River Country wrestlers impress on the big stage in Omaha

OMAHA - The CHI Health Center in Omaha was rocking as usual for the NSAA State Wrestling championships on Saturday as schools from each end of the state and everywhere in between wrangled for gold medals.

But this year had a different feel as girls joined the action on the mat for the first time. It was a historical moment as the girls slammed, turned and pinned one another over the course of the three-day event. And the young women competing did not disappoint.

Plattsmouth's Zoey Barber was the champion at 114 pounds, defeating Conestoga's Kylee Plowman by pinfall. Emory Trofholz also medaled for Conestoga at 126. Weeping Water's Raelyn Wilson (107) finished in second place in her championship match while teammate Libby Sutton (132) finished sixth losing a 2-1 decision to Omaha North.

Johnson County Central produced a silver medalist in the 100-pound finals in Jocelyn Prado. Prado completed her solid season at 30-7. 

Payton Thiele finished third for Louisville at 100, losing to Lay Lay Tun of Omaha Northwest in a close 1-0 decision. Tun recorded the first ever girls victory in the state tournament. 

Nebraska City's own Pacie Lee made it to the finals at 126, but fell just short of a gold medal, losing to undefeated Westside Warrior Regan Rosseter (42-0) by pinfall.

The boys also produced numerous medalists across the board in Classes B and C, including one champion.

The lone champion was Nebraska City's Mikah Ruiz (44-5). Ruiz continued his dominant season in Class B, pinning Collin Schwartzkopf (Gering) in the 220 finals to win gold. Bayler Poston was also on the podium for the Pioneers after finishing fourth at 145.

Platteview's Elliott Steinhoff took home third with a pin at 152 while Plattsmouth's Josh Colgrove ended his state tournament run with a third-place decision at 170.

In Class C, Conestoga's Keaghon Chini beat Grant Wells (Lincoln Lutheran) for the bronze medal at 126. Falls City generated two medalists on Saturday as well. Wyatt Olberding (138) finished third and Thomas Fields (195) finished fifth.

Syracuse also had two student-athletes win medals at 120 and 170. Jace Goebel won his decision 7-4 against Crofton/Bloomfield at 120 and Owen Wander lost to Aiden Hinrichs from Fillmore Central in a 6-0 decision.

Aiden Worthey lost for only the third time all season for Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer at 195. Worthey made it all the way to the finals, losing a tight 5-3 decision to Ryan Gabriel (Ord).

Below are the overall team champions, runners-up and their point totals:

Girls

Champion - South Sioux City (95.0)

Runner-up - Norfolk (66.5)

Boys

Class A

Champion - Millard South (217.0)

Runner-up - Lincoln East (145.0)

Class B

Champion - Bennington (160.5)

Runner-up - Hastings (128.0)

Class C

Champion - Aquinas Catholic (141.0)

Runner-up - Central City (104.5)

Class D

Champion - Sutherland (141.0)

Runner-up - Mullen (93.0)