Tough learning experience for Wildcat wrestlers

Billy Drown

Published: Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

Going into the Newell duel on Thursday, Jan. 8, Wildcat wrestling coach Eric Pingrey said he was confident Custer would come home with a win. But with a last minute injury and a wrestler not making weight, Pingrey’s wishful thinking did not come true. Down by one point, with one match left, wrestling-virgin Shan Lehrkamp took the mat. Lehrkamp, a senior, wrestled well in his first match ever, said Pingrey, but a few rookie mistakes foiled his chances at a win. “We were down by one point (34-33) going into the last match. Shan, wrestling at heavyweight, wrestled well. He did some good stuff on the mat, but his first match turned out to be against a very good kid with a record of 13-4. Shan showed us that his bottom work is solid and did take the other wrestler down twice, but he is a rookie and made some rookie mistakes that cost him the win,” said Pingrey. Overall, Pingrey said he liked what he saw out on the mat.  “The line-up shuffle didn’t help us at all. Tyler (Eisland) wasn’t able to wrestle due to injury, so Zach (Wager) took his place. We had an open at 125, which hurt. With the changes, the duel didn’t work out like we had it on paper,” he said. “The duel did come down to the last match. Overall the kids wrestled well. Some of the newer kids did great and Zach stepped up at 152 and got us a big win.” Joining Lerhkamp as a new wrestler was Trevor Shorb. Shorb, a senior, made a few moves on his opponent and was able to take him down, but then his inexperience reared its ugly head.  “Trevor was able to get the kid on his back, but just couldn’t put him away,” said Pingrey. “Soon after Trevor got him down, he was reversed and pinned. Once he learns a few more things and gets a few matches under his belt he will be tough.” This past weekend, a few of the  grapplers from the Wildcats wrestling team headed to the Lyman County Invitational Tournament.  Expecting to medal was Soren Wahlstrom, 112, who had two wins and two loses at the tournament. “He made a huge mistake against a kid he pinned in the finals at Lakota Nation,” said Pingrey. “It was tough to see that happen.” Pingrey blames Wahlstrom’s losses on mental breakdowns. “He always gives 100 percent, but he had his first off day. But still, two and two is a very respectable day,” said Pingrey. This was Dylan Severn’s first tough tournament as well. At the invitational he went 3-3 to take eighth place. All of his three losses came from state qualifiers, but he made up for that by beating a previous state champion. “He wrestled really well. Dylan is an eighth grader and his three losses came from seniors,” Pingrey said. “He was able to upset a junior, which was huge for him. I am really excited that he isn’t afraid to step on the mat with anyone. His mental maturity will carry him a long way.” Severn’s huge day was rewarded. He ended up winning the Justin Cook Memorial Never Give Up award, an award voted on by the coaches. “We, as a whole, may not have the most experience, but our kids give it everything they got. It is awesome when the other coaches notice your team like that,” said Pingrey. Wager, 145, had a tough draw where he went 4-3 for a 6th place finish.  Overall, Pingrey said the Lyman tournament was a good opportunity to show the kids what a big tournament is all about. Thursday, Jan. 15, Custer will host Hill City for a duel.  “You gotta love a rivalry,” said Pingrey. “Our kids are ready for it. The kids seem to perform pretty well against Hill City. I think this will be a fun duel. Hopefully we are healthy and ready to go.” After the Hill City duel, Custer will head to Philip on Jan. 16-17.  “The Philip Invitational Tourney will not be an easy tournament. It will be tough. The rest of January and February are not going to be easy on us. But that preps us for districts, regions and state,” said Pingrey.