Area wrestlers part of USA Wrestling team

By Journal staff | Sunday, June 29, 2008

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RAPID CITY — Several wrestlers from western South Dakota will be part of the first USA Wrestling Junior National Duals South Dakota Team this week.

Sturgis wrestlers Seth Lange and Josh Keszler; Hot Springs wrestlers Colter and Clayton Steinmetz, and Cole Romey; and Winner wrestlers Jayd and Jesse Docken will take part in a training camp at Augustana College in Sioux Falls today and Monday before departing for Oklahoma City, Okla., on Tuesday for the USA Wrestling Freestyle Junior National Duals.

Rapid City Stevens’ Kris Klapprodt was slated to be part of the team until a back injury forced him to withdraw from the team. There is also a Greco-Roman tournament, but the South Dakota team will only be competing in the freestyle tournament.

A total of 17 wrestlers from the state of South Dakota includes eight current or former state champions.

“We are very excited about finally getting a team to another one of USA Wrestling showcased events,” Ray Ringstmeyer, the chairman of the South Dakota branch of USA Wrestling, said. “This is a tournament that will truly test their mettle and prepare them for the Cadet and Junior Nationals next month in Fargo.”

The USAW Junior National Freestyle Duals will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday with two duals that evening. The team will remain busy Thursday and Friday with as many as six duals each of those two days before the completion of the event.

“We are doubled up at several weights, so we’ll be able to substitute and rotate the line-up as needed," Ringstmeyer said.

The South Dakota team is led by Ringstmeyer, of Hot Springs, and will coached by Augustana wrestlers Sid Bice, of Winner, and Casey Mouw, of Sioux Center, Iowa.