PIERRE - The sparkle of the new year turned somewhat flat for the Pierre wrestling team as the Governors dropped a pair of ESD wrestling duals Thursday at Riggs Gym.

Pierre opened against Yankton and absorbed a 33-21 loss. That was followed by a 39-28 defeat at the hands of Huron. The consolation for Pierre coach Ryan Noyes was it would have taken a reversal in only a couple of close matches for a happier outcome.

"As a dual team, Yankton is ranked in the top five," he said. "We had four matches that we lost by three points or less. Turn anyone of those around and it makes it a lot more interesting."

The Govs fell behind 24-0 as the Bucks won the first six matches. But Robert Ray got a second period pin for the Govs at 140 pounds to put Pierre on the board. Pierre would win three of the next four matches before the Bucks would clinch the dual with a 3-2 win at 171 pounds and 1-0 at 189.

Jared Geigle had the other pin for the home team at 215 pounds, with heavyweight Taylor Maier ending the dual with a Gov decision.

The night's second half also featured a quick start for the visiting team as Huron won six of the first seven match. The Tigers had three pins and a technical fall in the quick start.

A 41-second pin by Evan Fuller at 145 pounds was followed by Seth Brotherton's last minute come-from-behind 7-6 decision at 152 pounds to cut the Huron lead to 29-15. But the Tigers won the next two weight classes to clinch the win.

The Govs again finished strong with a major decision at 189 pounds from Tanner Schaefer, a pin by Geigle and a 1-0 win by heavyweight Taylor Maier.

"Huron is the No. 3-rated team in the state so they were expected to win," Noyes said.