Three Area Wrestlers Bring Home State Titles

The Fairbury Journal-News was kept busy over the course of the three-day state wrestling tournament with 22 wrestlers qualifying to compete on the grand stage. Though some achieved the dreams they hoped for and others had not, it wasn’t a week in vain as nearly each of the 22 wrestlers can come home knowing they had a win at state under their belt as they finished their season.FairburyFor the Fairbury Jeffs, sending six wrestlers was the most among the teams the Fairbury Journal News had to cover. Three Seniors were among the six with Connor Gerths, Spencer Weers and Drake Richtarik. Gerths was the only Jeff in the opening round to come away with a victory with the 2-1 decision, but would lose his next two matches.Spencer Weers lost by pin the first round, but bounced back by getting a great 4-2 decision victory in his second match, but would lose by fall in the third round as well. Richtarik had a quick loss in the first round, but came back the second day securing a quick pin for himself on the second day, then battled to get another pin, before losing by fall in his last round.Junior Riley Arner was the only other Jeff able to secure two wins, but would face the adversity of losing in the first round, was able to win by major decision 9-0, won by decision 10-5 in the next round, gave a good effort, but came up short losing 6-11 in the decision for his last match.Sophomore Dalton VanLaningham suffered a pin fall loss in the first round, but overcame a battle in the second day as VanLaningham was able to secure a hard fought 10-7 decision to get his first win, but would lose by decision in the next round.Finally the youngest Jeff to make his way to State for the first time was Gavin Gerths. Slow out the gate losing the first round match by technical fall, Gerths bounced back by getting the pin fall victory in his first consolation round match, but despite a great effort would lose 7-12 by decision in the next round. The Tri County Trojans had a handful of five wrestlers at State this year. Senior James Kern was able to place among the top five at 220 pounds finishing his season 4-2 with 5th place, and Sophomore Cole Spahr finished 3-3 on his way to place among the top eight of State with 6th place in the 120 pound division. Senior Jurgen Baker was able to win by 5-1 decision in the first round but would lose the next two. Sophomore Cooper Stokebrand in his first time of State competition was able to get a 3-2 decision in the first round, lost his second round by pin, bounced back to win a 5-3 decision, but would lose the next match in a 4-6 decision. Also qualifying for State was Junior Cael Washburn in the 195 pound class. Austen Forney the one and only solo Southern Raider again at State as he became a two-time qualifier, lost his first round match by pin fall. Found himself in a battle that most would’ve assumed Forney was in trouble throughout the second match, but fighting back with great determination into stacking his opponent up for a pin fall victory in the second kept things alive for Forney, but the Senior’s effort would stop in the next round as he would lose by fall. Meridian Mustangs dynamic duo of Junior Jackson Huls and Sophomore JD Adam also had some great performances. Jackson Huls would suffer a loss in the first round, but was able to recover for the next day overcoming the battle he had to win a tough match 14-9 by decision, but would lose by fall in his last match. JD Adam in his first year of State competition was showing his adaptability and growth as a wrestler throughout the tournament displaying smart wrestling in the sudden victory for the first round winning 8-6, would lose the quarterfinal by 1-8 decision, but would go on to secure three straight pins, and then battled to claim 3rd in the 160 pound division as Adam would win that narrowly as the clock went down on the 3-2 to decision victory with JD Adam taking 3rd in his first run at State competition. The Wilber-Clatonia Wolverines brought four wrestlers to State this year and coming back with hardware. The freshman sensation Zaiyhan Ornelas displayed a different level of focus, and precision on his way to stay undefeated on the year winning the first three rounds each by pin, and then would get the technical fall to bring back a State Championship in the 106 pound division. Immediately after winning the State championship Orenlas had this to say, “I put in a lot of work, I trusted my coaches game plan, how they prepared me, and I knew I was going to do this.” A man of few words, but his actions throughout the tournament spoke plenty for him in the dominant run that opened up many eyes to what’s awaiting them in the next season. Sophomore Iverson Mejia was able to make quick work getting two pins in his first two matches, but in the semi final wasn’t able to overcome the eventual State champion losing a close 2-3 decision to Central City Tristan Burbach. Yet Iverson was able to bounce back getting decision victories in the next two rounds to claim 3rd in the 132 pound division. Freshman Grant Eschiti was able to secure a quick pin in the first round, but in the quarterfinal would lose by decision. Eschiti would comeback the next day getting two straight decision wins, secure a pin fall victory, but would lose by decision in his last match giving him a spot among the top five of the State in the 113 pound division as Eschiti placed 4th. While Junior Keith Kvasnicka won in a tiebreaker the first round, but would lose by pin in his next two rounds. Thayer Central Titans sent five off to State and came away with some hardware themselves. The journey for Senior Triston Wells was one imroving from the year before. Taking 3rd in the previous year at 113 pounds, Wells at 120 pounds this year looked poised throughout the season and State wrestling was no different as he was able to win by pin the first round, wrestled strategically in the two decision victories, and then finished the story as he secured the pin in the 120 pound final to claim the State championship. Gunner Mumford was on a mission, despite an amazing effort throughout the season, marching his way to the 170 pound division undefeated, but would lose by major decision 2-12 earning 2nd for the second year in a row. Senior Cameron Schulte in the 182 pound division was able to get a decision win in the first round but would lose by pin in the next two. Sophomore Colter Sinn qualified for State again, and despite losing the first round by decision, Sinn was able to win the 2nd round by decision 6-5, but would lose by decision in his last match, and also qualifying for his taste of State competition was Cole Vorderstrasse in the 195 pound division.

Area Basketball Action

Gonzalez Appeal Of Homicide Conviction Denied

Related Articles

Diller-Odell Agrees To Join Beatrice Baseball Program

Several Records Set In Area

Blake Starr Signs To Play Basketball At Doane

Davis Headed To South Dakota State For Diving