Peyton Hellmann, a senior for Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon, put the final stamp on her high school wrestling legacy on Saturday in Rapid City with a fifth straight individual state title. She wrestled Ireland Templeton of Pierre in the championship round, winning 15-4 by major decision.
Early on in the match, Hellmann wrestled with poise and confidence. From there it was about managing the pace and keeping control. She made it look easy with her technique and skillset. It was a dream scenario to walk off the mat for the final time of her prep career – undefeated and a state champion.
“This is just honestly anything I can ever dream of,” Hellmann said. “I’ve worked the last five years so hard for this and I’m just super ecstatic about it.”
She’s the first ever five-time state champion for girls wrestling in South Dakota. The sport was sanctioned five years ago, meaning Hellmann’s won it in ever year possible.
This past April, Hellmann tore her ACL. With her future a bit cloudy, she was determined to get back to the mat. After Saturday’s championship match, she grabbed a sign, brought it back to the middle of the mat, and signed it. The sign showed everyone where she had decided to go to college – Fort Hays State University.
“Coming back from such a severe injury and coming back sooner than I could have ever expected, and just have so much support for everyone,” she told. “And then with this one, I finally got to make my decision for college and to be able to announce that in front of my home state, who has supported me greatly through these past five years, has truly meant so much.”
Hellmann mentioned how her confidence and belief in herself has played a pivotal role in her success at the prep level.
“If you know who you are and what you can do, and just your comfort and your skills, there’s really nothing you can’t do,” she explained. “It plays a huge part. From the lowest level of experience to the highest, if you’re confident in yourself you can do anything you want.”
Hellmann is truly a trailblazer with girls wrestling in South Dakota. Her, along with a handful of others, are helping to pave the way for the future of the sport in the state. She also gave some advice to other girls, who might be flirting with the idea of getting involved in wrestling.
“Don’t be scared. If you don’t have a girls team or if you have to practice with the boys, don’t be afraid of it,” she stated. “If you show them that you truly want to be there, and you want to get better and you want to work hard, there’s no one that can’t respect that. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
It’s a perfect ending to a decorated prep career. When she gets to Hays, Kansas to continue her career at the collegiate level, South Dakota can be proud. We can be proud that they’re getting one of the best our state has to offer, and the impact she made.
