Led by FIVE total national champions and FOUR from the Girls’ divisions, Nebraska had 34 total All-Americans and five champions across all divisions at USA Wrestling’s Preseason Nationals this past weekend. This was in addition to numerous other wrestlers across all divisions winning matches and competing well at the national level.
There were three Middle School Girls Champs. Mia Anderson had an exciting conclusion to her tournament to win the title, getting a reversal and then nearfall in last minute of the match to win 7-6. Kaylyn Harrill dominated her three matches, winning two by fall and the third match she was up 8-0 in the first period before her opponent forfeited out. Makayla Vasser won her division with an 11-6 decision in the opening round, before notching two straight 38 second falls. Mara Vanderpool finished third, with her lone loss coming to the eventual champ.
In the 3rd-5th division, Jaelyn Anderson (Mia’s sister) picked up two wins by fall, and another by 11-0 major decision to capture the title. Madyn Overman was runner-up in the biggest bracket in the in the 3rd-5th and MS Girls divisions.
Ahead of the first HS Girls Season, Nebraska had four All-Americans. Regan Rosseter was the highest finished in third place. She dropped her QF match to the eventual runner-up before rattling off four straight wins to finish third. She won a 4-2 OT match to get into 3rd/4th, and 6-5 to win third place. Maycee Peacher will be making waves in Nebraska her freshman season. She went 4-2 at 106 to finish fourth place. Reagan Gallaway went 4-2 as well to finish in 5th place, while Alexis Pehrson went 4-3 to finish 6th.
At the Middle School Boys level, Zaiyahn Ornelas continued his fantastic wrestling. He won a 34 man bracket at 92 lbs at the Middle School level, surrendering just one point along the way. There were two third place finishers in MS. Tyler Harrill went 4-1, dropping one close match to the eventual champ. Mason Petersen lost a nailbiter in OT to eventual champ and came back to finish 3rd, going 4-1. Brock Goebel finished 6th, and there were three MS 7th place finishes: Cole Caniglia, Kiernan Meink and Riley Johnson.
The HS Boys were broken up into 9th-10th and 11th-12th. Logan Edwards made the finals at 113 in 11th-12th division before dropping a hard fought 2-0 match. The other two upperclassmen AA’s were Josh Colgrove and Cam Cunningham, who squared off for 7th at 170 in a match won 1-0 by Colgrove.
The 9th-10th division had two finalists in Henry Reilly and Noah Blair. Reilly won four matches to make the finals, and lost a close 5-3 match for the title. Noah Blair cruised to the finals, before dropping a decision to a Minnesota state runner-up in the finals. Nebraska had two 6th place finishers in Miles Anderson and Grant Schwerdtfeger, and two 7th with Sam Andres and Isaac Ekdahl. Ekdahl avenged a previous loss to capture 7th.
In the grade school divisions, there were two additional 2nd place finishers. Landon Rosenthal was the highest finisher in the 5th-6th age group. He went 3-1 to finish second. Wesley Martin went 4-1 to finish 2nd at 3rd-4th 59lbs. Grant Berry was the highest finisher in 1st-2nd, finishing in 4th. Jaxon Peterson followed brother Mason to the medal stand with a 5th place finish. 5th-6th graders Ace Schweitzer and Cole Kansteiner both finished 7th and Carter Matthias finished in 8th in 1st-2nd.
Final Placements Below:
Girls
Champion:
Mia Anderson MS 85
Kaylyn Harrill MS 105
Makayla Vasser MS 185
Jaelyn Anderson 3rd-5th 55-59
2nd Place:
Madyn Overman 3rd-5th 70-76
3rd Place:
Regan Rosseter HS 127
Mara Vanderpool MS 97
Emmeline Barry 3rd-5th 61-67
4th place:
Maycee Peacher HS 106
5th place:
Reagan Gallaway HS 138
6th place:
Alexis Pehrson HS 122
Boys
Champion
Zaiyahn Ornelas 7th-8th 92
2nd Place
Logan Edwards 11th-12th 113
Henry Reilly 9th-10th 160
Noah Blair 9th-10th 182
Landon Rosenthal 5th-6th 98
Wesley Martin 3rd-4th 59
3rd Place
Mason Petersen MS 119
Tyler Harrill MS 130
4th Place
Grant Barry 1st-2nd 53
5th Place
Jaxon Petersen 3rd-4th 93
6th Place
Miles Anderson 9th-10th 113
Grant Schwerdtfeger 9th-10th 195
Brock Goebel MS 71
7th Place
Isaac Ekdahl 9th-10th 100
Josh Colgrove 11th-12th 170
Sam Andres 9th-10th 182
Cole Caniglia MS 77
Kiernan Meink MS 87
Riley Johnson MS 130
Ace Schweitzer 5th-6th 67
Cole Kansteiner 5th-6th 108
8th Place
Cameron Cunningham 11th-12th 170
Carter Matthias 1st-2nd 62