The 2018 Class B State Duals have the making to be one of the better State Dual tournaments in recent history. This year’s tournament is littered with talented wrestlers. The eight teams competing boast a total of 69 state qualifiers and 30 state medalists. As with any wrestling dual, match-ups and bonus points are critical to winning. This year multiple teams could be crowned 2018 Class B State Duals champions.
In past years there are typically top wrestlers from various teams who are not in the lineup for State Duals. There are several reasons for that, but those teams missing wrestlers can drastically impact the results of the dual matches. To keep things consistent teams’ district lineups and any prior matches between them will be used to determine a projected winner for the duals. Keep in mind that lineup shifts may occur to strengthen lineups and add points that could shift the dual in another team’s favor, but that is not accounted for unless mentioned.
The Teams:
No. 1 Blair (Bears)
106 Luke Bailey SQ
113 Jackson Nielsen 1st
120 Hank Frost SQ
126 Walker Moore 3rd
132 Zach Orton 6th
138 Hunter McClain SQ
145 Liam Landauer SQ
152 Humberto Almanza SQ
160 Grant Rosenbaum
170 Dalton Lewis 4th
182 Bill Rasmussen
195 Trevor Rutcocky SQ
220 Tommy Thompson
285 Brady Soukup
No.2 Omaha Skutt Catholic (SkyHawks)
106 Nate Rubino SQ
113 Caleb Lazure 4th
120 Joey Orsi 6th
126 Nicholas Stoltenberg 1st
132 Tony Sloboth
138 Jonah Woosley
145 Stone Mendez 3rd
152 Hayden Chaney
160 Alex VanDyke 1st
170 Billy Higgins 1st
182 Eli Jansen 2nd
194 Ben Altman SQ
220 OPEN
285 Blake Brummer
No. 3 Northwest (Vikings)
106 Grady Arends
113 Collin Quandt 2nd
120 Grayson Fries SQ
126 Jack Butler
132 Hayden Feidt
138 Austin Cooley
145 Brady Baasch
152 Dalton Quandt 2nd
160 Dylan Friesen
170 Blake Westerby SQ
182 Jeb South 4th
195 Grady Griess 2nd
220 Cooper Kiser 2nd
285 Marcos Martinez SQ
No. 4 Plattsmouth (Blue Devils)
106 Dominic Cherek SQ
113 Anthony Long SQ
120 Chase Larsen 4th
126 Chance Taylor SQ
132 Caleb Laney SQ
138 Zachary Nielsen SQ
145 Jordan Geiger
152 Tanner Baxter
160 Jayden Wooten SQ
170 Bronson Newburn
182 Drake Rader SQ
195 Devin Pfeifer 4th
220 Trevor Nielsen SQ
285 Xander Rodriguez
No. 5 Hastings (Tigers)
106 Dylan Miller
113 Bryce Brown 3rd
120 Blayne Kile 3rd
126 Izaak Hunsley 4th
132 Mason Brumbaugh SQ
138 Connor Laix 1st
145 Joel Smith SQ
152 Luke Wilkie
160 Joe Keele
170 Damen Pape 3rd
182 Kyle Patten
195 Evan Morara
220 OPEN
285 Josh Callejas
No. 6 Sidney (Red Raiders)
106 Deekun Cerenil
113 Colton Peckham SQ
120 Jacob Peckham SQ
126 Kaden Vowers 2nd
132 Trey Arellano 1st
138 Brody Raines 6th
145 KC Higer SQ
152 Derek Robb 1st
160 Josh Ballance
170 Brady Robb
182 Nathan Hofrock
195 Jack Hinrichs SQ
220 Hayden Hofrock
285 Lane Hughes
No. 7 Wahoo (Warriors)
106 Sebastian Lausterer
113 OPEN
120 OPEN
126 Jordan Thorson
132 Cooper Hancock
138 Peyten Walling SQ
145 Bret Walker
152 Josh Nuckolls SQ
160 Zane Bennett SQ
170 Tucker Hancock 6th
182 Kole Bordovsky SQ
195 Sam Kolterman 1st
220 Jack Sutton 1st
285 Brandon Swahn SQ
No. 8 Schuyler (Warriors)
106 John Gasper
113 Ernesto Chacon
120 Denilson Martinez SQ
126 Kenneth Castro
132 Edgar Cruz
138 Miguel Roman SQ
145 Miduel Carrasco
152 Caden Yrkoski SQ
160 Isaac Hernandez SQ
170 Michael Hernandez SQ
182 Caleb Novak
195 Rosel Diaz SQ
220 Jesus Maganda 3rd
285 Angel Rojo SQ
The Bracket:
The Predictions:
Quarter-Finals
#1 Blair vs. #8 Schuyler
Blair and Schuyler were both at the Boys Town Invite at the beginning of December so there is some familiarity between these two teams. Blair dominated their district tournament, while Schuyler finished a respectable third behind Hastings and Northwest. Blair looks to have the upper hand in this dual and could win up to nine of the matches. Blair will be favored from 106 thru 132 and should Blair win those matches it will be tough for Schuyler to overcome.
