On a schedule full of big events, the Jackson County Central wrestling team has added another for the upcoming season.
It was announced last week that the Huskies will wrestle Brandon Valley on Friday, Feb. 3 at Elmen Center on the campus of Augustana University in Sioux Falls.
JCC will wrestle the Lynx at 6 p.m. that evening, followed by the NSIC dual between the host Vikings and University of Mary at 8 p.m.
Brandon Valley won the South Dakota Class A (large school) state dual title last season and is ranked first to start this season.
Jackson County Central won the Minnesota Class 1A state team title last year.
Augustana freshman Payton Handevidt was the 160-pound champion in 2022 for JCC, his third state title.
Vikings’ junior Jacob Tvinnereim is also a JCC grad.
"We are really excited to have two of the best teams in the area competing before what should be a great dual between us and UMary," said Augustana Coach Jason Reitmeier. "Brandon Valley is coming off a state title last season and are ranked No.1 in South Dakota, Jackson County Central is also coming off a state title last season and are also currently ranked No. 1 in Minnesota.
"On paper this is a great matchup. We have a couple Jackson County Central kids currently on our roster in Jacob Tvinnereim and Payton Handevidt. We also have 2023 signees Logan Butzon from Jackson County Central and Alex Mentzer from Brandon Valley wrestling that night. You can't get any more invested in these two programs than Augustana is."
Reitmeier, a Worthington grad, is starting his 20th season as head coach of the Vikings.
Another JCC connection to the Augustana program is Cooper Moore, who is in his second season as a graduate assistant coach.
While it will be the first time Jackson County Central has wrestled at Augustana, the Vikings have competed in Jackson twice, wrestling a total of five duals in those appearances.
On Dec. 5, 1997, Augustana was part of a college triangular featuring the University of Minnesota and the return of Heron Lake-Okabena-Lakefield graduate Chad Kraft to the area.
The Vikings lost to the Gophers 53-0 and Truman State (Mo.) 24-18 that night.
On Dec. 7, 2012 Augustana was part of a quad in Jackson that saw the Air Force wrestling team and JCC graduates Cole Von Ohlen and William Baker visit Jackson.
The Vikings went 1-2 that night, losing to Air Force 36-0 and winning 42-6 over Northwestern and 44-6 over Dakota Wesleyan.
JCC wrestling schedule
Sat., Dec. 3: at Glencoe-Silver Lake tournament, 9:30 a.m.
Tues., Dec. 6: vs. Luverne and Redwood Valley at Redwood Falls, 5 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 10: JCC Pizza Ranch Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
Sat., Dec. 17: at Austin Roberts Memorial, Spencer, 10 a.m.
Tues., Dec. 20: vs. Marshall and Worthington at Worthington, 5 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 28: at Rumble on the Red, Fargo, 9 a.m.
Thurs., Dec. 29: at Rumble on the Red, Fargo, 9 a.m.
Fri., Jan. 6: at The Clash, LaCrosse, TBA
Sat., Jan. 7: at The Clash, LaCrosse, TBA
Fri., Jan. 13: Adrian, 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 14: Big South Conference, Pipestone, 10 a.m.
Fri, Jan. 20: St. Michael-Albertville, Simley, Osage, 5 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 24: vs. ACGC, Holdingford and Sibley East at Grove City, 5 p.m.
Thurs., Jan. 26: Pipestone, 7 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 3: vs. Brandon Valley at Sioux Falls, 6 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 4: at Mike Fasnacht Memorial, Janesville, 10 a.m.
Mon., Feb. 6: at Windom/Mountain Lake, 6 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 9: vs. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, BOLD and Marshall at Tracy, 5 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 10: Big South Conference championship
Thurs., Feb. 16: Section 3A team quarterfinals, 6 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 18: Section 3A team semifinals and finals, 12 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 25: Section 3A individual, TBA
Thurs., March 2: State tournament, Xcel Energy Center
Fri., March 3: State tournament, Xcel Energy Center
Sat., March 4: State tournament, Xcel Energy Center
Subject to change