PIERRE — The Pierre Governors wrestling team dropped yet another razor-close dual Thursday night, falling by four points to visiting Yankton.

The Bucks and the Govs each won seven matches and got two pins, but Yankton recorded a technical fall that made the difference.

“We knew coming in it was going to be tight,” Pierre coach Ryan Noyes said. “They lost a close one to Mitchell, we lost a close one to Mitchell, so you could see. They’re a lot like us, solid top to bottom.”

Josh Linehan | Capital Journal Pierre’s Josh Stoltenburg controls the leg of Yankton’s Jason Steun during their 145-pound match at Riggs Gym in Pierre on Thursday night. The Bucks edged the Governors, 33-29. Advertisement

Pierre let a couple matches in the middle weights get away from them, dropping six straight from 119 to 145, including a major decision, the technical fall and both pins.

“We didn’t expect some of that, and we talked afterward about the importance of every guy taking care of every weight,” Noyes said. “We had a lot of opportunities to win that dual, but it just didn’t go our way.”

As always, Pierre’s opening two wrestlers got the Governors off on the right foot.

Tanner Monfore won a 3-2 decision at 103, followed by Caleb Stoltenburg pinning his man at 112.

But the Governors wouldn’t win again until 152, when Tyler Sarringar picked up another pin. The Govs would reel off five wins in a row at the higher weight classes — despite most of their grapplers moving up a weight — but it would not be enough to make up the ground.

Kade Binegar got a decision at 160. Chase Leggau followed with a major decision at 171. Terrance Maier got another major decision at 189. And Colton Jacobsen turned around his performance from last time, beating Ryan Schloss 3-1 at 215.

“Chase Lettau wrestled a really good kid at 171, and he dominated him,” Noyes said. “And Colton turning that around at 215 was good to see. And Sean Snyder wrestled sick for us at 140 and almost pulled out a win at the end.”

The Governors are back in action Saturday at the Dakota Duals tournament in Brookings. Pierre is seeded third and draws the host Bobcats in the opening round.

Pierre figures to match up well with Brookings. Rapid City Stevens has the top seend at the event, while Mitchell is seeded second.