SCOTLAND -- Once a dominant wrestling school, Wagner has hit a rough patch the last few years.
The Red Raiders won three straight state championships from 2008 to 2010, but are now on their third head coach in three years. Wagner is one of two Class B schools to win three consecutive team titles, with the other being Faulkton from 1971 to 1973.
Wagner hopes that newly appointed head coach, Brad Lhotak, can restore the program to its former glory. While Lhotak embraces that role, he acknowledged it's going to take a bit of time. His first task is to install passion into his wrestlers.
"Well, you know we kind of hit a little bit of a down cycle here," Lhotak said. "We're still in a down cycle, but we're just going to work hard. I told my kids that we may not be the best team in the state, but we're going to be the hardest working team in the state. When it boils down to the end of the year, we're going to have some kids place higher than they probably would have because we're just teaching work ethic."
Wagner will have the difficult task of replacing David Kocer and Brady Soulek. Kocer, a freshman for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, won the state championship in the Class B 170-pound weight class, while Soulek finished sixth in the 152-pound weight class.
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The Red Raiders return seven letter winners, so several new faces will be counted on to step up for Wagner this season.
However, Lhotak said he saw his teachings pay off for the wrestlers who are still in a Red Raider uniform in Thursday's contest against Bon Homme/Scotland. Wagner was defeated 49-22, but recorded several individual wins against a difficult opponent.
"We knew they were probably a top three team in the state," Lhotak said. "We knew we had to come in here and fight hard for six minutes. I can honestly say there wasn't one of our kids that didn't go out there and give 110 percent. That's all I can ask of my kids, Bon Homme/Scotland has a tough lineup and is going to be tough for anyone to beat this year. We're just going to keep building off our effort today."
Trevor Lensing, a state qualifier last year, defeated BH/S wrestler Tanner Iwan by pin.
"Trevor did well," Lhotak said. "He has to do a few things a little bit different, but for the first match of the year, I was happy with the way he wrestled. There's always more to work on, but he's definitely talented enough to beat anybody in the state in his weight class. If he decides to puts his mind to it, at the end of the year, he could be on the podium."
Logan Kafka, another state qualifier from last year, defeated BH/S' Kade Hellmann 16-5.
In what was perhaps the most competitive match of the night, Wagner's Jacob Kvigne defeated Kreg Kepplinger 4-2 with a throwdown in overtime. Cole Soulek and Preston Nedved also recorded wins for the Red Raiders.
Lhotak said wrestling BH/S, which finished fifth at state a year ago, was good for his kids so they could see the level of wrestling that they need to get to.
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"It definitely told me where we're at," he said. "It also told me what we need to focus on this early in the season and what we have to work on next week. It definitely shows what you need to adjust to when you wrestle one of the best teams in the state."
Wagner will compete in the Kimball tournament starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday in Kimball.
Bon Homme/Scotland 49, Wagner 22
106: Preston Nedved, WAG, over Garrett Mitzel, BH/S, 8-4
113: Kaleb Crownover, BH/S, over Colton Frei, WAG, 5-2
120: Duncan Stoebner, BH/S, over Ben Soukup, WAG, 14-2
126: Zach Sykora, BH/S, over Calvin McBride, WAG: WBF: 40
132: Chase O’Grady, BH/S, by forfeit
138: Alex Caba, BH/S, over Sineway Marshall, WAG, WBF: 1:28
145: Dominic Pechous, BH/S, over Evan Heath, WAG, WBF: 1:35
152: Logan Kafka, WAG, over Kade Hellmann, BH/S, 16-5
160: Cole Soulek, WAG, over Andrew Mitzel, BH/S, WBF: 3:49
170: Josh Vaith, BH/S, over Andrew Soukup, WAG, WBF: 4:56
182: Trevor Lensing, WAG, over Tanner Iwan, BH/S, WBF: 2:41
195: Jacob Kvigne, WAG, over Alan Haataja, BH/S, 4-2 OT
220: Krey Kepplinger, BH/S, over Jace Johnson, WAG, WBF 2:12
285: Dan Stibral, BH/S, over Truman Ashes, WAG, WBF 2:56