Projected Winner: Blair
#4 Plattsmouth vs. #5 Hastings
This dual is the most intriguing of all the first-round match-ups based on the emotions of these two teams. The Tigers had their eyes set on the gold in Omaha and after finishing tied for fourth, Coach Weidner is likely using it as motivation for his team. Plattsmouth had a solid district tournament, sending ten to Omaha. Head Coach Goecke has announced that he is not returning next season for the Blue Devils, and the effects of this on the team during the State Duals is still to be determined. Hastings strength is in its lower weights and could easily win up to 10 matches on their way to a dual victory.
Projected Winner: Hastings
#3 Northwest vs. #6 Sidney
Northwest and Sidney met earlier this year at the UNK Midwest Duals, with Northwest coming away with the 51-28 victory. Not much has changed with either team from middle of January until now, so this dual looks to have a similar feel. The Vikings are coming off a great state tournament finishing in 2nd place – tying the highest finish in school history. Sidney had a solid State tournament finishing tied for 4th and crowned two state champions. The Vikings are a strong dual team and the score should be similar to their last match-up. Sidney will make up some ground in the middle weights, but the strength at the bottom for the Vikings should propel them to victory here.
Projected Winner: Northwest
#2 Omaha Skutt vs. #7 Wahoo
Earlier this season Omaha Skutt and Wahoo dualed at the Bennington Dual tournament, with Wahoo coming away with a 50-22 win. At the time, many began to wonder what had happened to the Omaha Skutt we all knew. However, when districts came around Omaha Skutt was back to full strength and rolled thru their district and stood atop of the podium with the team trophy in Omaha. Unlike earlier this year, Omaha Skutt should win this dual. Bonus points will certainly be at a premium and Wahoo could keep it close if they are able to score those bonus points in the matches they are favored.
Projected Winner: Omaha Skutt
Semi-Finals
#1 Blair vs. #5 Hastings
If the Blair vs. Hastings match-up comes to fruition, this will be one of the better duals of the day. On paper, these teams match-up very closely, meaning bonus points will be very important. In looking at the line ups from districts, swing matches likely will come at 145, 152, and 285. Whichever team carries these matches should win the dual. Hastings is poised to perform better this weekend and should take this dual. Brown at 113 and Hunsley at 126 will keep their matches close and may even come out on top. Combine those matches with another swing weight or two and the Tigers should win.
Projected Winner: Hastings
#2 Omaha Skutt vs. #3 Northwest
Like the other projected semi-final, this dual has the makings of a great dual. If Omaha Skutt is healthy, they will push Northwest and should come out on top. Northwest is one of, if not the strongest dual team in Class B. Of the six Vikings who did not qualify for state, many of them can win the “50/50” matches. In looking at the line-ups, the swing weights will come at 106, 113, and 182. Omaha Skutt had state qualifiers at all these weights, while Northwest did not qualify their 106. The team that takes more of these swing matches should be the dual winner. Omaha Skutt looks to have the ability to take more of these swing matches, which will move them into the finals.
Projected Winner: Omaha Skutt
Finals
#2 Omaha Skutt vs. #5 Hastings
Earlier this year Hastings took down Omaha Skutt in a dual 49-19. At the time, both teams were missing a strong wrestler – Brown at 113 for Hastings and Van Dyke at 160 for Omaha Skutt. If this dual takes place, it will come down to Hastings motivation after a less than desired performance in Omaha versus the confidence and momentum that Omaha Skutt brings in after taking the team title last weekend. As with most great duals, this one is likely to come down to bonus points. There will be some great match-ups if the line-ups don’t change. Keep an eye on 113 – Brown vs. Lazure, 120 – Kile vs. Orsi, 126 – Hunsley vs. Stoltenberg, and 170 – Pape vs. Higgins, as they all have the potential to be great matches and could turn the tide one way or the other. Omaha Skutt showed what they were capable of last weekend, and the wave that they are riding should be enough for them to take home the State Dual championship.
Projected Winner: Omaha Skutt