High expectations and new goals for Dell Rapids wrestlers
Two years ago, Dell Rapids wrestling coach Craig Jorgensen gushed about the youth of the Quarriers.
“We’ve got a slew of sophomores coming in, and they’re just hardcore wrestlers,” Jorgensen said at the time.
Now, that talented crew of sophomores is getting set to enter its senior season, and there’s a bundle of optimism for what the season might bring.
The Quarriers finished 20th at last year’s Class A state meet. As one of the smallest schools in Class A, that was a strong performance with seven wrestlers qualifying for the meet. This year, six of those qualifiers return as seniors, and goals are a bit more lofty.
Jorgensen said a top-six podium finish is the goal for the Quarriers this year, and with a senior-heavy group, that could be attainable.
Jacob Vogel, Andrew Weiland, Kyle Cavigielli, Mitchell Klinkenborg, Brayden Gee, Canyon Lowman and Zach McKee all return as seniors. Vogel finished fourth at 126 pounds last year and Weiland was seventh at 113.
“It’s tough to put a team on the podium, but if we could do it, it would be this year,” Jorgensen said. “It won’t be easy, but we could surely get it done. We’re going to have to really wrestle well and stay healthy.”
Staying healthy is key, not just for Dells, but for every wrestling program around the state when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jorgensen said the Quarriers are following a practice plan provided by the South Dakota High School Activities Association. Masks aren’t worn, but wrestlers must practice in pods of approximately four. Those wrestlers are essentially together the entire time in the wrestling room during practice.
If one wrestler in the pod tests positive for COVID, the other members of that pod have to quarantine as well, but not the entire team.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Jorgensen said. “Every school is doing it, and hopefully it will keep it from spreading. It’s going to keep a team competitive, and if there’s a problem, hopefully we aren’t spreading it through a whole team and we can continue to move on.”
Dell Rapids began practice on Nov. 16 and will open the season Dec. 5 when they host the popular Top of the Rock tournament. That event has become one of the top regional tournaments at the start of the season. This year, however, it will be scaled back due to the pandemic. Only 112 competitors will be allowed to participate, and Dell Rapids will be one of eight teams competing.
Despite the pandemic, the SDHSAA is still moving forward with a traditional state tournament that includes individual and dual competition. Last year, Dell Rapids was one of eight teams that qualified for the dual tournament, a goal that Jorgensen set at the beginning of the year.
Qualifying for the dual tournament and hopefully getting a senior claim a state championship are two major goals for the Quarriers this year. Since the program began in 1972, only Leon Maxwell in 2014 has won an individual title.
That could change this year if all goes according to plan.
But Jorgensen has also kept the goals and high expectations in check. With the pandemic continuing to rage in the state, he said he’s told his athletes that the Quarriers will now have multiple goals this year.
“We’ve changed that thought process a little bit this year,” he said. “No. 1 is to stay healthy, No. 2 is to have some fun, and No. 3 we’re going to compete like heck.”