Williams advances to Medal Round

Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008

Day one of the State A Wrestling tournament concluded last night with one Madison Bulldog advancing to the medal round. Andy Williams won two matches yesterday, assuring himself at least 8th place at 135 pounds.

Williams started the day with a 9-3 win over Brenden Waterson of Spearfish, then pinned Winner's Taylor Novotony in just 57 seconds. He'll face top-ranked and three-time state champion Dustin Walraven of Huron in today's Semifinals.

In other Bulldog action, Matt Goth lost his opening round match at 112 pounds to Yankton's Logan Smith. Goth won his second match with a 10-5 decision over JT Paris of Sturgis before being eliminated by Rapid City Central's Tanner Spilde on an 8-0 decision.

Tyler Converse also lost his first match at 125, as Canton's Jeremiah Peterson pinned him in 1:43. He then won a 7-2 decision over Aberdeen's Jessie Taybeck before losing to Jeremiah Fiegen of Dell Rapids 6-5.

Kyle Kopplin pinned Jacob Aus in the first round at 145 pounds. Aus then rallied for an exciting 11-9 overtime win over Brandon Valleys Jared Ruud before getting pinned by Aberdeen's Ray Anderson.

Tyrel Red Bird made a quick exit for the Bulldogs, as Douglas Damon Lappe pinned him in the first round. Tea then pinned Red Bird in the first-round wrestlebacks.

Mason Riedesel advanced to the 215-pound quarterfinals with 9-3 decision over Vermillion's Garrett Heine. Chapman Ham of Rapid City Central won over Riedesel on a technical fall; Riedesel then lost in the second round wrestlebacks to Spearfish's Nick Bierschenk by fall.

Rapid City Stevens leads after the first day with 84.5 points, followed by Sturgis with 67.5. Madison is tied for 22nd with 14 points while Dell Rapids-Baltic is seventh with 44.5 points.