Pierce is the District Champions
Launch the media gallery 1 playerBy: Brenden Bolling
Pierce journeyed to Broken Bow on February 14 to compete in the Class C District 4 tournament. Seven qualified for the state tournament, including Kolten Wragge, Draydin Gossman, Keegan Holan, Brenden Bolling, Kyle Kuehler, Christian Nordby, and Boston Krueger.
The team also brought back a district title for the school.
Ko. Wragge placed third at 120 pounds. In round one, Wragge pinned Paxton DeGroff of Ord in 0:54; he also pinned his next opponent, Bowen Ridder of Broken Bow. Wragge fell in a close match in the semis against Lucas Therrien of Gothenburg, losing in sudden victory, 9-6. He then pinned his way for third, sticking Yovani Jimenez of Mitchell in the consolation semifinals and Carter Lawrence of Kearney Catholic.
Gossman also finished in third, qualifying him for the state tournament at 126 pounds. Gossman received a bye in round one and pinned his next opponent Alexander Martinez of Ogallala. In the semis, Gossman fell to Eli Kult of Yutan. He then came back to win his next two matches over Tatum May of Chase County by tech fall, 22-7, and won by decision, 7-3, over Graeson Swarm of Gibbon.
“We could have done better overall, but still had a good showing,” Gossman, a senior, states.
At 132 pounds, Holan placed fourth, earning him a spot on the podium. In round one, Holan pinned Micah Conley of Bridgeport. Holan then fell to Cash Stanek of North Bend Central in the quarterfinals by an 8-0 major decision. Holan then went on a run, winning three straight matches. First, he beat Kenneth Hernandez of Cozad in an ultimate tie breaker, 7-6; next, Holan pinned Ian Shane of West Holt, and lastly beat Grant Rogers of Kearney Catholic, 8-4. In his third place match, he lost to Malachi Bowlin of Mitchell in a 4-1 decision.
Bolling was the district champion at 157. In round one, Bolling received a bye; following this, he pinned Tayven Jenkins of Chadron in 1:40. Going to the semis, Bolling pinned Rogelio Hernandez of Gibbon in 1:45, and in the finals, he won over Jamison Slaymaker of West Holt by medical forfeit.
Also, a district champion was Kuehler at 190 pounds. Kuehler pinned everyone he faced in the first period. He pinned Dagon Dalby of Broken Bow in 1:28, then he pinned Dominick Ogden of West Holt in 52 seconds. In the semifinal round, Kuehler pinned Adan Tamayo of Gibbon in 1:10, and in the finals, he pinned Bricen Wright of Chadron in 58 seconds, securing him the gold.
At 215 pounds, Nordby placed third. In his first two rounds, Nordby pinned both of his opponents. First was Brode Denny of Hershey in 29 seconds, then he stuck Leo Golembiewski of Chadron. Nordby then fell to Jose Ramirez-Aguilar of Gibbon. He recovered quickly and won his next two matches over Marcus Ruano of Cozad in a 2-0 decision and over Colt Meyer of Ord in a 4-1 decision, giving him the bronze.
Krueger was a district runner-up at 285. In his first round, he received a bye. Next, he pinned Kooper Rahmig of Bridgeport in 1:58. Krueger then won by decision over Peyton Reed of Yutan, 2-1. He fell to Devon Baum of Broken Bow in the finals, ending him with silver.
At 113 pounds, Will Korth lost his first round against Colin McCoy of Chadron by fall. Korth then won over Callan Lueshen of Kearney Catholic by forfeit. Korth fell to Draven Campbell of Yutan by a 12-1 major decision.
Baiden Neuhalfen went 3-2 on the day at 138 pounds. In round one, he lost to Tate Abbott of Yutan in a 15-4 major decision. He then received a bye before winning by medical forfeit over Zane Woodward of Kearney Catholic. Neuhalfen then pinned Jonah Conley of Bridgeport, but then fell to Ivan Tamayo of Gibbon.
At 144 pounds, Karsen Wragge lost his first round against Sebastian Quigley of Bridgeport by fall. He then received a bye before losing in a 9-1 major decision to Reuben Reyes of Gibbon.
Cole DeBoer wrestled at 150 pounds. In his first round, he pinned Jett Luft of Gibbon. He then fell to Chaz Erickson of Kearney Catholic. DeBoer then pinned Kane Whited of Ord before losing by a 5-2 decision to Jayce Hoffman of Chadron.
Wrestling at 165 pounds for Pierce was Ethan Claussen. In round one, Claussen pinned Landon Baker of Cozad. He then lost to Aidan Markham of Broken Bow in a 12-3 major decision. Claussen then won over Kale DaMoude of Hershey by fall. He also won over Rodolofo Corona of Gibbon in a 7-2 decision. Claussen then lost to Tyler Keiser of Yutan in a 12-7 decision.
Burkley Collison wrestled at 175 for the Bluejays. In round one, Collison wrestled Zac Zeller of Hershey and won by fall in 34 seconds. He then lost in an 11-4 decision to Gunner Rice of Ord. Collison then won over Brantley Malcom of Cozad by a 10-1 major decision and Damon Spady of Chase Country by fall. He then lost to Braden Wright of Chadron in a 12-4 major decision.
The boys will compete at the CHI center in Omaha on February 19-21.
