Four Class B state champions highlight the 28 medals won by Panhandle wrestlers at the state tournament in Omaha.  Panhandle wrestlers also claimed 6 thirds, 4 fourths, 6 fifths, and 7 sixths.

The highest team finishes were in Class B, where Scottsbluff was the runner-up behind Omaha Skutt 146.5 to 119, Alliance was 4th..2.5 points behind Plattsmouth…and Chadron was 12th. The highest team finish in Class C was Mitchell at 15th, while Bayard was 13th in Class D.

Leading the way among the champions was Scottsbluff junior Colton Adams, who won his 3rd title at 3 different weight classes with a 9-3 decision at 132. Adams also set a state record with his 53rd victory of the season, ending 53-1.

Sophomore teammate Keegan Hessler finished the year 50-3 by capturing the 120-pound title with a 5-3 decision, and Alliance senior Tyson Dowler celebrated an undefeated season by winning the 152-pound crown with a 5-4 victory.

The Panhandle’s fourth champion was Chadron senior Colby Riesen, who took the 160-pound title with a pin after having finished 6th at 145 as a sophomore and 3rd last year at 160.

Only one wrestler from the region who made the finals failed to win, as 106-pound sophomore Juan Delacruz of Scottsbluff fell 10-4 and had to settle for 2nd.

Class B accounted for 5 of the third places.  Sophomore Baily Hort of Gering did it with a pin at 113, junior Devin Ushio of Alliance beat Scottsbluff sophomore Joseph Flores-Ybarra 5-4 in a Panhandle battle at 120, Alliance sophomore Walker Johnson took another 5-4 win at 126, still another sophomore, Sabian Harsh of Scottsbluff, was a 9-4 winner at 145, and Sidney senior Tanner Wintholz, headed to Chadron State to play football, claimed 3rd at 195 with a pin.

Finishing 4th besides Flores-Ybarra was senior Dawson Johnson of Alliance at 160, while Scottsbluff junior Andrew Aratani claimed 5th at 285.

The Panhandle’s 6th place finishers included another Alliance senior, Tyler Smith at 138, Chadron sophomore Willy Cogdill at 152, and senior Andrew Aratani of Scottsbluff at 285

Chadron senior Chance Bila…who came to state undefeated…wound up 6th at 170 after being injured in the championship semifinals and not able to wrestle in the consolations.

The highest Class C placer was Bridgeport junior Brandon Nichols at 138, while the only 3 other placers were all from Mitchell and all finished 5th…senior Brendan Swanson at 170 and freshmen  Drew Gilliland and Braydon Wiedeman at 106 and 182 respectively.

The 3rd place match at 220 in Class D was another Panhandle battle as junior Steve Horrocks of Hay Springs topped Banner County senior David Gifford 3-0. ..leaving Gifford 4th.

The region had a pair of 5th place finishers in Garden County senior Makay Beck at 152 and Bayard junior Tanner Willey at 195, and a trio in 6th place…senior CJ Sidrow of Morrill at 106, Hay Springs junior Joey Johnson at 132, and  senior Allen Denton of Bayard at 160.