Wrestlers taste early success

Billy Drown

Published: Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Custer wrestling coach Eric Pingrey said that Soren Wahlstrom really stepped up this year and wrestled his best ever at the Custer Invitational Tournament. Wahlstrom, 112, finished in third place.

        The Custer Wildcat wrestling team opened up its season with the Custer Invitational Tournament on Dec. 5 and 6, which, according to Custer wrestling coach Eric Pingrey, went smoothly despite Belle Fourche taking the championship. “Overall the tournament ran really smooth,” he said. “Our guys had some great early season success. Success they can truly build on.” Zach Wager, 145, led the way for the Wildcats and took second. Soren Wahlstrom, 112, finished in third place. “Soren probably wrestled the best I’ve ever seen him wrestle at the Custer tournament,” said Pingrey.  Other Wildcat placers include Tanner Eisland, 160, who took fourth and Billy Alexander, 130, who took eighth. Pingrey said Alexander’s match was one of the craziest matches he has ever seen. “Billy was down 12-0 due a very tough opponent during the tournament. But he didn’t give up. He ended up pinning the other kid with only three seconds left on the clock.  Overall, Pingrey was very happy with the success of the team. Only time will tell, though, if their early success will continue throughout the season. “We did see some good success with this young group. Hopefully they will continue to build on what they achieved here in Custer,” said Pingrey. Co-coach Jared Webster said this first tournament is a 100 percent turn around for the Wildcats this early in a season. “Last year we had only one kid place,” Webster said, “And this year we had four. All the hard work is paying off.” Up next for the Wildcats is a dual in Belle Fourche on Thursday, Dec. 11. “That dual will be very tough,” said Pingrey, “Belle Fourche has a lot of seasoned kids. This dual will give our kids opportunities to see where they will be in the next couple of years. Our kids are good, just not seasoned yet.” On Dec. 12 and 13, some of the Wildcats will head to Rapid and compete in the Rapid City Invitational tournament, which Pingrey says is the toughest tournament of the year.