WATERTOWN — The Pierre Governors wrestling team got its 2009 season off to a solid start, winning three duals to make the championship of the Watertown Invitational before dropping a hard-fought, 35-26 decision to Aberdeen Central in the championship.

Pierre was led by six wrestlers who went a combined 20-2 on the day to help them through the title match, where the Govs won seven matches and lost seven matches but fell to the Golden Eagles on points.

“They wrestled really well,” Pierre coach Ryan Noyes said. “It’s hard to see, sometimes, in the wrestling room, where you aren’t as aggressive as you would be in a match. But they came out and got after people.”

Roger Merriam | Watertown Public Opinion Pierre’s Chase Lettau controls Yankton’s CJ Warren during their 160-pound match Saturday at the Watertown Invitational. Lettau beat Warren 12-2 to help the Governors past the Bucks, 29-26. Advertisement

For Pierre, eighth-grader Tanner Monfore won all four of his matches at 103 pounds. Chance Scott was also perfect at 119, as was Tyler Sarringar at 152 and Terrance Maier at 171.

Aaron O’Day went 3-1 at 112 pounds, as did Josh Stoltenburg at 145.

“I can’t say enough about the job those kids did,” Noyes said. “To have those guys go 20-2 for us, that was a huge boost.”

Pierre opened with a 54-21 win over Madison. Chance Scott, Seth Scott, Stoltenburg, Tyler Sarringar, Chase Lettau and Maier all picked up wins.

The Govs then took care of ESD rival and host Watertown, 34-26, by winning the first five matches of the dual. Monfore, O’Day, Chance Scott, Dusty Paulsen and Kyle Sarringar all got wins to put Pierre up 21-0. Tyler Sarringar, Maier and Colton Jacobsen all added victories.

Pierre then snuck by Yankton, 29-26. Monfore, O’Day and Chance Scott opened with wins. Stoltenburg got a pin at 145, and Lettau, Maier and Kade Binegar also won.

In the title match, Pierre got wins from Monfore, O’Day, Chance Scott, Sean Snyder, Stoltenburg, Tyler Sarringar and Maier, but came up short on the points.

“I expect Aberdeen to be the team to beat in our conference, so wrestling that even with them was a good sign,” Noyes said.

Noyes also pointed to the win by Snyder — subbing for Colton Hanson at 140 — as a huge victory for Pierre.

The Govs grapplers next see action this weekend when they travel to the Rapid City Invitational tournament.

“That one’s tougher than the state tournament,” Noyes said. “You get teams from out there, teams from three or four states. It’s some of the best wrestling around.”

Pierre opens its home season with a rematch against Aberdeen Central on Dec. 17.