Weiss starts season with title

Sophomore Braden Weiss started this year’s wrestling season with a bang by winning the 120-pound weight class at last weekend’s season-opening Custer Invitational.

Weiss started the tournament with a bye before defeating John Jeffery of Spearfish by major decision 15-2. Weiss followed that up with a 12-2 major decision victory over Ryne Bostrom of Sturgis 12-2 before defeating Maverick Simons, also of Sturgis, 4-2 for the tournament title.

Hunter Way brought home a second-place finish for the Rangers at 126 pounds, rebounding after losing his first match to win his next four matches, including a 4-1 win over Kadden Dillman of Lead-Deadwood in the third place match. He won the first three matches of the consolation round by pinfall.

Jaxon Johnson picked up a fourth place finish for the Rangers, losing his first match before winning the next three. He fell to Clayton Donovan of Spearfish in the third place match by pinfall at 2:17.

Kollby Houdek picked up a fourth place finish, losing in the first round before rattling off three consecutive wins, including a pair of pins. He was pinned by Brandon Scherich of Red Cloud at the three minute park in the third place match.

Madesi Stedman brought home fifth place in the 220 pound division, pinning Jed Crisafulli of St. Thomas More in 1:02 in his first match before falling to Dante Bravo of Pine Ridge by pinfall in the quarterfinals. He rebounded to pin his next two opponents before losing to Grey Gilbert in the consolation semifinals. He then pinned Jake Sellman of Hemingford, Neb., in 2:20 in the fifth place match.

Tanner Davis placed fourth at heavyweight, losing his first match before pinning four consecutive opponents. In the third place match he lost a 2-0 decision to Austin Cottreau of Spearfish.

Rounding out the placewinners for the Rangers was Jace Ciluaga at 113 pounds, who placed fifth. Ciluaga won his first match by pinfall over Karsen Fischer of Rapid City Stevens before losing his next two matches. He defeated Fischer again, again by pinfall, to secure fifth place.

Saturday the Rangers head to Nebraska for the Gordon/Rushville Invite.