by Dru Kastler

Due to weather, there are several teams that have added the Pierce Invite to their schedule this year to make it a great showcase of top C and D teams and wrestlers. David City, North Bend Central, Ord, O’Neill and Plainview appear set to battle for a team title. David City’s chances are hindered without 106 #2 Seth Styskal and 138 #1 Melvin Hernandez. Several other teams bring quality wrestlers which will make for lots of big matchups.

SQ = State Qualifier

106 – Brandenburg has a win over Rowse already this year. He appears to be a likely finals opponent to Russell.

C#3 Koby Brandenburg, Central City-Sophomore 14-2
D#2 Logan Russell, High Plains Community-Sophomore 11-0
Mason Witt, North Bend Central-Junior 8-4 SQ
C#5 Colton Rowse, Ord-Freshman
Nate Christensen, Plainview-Freshman 7-3

113 – Not the deepest weight, but a possible match between state qualifiers could materialize and could have team race implications.

Talon Petska, Ord-Sophomore SQ (might be at 120)
Eli Lorenzo, O’Neill-Junior SQ
Gavin Lampman, Wisner-Pilger-Freshman 10-4

120 – Styskal nearly knocked off state champ Rickard earlier this season. Odds are he will get another chance here.

C#3 Noah Styskal, David City-Sophomore 8-1
Clay Church, High Plains Community-Sophomore 7-4 SQ
D#2 Dominique Rickard, Plainview-Senior 7-1

126 – This weight is White’s to lose. However, there are several teams that could use a good showing from one of their wrestlers to help in the team race.

C#3 Justin White, David City-Sophomore 11-1

132 – A possible battle of undefeated wrestlers could happen in the finals.

Jacob Ray, North Bend Central-Sophomore 9-2 SQ
C#3 Cody Yawn, Pierce-Junior 11-0
D#2 Trenton Steinkraus, Plainview-Junior 8-0

138 – Miller got the better of Gubbels already this year. Hernandez from David City is out of the lineup.

Paul Gubbels, Osmond-Senior 7-4 SQ
D#1 Christian Miller, Plainview-Senior 10-0

145 – Aschoff against Moore could be the match of the tournament.

D#2 Cole Aschoff, Plainview-Senior 10-0
Ryan Molacek, Howells-Dodge-Senior 8-1 SQ
C#1 Caden Moore, O`Neill-Junior 14-0

152 – A deep weight with several wrestlers capable of placing. Kulhanek placed at 160 last year and has yet to lose at 152 this year. Knight has a win over Haskell.

Quinten Moles Crofton-Bloomfield Junior 8-4
Ethan Koch Hartington Cedar Catholic Sophomore 9-3
D#3 Miles Kulhanek Howells-Dodge Junior 15-0
Ryan Haskell Madison Junior SQ
Cauy Shaw O`Neill Junior 13-2 SQ
Tanner Knight Ord Senior (might be at 160)

160 – The line starts behind Borer at this weight. Lots of talent here as well.

Tucker Schneiderheinz, Central City-Junior 15-5
Jaden Janssen, Crofton-Bloomfield-Junior 10-2
Tanner Coufal, Howells-Dodge-Senior 3-0 SQ
C#1 Zach Borer, North Bend Central-Sophomore 11-0
C#6 Kaden Dawe, Ord-Senior (might be at 170)

170 – Three ranked wrestlers and one undefeated should be your top four. Returning medalist Stevens and Ord’s Trompke could be a great semifinal matchup if they end up as 1 and 4 seeds.

D#3 Kyle Stevens, High Plains Community-Senior 10-1
C#3 Dalton Mueller, North Bend Central-Junior 12-0
C#6 Gavin Trompke, Ord-Senior (might be at 182)
Cooper VonSeggern, Wisner-Pilger-Senior 9-0

182 – Payton Stevens will be challenged by a solid field. Ray and Poppe may meet in the semifinals in what could be a very close match.

Ethan Poppe, Crofton-Bloomfield-Junior 9-2
D#2 Payton Stevens, High Plains Community-Senior 11-0
C#5 Brock Ray, North Bend Central-Junior 10-3
Ryder Fuchs, Pierce-Sophomore 8-3 injured last year

195 – State Champ Thompson and Worm had some close battles last year and may renew their rivalry. Worm’s road to the finals may go through freshman Gabriel of Ord who is undefeated on the year and will face his toughest test(s) of the season.

C#3 Ryan Worm, David City-Senior 9-0
C#1 Bailey Thompson, O`Neill-Senior 12-2
C#5 Ethan Gabriel, Ord-Freshman
Kaleb Johnson, Crofton-Bloomfield-Senior 10-2

220 – State Champ Hahlbeck should take home a title for O’Neill. Eilers from David City doesn’t have a glossy record but if he draws away from Hahlbeck then he could possibly make the finals.

Matthew Eilers, David City-Junior 5-4
C#1 Jason Hahlbeck, O`Neill-Senior 14-0
Shane Luehm, Ord-Senior
Kaden Henry, Wisner-Pilger-Senior 11-4

285 – Hornback looks to be the top seed here as the anchor of Crofton-Bloomfield’s solid upper weights.

Jared Hornback, Crofton-Bloomfield-Junior 10-3
Derrell Zagurski, Winnebago-Junior 12-5
Shane Hansen, North Bend Centra-Senior 6-2