Race to 45: Nash Hutmacher, Kellyn March nearing Randy Lewis' consecutive pins record

Brian Haenchen | Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Randy Lewis' 45 consecutive pins have stood as a state record since 1975. If things go according to plan, it will be broken twice on Saturday with Chamberlain's Nash Hutmacher and Canton's Kellyn March closing in on the historic mark.

Hutmacher, a Nebraska football commit, heads to the Madison Invitational having pinned 43 consecutive opponents at 285, while March heads to the Elk Point-Jefferson Invitational with 44 straight pins at 132 after picking up two at a triangular on Tuesday. They are the only active three-time defending state champions with Hutmacher having won three straight at 285 and March having won at 106, 126 and 132.

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Lewis, a 1977 Rapid City Stevens graduate, went 89-0 with 83 pins in his three years as a Raider with his 45 consecutive pins standing as what was then a national record. A four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion at Iowa (127-11-1, 64 pins), Lewis went on to win gold at the 1984 Olympic Games. He also made the 1980 Olympics that was boycotted by the United States.

It should be noted that this is not the first time Hutmacher and March have gone head-to-head in pursuit of the same accolade.

The two were tied at 1:50 of mat time entering the championship round of last year's state meet. March went first, pinning his opponent in 17 seconds. With the bar set, Hutmacher pinned his opponent in just nine seconds to win the state pinning trophy.

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Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.