06/01/2026
What an incredible day!
Yesterday, we hosted the 1st Annual Gold Rush Rumble WARzone Wrestling Tournament here at the DRAC, and we couldn't be more grateful to the 160 wrestlers and their families who traveled from South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, and even North Carolina to be part of this event!
Our gym was filled with talent, including state champions and nationally ranked wrestlers. This was a completely new and unique tournament format, having only been held one other time in South Dakota, and it exceeded all expectations.
First and foremost, I want to thank every volunteer who helped make this event possible. From referees, table workers, weigh-ins, skin checks, concessions, and everything in between—this tournament simply would not have happened without your time and dedication.
I would also like to recognize a few individuals and organizations who went above and beyond:
In Her Era: Wrestling for Girls which is Alex Geyerman Marcus Rothlisberger
This incredible couple cares deeply about our community and the growth of youth wrestling for both boys and girls. Countless hours of behind-the-scenes work went into making this event a success, and they absolutely knocked it out of the park. Thank you for your vision, leadership, and commitment to the sport!
Digger Wrestling Club
Thank you to the club, coaches, wrestlers, and families who came out to support the event. We were proud to have 18 local wrestlers representing our community on the mats!
Taylor Ballert
Taylor never says no when help is needed. Without hesitation, he jumped on the microphone as our tournament announcer and brought tremendous energy to the event. From recognizing individual accomplishments to highlighting team efforts, he helped create a fun and exciting atmosphere throughout the day. Thank you, Taylor!
The Deadwood Recreation & Aquatics Center Team
Last, but certainly not least, I want to recognize our amazing staff. Whether you were keeping everyone safe in the pool, running concessions, managing traffic flow, cleaning the facility, or handling the countless details that often go unnoticed, you represented the DRAC exceptionally well. I couldn't be prouder of this team.
Thank you again to everyone who participated, volunteered, and supported the Gold Rush Rumble. We learned a lot, had a tremendous amount of fun, and are already looking forward to making next year's event even bigger and better!
One last thing, if you attended this tournament and have pictures or comments, please post them here for all to see!
🥇🤼♂️ See you at the 2nd Annual Gold Rush Rumble!
