crabtree was the other Dogie to bring home hardware as he finished fourth in the 157-pound weight class. Crabtree drew a bye in round one, then won by major decision over Harding County in the quarter-finals. In the semis, Sturgis got the better of him in the first period, but Crabtree rallied to pin Custer in 45 seconds in the consolation semis.
“I had a really good weekend and went in with the second seed, so I got a bye in the first round. The Sturgis guy who beat me in the semis was good and he ended up winning,” Crabtree said.
He then battled Douglas/Rapid City Christian/New Underwood in the third place round, but he got the better of his opponent shortly into the third period.
“Dane had a great weekend and it was a good confidence builder for him,” Marchant said. “His quarter-final match was an amazing match, and the kid who beat him in the semis ended up winning 157.”
Marchant went on to note that the Custer match was one of the best matches he has seen Crabtree wrestle.
“He was a very good opponent, but Dane really showed up,” Marchant said. “I’m really happy with him, and I’m just really hoping to keep that momentum going.”
Crabtree agreed with Marchant that the weekend was a good one for him, stating that it was the first time he
has placed in a tournament this season.
“The third-place kid was pretty built and it was hard for me to get shots on him. I battled him, but he ended up getting the upper hand on me,” Crabtree said.
The Dogies will travel to Hill City for a one-day tournament on Saturday, and then looking ahead to next week, the Dogies will host Thunder Basin and Moorcroft for their senior night on Tuesday, Feb. 11, with weigh-ins beginning at 4 p.m. and wrestling getting started at around 5 p.m.
