STURGIS - Sturgis prepared for this weekend's Greater Dakota Conference wrestling tournament by defeating Douglas 64-9 in Tuesday's dual at Brown High School.

The Scoopers won the first 12 matches to build a 64-0 advantage. J.T. Paris, at 112 pounds, recorded Sturgis' first pin.

Seth Lange (119 pounds), Josh Keszler (125), Troy Wilcox (145), Clint Wilson (160), Eric Kessler (171), and Justin Symonds (189) pinned their respective Douglas opponents. Lange, Keszler, Wilcox, and Symonds ended their matches in the first period.

Douglas received a pin from Oscar Bengtsson at 215 lbs. to get on the scoreboard. Chandlor Mikkonen, the Patriots' heavyweight representative, won his match by decision to end the dual.

Douglas head coach Sean Gholson said his squad is rather young and inexperienced. He added a dual like this is a learning experience for his charges.

"You've got to take your small victories," Gholson continued. "I thought we came out aggressive and shooting on them (Sturgis counterparts). I'm pretty pleased with the effort."

Gholson said Douglas has taken big steps since the season began. He explained Patriot wrestlers are now holding their own against tougher opponents. "We never quit fighting; that's what I like."

The Patriots received a pleasant surprise at 215, according to Gholson. He said Bengtsson lost to his Sturgis foe, Chris Vinson, earlier this season.

Douglas will face Newell on Thursday and compete at Saturday's Black Hills Classic. Gholson said the classic is scheduled to feature several Black Hills Conference schools.

"I thought everyone went out with the idea that they would try to score points and attack," Sturgis head coach Steve Keszler said. "That's what we're looking for right now."

The Scoopers host the GDC tournament this Saturday. Sturgis, Spearfish, Rapid City Stevens, and Rapid City Central will compete in duals against the four Sioux Falls schools: Lincoln, O'Gorman, Roosevelt, and Washington.