#1 Hastings (John Higgins Invite – 1st place)
The Hastings Tigers took home the team title at the John Higgins Invitational for the first time since 1989, outpacing second place B#5 Sidney by 20.5 points. The Tigers had ten medalists, including four champions – Bryce Brown (113), Blayne Kile (120), Conner Laux (138), and Damen Pape (170). Other medalists include Dylan Miller (2nd – 106), Izaak Hunsley (3rd – 126), Mason Brumbaugh (4th – 132), Joel Smith (6th – 145), Evan Morara (5th – 195), and Josh Callejas (6th – 285).

Notable Results:
106 – #4B Tanner York (Beatrice) over #5B Dylan Miller (Hastings) SV 9-8
113 – #3B Bryce Brown (Hastings) over #5A Darian Diaz (North Platte) 3-1
126 – #4B Kaden Vowers (Sidney) over #5B Izaak Hunsley (Hastings) 7-1
132 – UR Mason Brumbaugh (Hastings) over #4B Ben Garland (Beatrice) 9-8
170 – #1B Damen Pape (Hastings) over #5B Riley Kopf (Lexington) Fall 2:28
170 – #1B Damen Pape (Hastings) over #3A Braden Ruffin (North Platte) 4-3

#2 Omaha Skutt (Idle)

#3 Scottsbluff (Top of the Rockies – 20th place)
The Bearcats traveled to Boulder, CO for the annual Top of the Rockies tournament and finished tied for 20th place with 55 points. Scottsbluff had three medalists on the weekend – Paul Garcia (2nd – 106), Mario Ybarra (6th – 132), and Devontae Gutierrez (5th -138).

#4 Northwest (Plattsmouth Invite – 2nd place)
Coming off a 2nd place finish at the UNK Midwest Duals, the Vikings traveled to Plattsmouth and had a strong 2nd place finish behind powerhouse A#4 Millard South. The Vikings came home with 10 medals including two champions – Dalton Quandt (152) and Grady Griess (195). Other medalist for Northwest include – Grady Arends (2nd – 106), Collin Quandt (3rd – 113) Grayson Fries (2nd – 120), Brady Baasch (4th – 138), Dylan Friesen (5th – 160), Jeb South (3rd – 182), Cooper Kiser (4th – 220), and Marcos Martinez (3rd – 285).

Notable Results:
106 – #4A Caleb Coyle (Millard South) over UR Grady Arends (Northwest) 5-2
113 – #2B Jackson Nielsen (Blair) over #4B Collin Quandt (Northwest) 19-12
120 – #2A Conor Knopik (Millard South) over #6B Grayson Fries (Northwest) MD 14-0
182 – UR Marcel Austin (Lincoln High) over #4B Jeb South (Northwest) 13-6
182 – #4B Jeb South (Northwest) over #4A Trajen Linear (PLVS) Fall 3:23
195 – #2B Grady Griess (Northwest) over #5B Devin Pfeifer (Plattsmouth) Fall 1:00

#5 Sidney (John Higgins Invite – 2nd Place)
Sidney had a very strong result, finishing in second place behind B#1 Hastings. The Red Raiders had seven medalists, including three champions – Kaden Vowers (126), Trey Arellano (132), and Derek Robb (152). The four other medalists were Colton Peckham (5th – 113), Jacob Peckham (2nd – 120), Brody Raines (3rd – 138), and KC Hilger (2nd – 145)

Notable Results:
120 – UR Jacob Peckham (Sidney) over #5B Jace Russman (Cozad) 3-2
126 – #4B Kaden Vowers (Sidney) over #5B Izaak Hunsley (Hastings) 7-1
145 – UR KC Hilger (Sidney) over #6B Zachary Hulbert (Holdrege) Fall 1:35
152 – #1B Derek Robb (Sidney) over #3B Tomas Margritz (Lexington) Fall 5:03

#6 Blair (Plattsmouth Invite – 3rd Place)
Blair continued their strong season with a third-place finish behind A#4 Millard South and B#4 Northwest. The Bears had nine medalists and were paced by champions Jackson Nielsen (113) and Walker Moore (126). In arguably the best match of the day, #2B Jackson Nielsen defeated #2A Blake Jackson 2-1. Nielsen jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and then hung on during an almost one-minute scramble by Jackson. Moore dominated the tourney pinning all his opponents and recorded his 150th career win as well.

Notable Results:
113 – #2B Jackson Nielsen (Blair) over #4B Collin Quandt (Northwest) 19-12
113 – #2B Jackson Nielsen (Blair) over #2A Blake Jackson (Millard South) 2-1
120 – UR Hank Frost (Blair) over #2B Chase Larsen (Plattsmouth) 5-2
126 – #1 Walker Moore (Blair) over #6A Caelan Hester (Bel East) Fall 1:53
170 – UR Cedric Relford (Elkhorn) over #3B Dalton Lewis (Blair) 7-5

#7 Holdrege (John Higgins Invite– 5th Place)
With seven medalists, two of which were champions, the Dusters finished in 5th place at the tough John Higgins Invite. The champions for Holdrege were Prestin Melroy (182) and Bronson Titus (220). Other medalists include – Brayden Schmalz (6th – 106), Treven Melroy (6th – 132), Zachary Hurlbert (3rd – 145), Tyler Johnson (6th – 152), and Imanol Munoz (6th – 195).

#8 Alliance (Chadron Invite – 2nd Place)
The Bulldogs showed their depth and talent finishing in 2nd place, just 6.5 points behind C#1 Valentine. Alliance had 11 medalists – Paul Ruff (2nd – 106), Tyson Knaub (4th – 113), Evan Steggs (2nd – 120), Jaxon Minnick (6th – 126), Asa Johnson (5th – 132), Kysen Harris (6th – 138), Jorgen Johnson (1st – 145), Braydon Wilson (5th – 152), Lane Applegarth (2nd – 160), Matthew Escamilla (6th -182), and Baily Hood (3rd – 220).

Notable Results:
106 – #5C Chris Williams (Valentine) over #3B Paul Ruff (Alliance) 6-4

#9 York (Gothenburg Dual Invite – 2nd Place)
The York Dukes traveled to Gothenburg and finished in 2nd place behind C#2 Broken Bow. The Dukes had three undefeated wrestlers on the day – Harrison Gocke (138), Scott Fulsos (145), and Noah Stafursky (285).

York defeated Burwell 60-9
York defeated Gothenburg 60-22
Broken Bow defeated York 41-28
York defeated Hershey 72-9
York defeated High Plains 65-15

#10 Wahoo (Nebraska Capital Conference Tourney – 1st place)
Wahoo took home the team title scoring 204 points, 44.5 points better than second place Arlington. Wahoo had five champions – Josh Nuckolls (152), Zane Bennett (160), Sam Kolterman (185), Jack Sutton (220) and five runner-up finishers – Jordon Thorson (126), Cooper Hancock (132), Peyten Walling (138), Tucker Hancock (170), Brandon Swahn (285).

By Ross Bartachek (@rossbchek)

Lead Editor of IA Wrestle

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