The Dickinson State wrestling team won over Sean Elkins with the competitiveness of its practice room.
From there, it didn't take long for the two-time state champion to realize that he'd be a good fit for the Blue Hawks.
"Their room is really competitive," Elkins said. "I just thought like I could excel the most going to Dickinson."
Elkins, a senior at Hebron High School who ended his prep career with back-to-back state titles for Hettinger-Scranton, signed a letter of intent to wrestle for DSU on Tuesday.
Elkins won the 138-pound Class B state championship as a senior and the 140-pound title as a junior. In his final three seasons for Hettinger-Scranton, he was 110-13. He compiled a 36-4 record as a senior.
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DSU head coach Thadd O'Donnell said signing Elkins was toward the top of his recruiting priority list this season.
"We definitely wanted to put a good focus on Sean," O'Donnell said. "I think he's a guy who will come in and do a great job for us. He's just a great kid. Besides being a good wrestler, he's a great kid, a good citizen. Those are the types of kids we want on our team. He's a good fit."
Elkins chose DSU over four NCAA Division II teams, the University of Mary and Minot State in North Dakota, as well as Bemidji (Minn.) State, Southwest Minnesota State, and a pair of NCAA Division III schools in Iowa, Luther College and Cornell College.
He said DSU's coaching staff, which includes former national champions Justin Schlecht and Tyson Springer, was a big reason why he signed with the Blue Hawks.
"First of all, the coaches," Elkins said. "They have a really great coaching staff. ... It helps that it's closer to home and all, but it's really because of Thadd and the coaching staff they have at Dickinson."
O'Donnell said Elkins could compete either at the 141-, 149- or 157-pound weight classes at the college level. He will likely not redshirt.
"The one unique thing about him is athletically, he's real good," O'Donnell said. "We just don't know where he's going to be."
Elkins said he sees himself at either 149 or 157.
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"It all depends on how I grow into it," Elkins said. "I'm just really excited to get a chance to wrestle in college."
