The Dakota County Star will be well represented at next week’s State Wrestling Championships, as nine boys will join the six area girls who qualified after district competition.
In the A-3 district Saturday at Papillion-LaVista South, the South Sioux City boys finished sixth and qualified five for next week’s state tournament.
Leading the way was last year’s Class B 215-pound champion, Tony Palmer, who improved to 48-1 with a championship effort. He wrestled only one match on the day, getting a 53-second pin to move on to the finals where he claimed first on a medical forfeit.
Also going as a district champion is Adrian Cruiel, who improved to 41-3 with three wins on the day to take the 190-pound title.
Darrius Helms claimed runner-up honors at 285 pounds to qualify. Also going to state for the Cardinals are Kenny Malavong, who was the consolation champion at 106 pounds; and Erick Moreno, who placed fourth at 138 pounds.
In the C-2 district at Tekamah-Herman High School, Ponca had two wrestlers get to the heartbreak round, but both came up short. Cole Bostwick won two matches after losing in the quarterfinals, but was pinned in the 175-pound consolation semifinals by Jett Vacha of Logan View. Charlie Watkins reached the semifinals at 215 pounds, but was pinned in the semifinals and the consolation semis to miss out on a trip to state.
In C-3 action at Summerland High School, Tri County Northeast put two wrestlers in the finals to earn a pair of spots in the state tournament. Landon Newton (120) picked up a second-period fall to give the Wolfpack its first-ever district wrestling champion. Bryan Isom made his second trip to state by reaching the finals at 157 and finishing runner-up to two-time defending champion Quinn Bailey of Chadron. Nate Franzluebbbers lost two overtime matches to finish 2-2 at 285 pounds, and Aiden Isom was 1-2 at 132 pounds.
D-3 district action at Greeley, Homer was 13th out of 25 teams and qualified two wrestlers for state. Austin Pelster claimed consolation honors at 157 pounds to finish third, while Josue Munoz came back from a semifinal defeat to reach the medal round and finish fourth at 138 pounds. Isaac Barclay (150) Ethan Roberts (175) and Trent Dunn (190) all lost in the consolation semifinals to fall one match short of state.
Complete highlights in this week’s edition of the Dakota County Star.
