Boys Wrestling O’Neill Meet
By Lauren Ueding
The Pierce Boys traveled to O’Neill for their first wrestling meet on Saturday, December 2, and the boy's team overall got 13th in the whole meet with two individual medalists.
Earning second-place medals for the Jays were Zakary Abler (113) and Brenden Bolling (144).
Abler scored 15 team points as he won by a major decision 13-2 against Jeancarlo Rodas from David City. In Abler’s second and third matches, he pinned Kamden Showalter of Battle Creek and Max Flannery of West Holt. Then Abler fell to Zaiyahn Ornelas of Wilber-Clatonia.
“We’re a young team, and we got some seedings that didn’t go our way. We did the best we could, but to start the season we will always improve, and we’ll peak when it’s state and districts,” says Abler.
Bolling, who also placed second, scored 19.5 points for the team. Bolling received a bye for his first match, then won by a 19-4 tech fall over Jace Rerucha of David City. In the semifinals, Bolling won against Brayden Johnson of David City by a 3-1 decision. Then he lost his final match to Will Sprenger of Valentine by decision, 2-0.
"I thought the boys competed hard all day. We have a lot to fix, but we will be wrestling our best come February,” says head coach Tyler Legate.
For varsity 120, Corbin Pfeil scored five points for the team. Pfeil lost his first match against Robinson LaDeaux of Valentine by a 10-4 major decision. In Pfeil’s consolation rounds, he pinned Zachary Foecking of Norfolk Catholic in the first, then won by decision, 4-1, against Carson Long of Chadron and 7-3 decision to Dylan Furstenau of Neligh-Oakdale. Then Pfeil lost his final match by a 3-0 decision to Robinson LaDeaux.
Draydin Gossman (132) fell in his first match against Ashton Kuchar of Battle Creek. He won his second match with a bye. Then Gossman lost his final match against Jehki Williams of Valentine and fell to him.
At 157, Chase Rasmussen scored 9 points for the team. During his first round, Rasmussen fell to Conner Neuhalfen of Battle Creek. Rasmussen won his next three matches by pinning Daniel Vuchetich of Norfolk Catholic, Ryan Hawkins of West Holt and Nicklous Ohlmann of Valentine. Rasmussen then fell in his final match against Conner Neuhalfen of Battle Creek.
Wrestling at 165, Peyton Kruntorad fell to Anthony Cortijo of Ralston and Dane Schmoldt of Neligh-Oakdale.
Senior Camden Jansen (190) lost in tie breaker-1 3-1 to Anthoney Steffen of Crofton-Bloomfield. Jansen won his next two matches, by pinning both Lucas Griess of West Holt and Carver Rahn of Todd County. Then Jansen lost his final match against Cooper Phillips of Valentine by a 1-0 decision.
Also at 190 Kaiden Fritz’s place scored eight team points. Fritz pinned Brian Sanchez of Ralston and Cooper Phillips of Valentine. In the semifinals, Fritz fell to Chase Thomas of Neligh-Oakdale. During the consolation semifinals, Brian Sanchez of Ralston won by fall over Fritz.
At 215, Clayton Carlson scored six points for the team. He received a bye for his first round. Then he fell to Tucker Shabram of O’Neill. Carlson came back to win his next two consolation rounds by pinning Matias Jimenez of O’Neill and Thane Taylor of Valentine. In the consolation semifinals, Carlson fell to Jacob Henry from Neligh-Oakdale.
In varsity heavyweight, Boston Krueger scored seven points for the team by pinning Fletcher Stewart of Chadron. In the quarterfinals, Krueger fell to Hank Hudson from Boone Central. Then Krueger won his third match, pinning Owen Kuchar of Crofton-Bloomfield. Krueger lost his final match against Sam Johnson of Norfolk Catholic by a 4-3 decision.
Also wrestling at heavyweight was Christian Nordby who fell to Mason Planer of Battle Creek by a 5-1 decision in his first match. Nordby then won his second match against Cooper Gerard of Chamberlain by pinning him. But then Nordby fell to Sam Johnson of Norfolk Catholic.
The Bluejays will head to North Bend on Saturday, December 9.
