REBELS TRAVELING TO SALEM ON SATURDAY

JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER

The upcoming Region 2B Wrestling Tournament may have been moved from Freeman Public to Salem, but for wresters from Marion/Freeman, the goal remains the same: Compete hard and try to advance to state.

Eleven wrestlers who wear Rebels singlets will take to the mat this Saturday, Feb. 20 for a tournament that gets underway at 9:30 a.m. and typically lasts well into the afternoon. The region was originally to be hosted by Freeman Public for what would have been a third time, but because the South Dakota High School Activities Association is limiting fan attendance to 50% capacity, region officials decided to move the tournament to the larger facility used by McCook Central, therefore allowing for more fans.

Freeman Public will host the tournament in 2022, according to Freeman Public Athletic Director Kristina Sage.

Those scheduled to wrestle for the Rebels on Saturday are:

Riley Tschetter, 106

Keaton Preheim, 113

Finley McConniel, 120

Zac Sayler, 138

Tim Epp, 145

Owen Eitenmiller, 152

Ethan Ortman, 160

Grant Anderson, 170

Chris Kessler, 182

Jeremy Waldner, 195

Clayton Smith, 220

Tschetter, Sayler, Ortman, Anderson and Smith are all from Freeman Public. Epp is from Freeman Academy; Preheim, McConniel and Waldner are from Marion and Eitenmiller and Kessler are both from Menno.

Head coach Chris Sayler says Tschetter, Ortman and Smith all have a good shot at advancing to state, which will be held at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City Feb. 25-27. Tschetter is a seventh grader competing in his first year of varsity while Ortman and Smith are both seniors. This will be Smith’s fourth state wrestling tournament and Ortman’s third; Smith was sixth last year at 220 lbs.

Sayler also said Preheim and Eitenmiller “are in the mix” and that Kessler could “cause some problems for wrestlers and find his way through.”

The first round of the state tournament will be held Thursday, Feb. 25. Quarterfinals and consolation matches will be Friday morning with semifinals that afternoon. The final rounds will be on Saturday.

Watch freemansd.com for results later on Saturday.