Bulldogs wrestlers state bound

Jorgen Johnson pointing to the Alliance crowd after a win.

Jenni Johnson

Jorgen Johnson pointing to the Alliance crowd after a win.

Morgan Johnston, Editor-In-Cheif

The week of state wrestling is always jam-packed and full of excitement, whether it is before or after. Many believe that the most important meet of wrestling season is districts. They would be correct, without doing well in districts, there would be no state to compete in. This year, Alliance had eight wrestlers who placed in the top four at districts and headed to Omaha the next week for the state tournament.

On the Monday before state, the entire team and their closest family members came together for the fifth annual spaghetti and mac and cheese dinner. This is the last event of the season for many of the wrestlers. Eating their weight in carbs is a personal favorite tradition.

Tuesday was the send off for the wrestlers traveling to Omaha. Everyone was welcome and it ended up being the biggest turnout I’ve seen in the past four years. The head coach Scott Ruff started talking about each individual wrestler starting with Evan Steggs (106), Jorgen Johnson (126), Lane Applegarth (138), Rey Valdez (145), Danny Vallejo (152), Emmanuel Cabello (160), Bryant Wilson (170), and Nathan Lauder (HWT). When getting to Valdez in his talk he referred to the four middle weights as “murder row, because when we get to them in duals its just hammer after hammer.” The wrestlers finished send off with actually speaking to the crowd about their season and what they talked about when they inspired the team at practice. “When we started doing this (Ruff) saw the team grow closer together and work harder.”

The wrestlers left at 7 in the morning on Wednesday and stopped in Kearney for a workout at UNK.

Thursday was the first day of state and this year class B and C were in the morning session. Steggs started the team off with a tough match up against the number one seed Moore of Blair, Steggs fell to Moore in 2:26. Johnson wrestled Berg of West Point Beemer and lost by decision 2-7. Applegarth wrestled Vanderpool of Omaha Skutt Catholic and lost by major decision 0-9. Valdez defeated Moyer of Fairbury by decision 6-5. Vallejo defeated Nelson of Elkhorn South by decision 6-2. Cabello pinned Olson of Gretna in 5:52. Wilson wrestled Dibbern of Aurora and got the pin in 3:28. Lauder wrestled Stille of Ashland-Greenland and fell to him in 3:09.

Four wrestlers moved into the second round of the tournament. Valdez wrestled Prall of Platsmouth and lost by decision 1-3. Vallejo wrestled Franklin of Fairbury and lost by decision 5-4. Cabello wrestled Dodson of Columbus and lost 1-3. Wilson wrestled Sornson of Nebraska City and lost by decision 11-5.

On Friday the first and second consolations rounds were wrestled in the morning, and the semifinals and third consolation round were wrestled in the evening. Steggs wrestled in the morning but fell to Carvajal of Schuyler in 1:45. Johnson wrestled Venzor of Schuyler and won by decision 4-2, advancing to the second round of consolations. Applegarth wrestled Ramaekers of Mount Michael Benedict and lost by decision 2-4. Lauder wrestled Mendoza-Or of Omaha Roncalli Catholic and lost by decision 7-1.

The second consolation round had five wrestlers in it. Johnson beat Grell of Ashland-Greenland by decision 4-0. Valdez wrestled Lewis of Blair and beat him by decision 3-1. Vallejo wrestled Dijidjoho of Mount Michael Benedict and pinned him in 2:33. Cabello wrestled Seyler of Nebraska City and won by decision 3-2. Wilson wrestled Sherman of Crete and pinned him in 3:27.

The third consolation round, also know as the heartbreak round had some tough loses and some tough wins. Johnson wrestled Brandenbur of Columbus Scotus and won in sudden death 4-2. Valdez wrestled Margritz of Lexington and lost by decision 2-3. Vallejo battled Miller of Gothenburg and fell short losing by decision 5-7. Cabello of wrestled Yoder of Bennington and got stuck in the second period getting pinned in 2:25. Wilson pinned Ybarra of Gering in 4:08.

Johnson saw Berg of West Point Beemer again in the consolation semifinals and lost by major decision. Wilson wrestled Kenkel of Ogallala and won by decision 8-6.

Johnson then wrestled for fifth, but lost in sudden death 2-4 to Larson of Gothenburg and placed sixth in the state tournament. Wilson wrestled Johnson of Fairbury and pinned him in 2:40, placing third at the state tournament.

The team had an extremely successful season, and although we didn’t travel to Kearney for State Duals to compete, the wrestlers are proud of their season. Many of them have an extra kick to make it back to state and place next year.

 

12779147_951801124869882_4071681607060237300_oJenni Johnson