By: Kevin Fries

Where Can You Find Them?

Schuyler Invite
Teams:
Aquinas Catholic (#5C), BRLD, Columbus Lakeview (#7B), Gretna, Lexington (#9B), Madison, Malcolm, Norris, Schuyler (#8B), Scottsbluff (#4B), Shelby-Rising City, Tekamah-Herman, Wayne

Ranked Wrestlers:
106 – #6C Hunter Vandenberg (Aquinas)
113 – #1B Paul Garcia (Scottsbluff); #2C Zach Zitek (Aquinas)
120 – #3C Ryan Zoucha (Malcolm)
126 – #3C Brandon Schram (Tekamah-Herman); #6B Gage Perry (Col Lakeview)
132 – #1B Jerryd Hernandez (Scottsbluff)
138 – #3B Juan Vergara (Wayne); #4B Joel Lemburg (Col Lakeview)
145 – #1B Devontae Gutierrez (Scottsbluff); #6C Mason Schleis (Shelby-Rising City)
160 – #1B Riley Kopf (Lexington); #2B Zeth Gerkensmeyer (Col Lakeview); #3B Caden Yrkoski (Schuyler)
170 – #2A Cole Huss (Gretna); #3C Dylan Zoucha (Malcolm); #4B Michael Hernandez (Schuyler)
182 – #1C Joseph Reimers (Aquinas); #2B Jake Frenzen (Col Lakeview)
195 – #3B Dylan Meyer (Norris); #4A TJ Huber (Gretna); #4C Haydn Deinert (Malcolm)
220 – #1B Jesus Maganda (Schuyler)
285 – #3B Jade Wurth (Lexington); #5B Tavion Leatherdale (Wayne); #5C Owen Schramm (Aquinas)

What to Watch:
The 2019 Schuyler Invite features five ranked teams across classes B and C. Scottsbluff joins an already tough tournament, where  Schuyler outpaced Lexington by 2.5 points to take home the team title last year. Based on their depth, teams like Schuyler, Lexington, Columbus Lakeview, and Aquinas should be in position to take home the team title this year.

Two weight classes should provide some great intrigue. At 160, the top three ranked wrestlers in Class B will be battling it out to see who is worthy of the number one spot. Kopf and Gernkensmeyer are coming off tourney championships, while Yrkoski fell in overtime to Long of Valentine in the High Plains title bout.

The heavyweight weight class also features three ranked wrestlers – two in Class B and one in Class C. Should Wurth and Leatherdale meet up, it will be a big determining factor in future rankings. Schramm has had a very solid season and could derail the Class B grapplers’ run to the tourney title.

Rumble in River Country
Teams:
Abraham Lincoln (IA), Aurora, Clarinda (IA), Crete, Elkhorn, Fairbury, Falls City, Fort Calhoun, Hastings (#6B), Nebraska City, Platteview, Plattsmouth, Seward, Wahoo (#2B), Waverly (#5B), York

Ranked Wrestlers:
106 – #2B Caden Svoboda (Aurora); #5B Trae Greve (Waverly)
120 – #6B Dylan Miller (Hastings)
126 – #5B Bryce Brown (Hastings)
132 – #3B Izaak Hunsley (Hastings); #4B Trevor Kluck (Aurora)
138 – #5B Mason Brumbaugh (Hastings)
145 – #2B Chris Adams (NE City)
152 – #1B Kaleb Canoyer (Waverly); #2B Harrison Gocke (York); #3B Zane Bennett (Wahoo); #5B Carson Core (Seward); #6B Carter Pursley (Aurora)
170 – #1B Dame Pape (Hastings); #2B Evan Canoyer (Waverly); #3B Ace York (Fairbury); #5B JaydenWooten (Plattsmouth)
182 – #3B Seth Firmanik (Fairbury); #4B Kole Bordovsky (Wahoo)
195 – #1B Sam Kolterman (Wahoo); #4B Drake Rader (Plattsmouth)
220 – #4B Devin Pfeifer (Plattsmouth)
285 – #1B Jack Sutton (Wahoo); #2B Noah Stafursky (York); #4B Trevor Brown (Waverly)

What to Watch:
Pool A: Abraham Lincoln, Hastings, Plattsmouth, Seward
Pool B: Aurora, Clarinda, Elkhorn, Platteview
Pool C: Crete, Falls City, Wahoo, Waverly
Pool D: Fairbury, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska City, York

Hastings and Plattsmouth should battle it out in Pool A and the depth of Hastings should allow them to win the pool. Aurora, Wahoo, and York should win their respective pools as well based on the line-ups. Hastings is the most complete team of the final four and should repeat as team champion.

One match-up that should happen is #1B Jack Sutton of Wahoo versus freshman stud #4B Trevor Brown of Waverly. Both are undefeated this season and this could be a preview of things to come in February.

Gothenburg Duals
Teams:
Adams Central, Broken Bow (#2C), Chadron, Gering, Northwest (#3B), Gothenburg, Holdrege, Sidney

Ranked Wrestlers:
106 – #1B Quinton Chavez (Gering); #3B Grady Arends (Northwest)
113 – #2B Tristen Obermiller (Adams Central)
120 – #4C Spencer Gaffney (Broken Bow)
126 – #2B Nate Rocheleau (Gering); #2C Casey Faulkenberry (Broken Bow); #4B Collin Quandt (Northwest)
132 – #3C Patrick Powers (Broken Bow); #6B Wyatt Hotz (Gothenburg)
138 – #1B Trey Arellano (Sidney)
145 – #4B Brody Raines (Sidney)
152 – #5C Cole Ulmer (Broken Bow)
160 – #6B Jake Lemmon (Chadron)
170 – #4C Lathan Duda (Broken Bow)
182 – #2C Treyvon Brooks (Broken Bow); #5B Clark Riesen (Chadron)
195 – #2B Grady Griess (Northwest)
220 – #2B Cooper Kiser (Northwest)
285 – #3C Drew Drake (Broken Bow); #6B Marcos Martinez (Northwest)

What to Watch:
Pool 1: Broken Bow, Gering, Holdrege, Sidney
Pool 2: Adams Central, Chadron, Gothenburg, Northwest

Sidney, Broken Bow, Northwest, and Adams Central should all advance to the championship bracket. Broken Bow is the most complete team in the tournament and should have enough firepower to take home the team title.

The 126lb weight class has some major players in their respective classes. Rocheleau and Faulkenberry should be a battle during the pool round that will be worth watching.

River Cities Conference Tournament
Teams:
Beatrice, Mount Michael, Omaha Gross, Omaha Roncalli, Omaha Skutt (#1B), Ralston, South Sioux City

Ranked Wrestlers:
106 – #4B Zach Ourada (Skutt)
113 – #4B Tanner York (Beatrice); #5B Michael Mass (Ralston)
120 – #2B Drew Arnold (Beatrice)
126 – #3B Caleb Lazure (Skutt)
132 – #2B Joey Orsi (Skutt)
138 – #2B Nicholas Stoltenberg (Skutt)
160 – #4B Brody Nelson (Beatrice)
182 – #1B Eli Jansen (Skutt)
220 – #4B Luis Quezada (South Sioux City)

What to Watch:
If Skutt is at full strength, they should cruise to the conference title. The Skyhawks will enter the tournament featuring six ranked wrestlers. Look for Beatrice to be the runner-up as they have some guys wrestling at a very high level right now.