Bluejay Wrestling
Launch the media gallery 1 playerWrestlers 6th in First Meet
by Morgan Crist
The Pierce High Bluejays wrestled in the O’Neill Invitational and placed 6th with a score of 55.5 points on Saturday, December 2, against 11 other teams.
With the team’s top finish for the day, Ryder Fuchs placed 2nd at 195. In his first match, Fuchs won by tech fall over James Hargett of Southern Valley High School, and then pinned Casey Coburn of West Holt High School in his next match. In his 1st-place match, Fuchs lost by decision to Jaden Rahn of GACC.
Wrestling at 152, Brett Tinker placed 3rd. In his first match, Tinker was pinned by Jett Evans of Chamberlain High School. He pinned Jadyn Smeal of GACC in his next match, then won by decision over Austin Smith of West Holt. In his 3rd-place match, Tinker avenged his earlier loss and pinned Jett Evans of Chamberlain.
At 220, Dylan Kuehler also placed 4th. In his first match, Kuehler lost in an ultimate tiebreaker against Cole Rosenkrans of St. Mary’s High School. In his next match, he pinned Joey Otero of Norfolk Catholic. Kuehler was pinned by Ruger Forester of Chamberlain High School in the 3rd-place match.
Also medaling for the Jays was Mason Sedlacek, who placed 4th at 120. In his first round, he was pinned by Jaden Bykerk of Norfolk Catholic. Sedlacek was pinned again in his second round by Matthew Wilson of O’Neill. Collin Powell of Chamberlain High School pinned Sedlacek in his third round. In his fourth and final match, Mason pinned Reice Rivera of Valentine High School.
Wrestling at 106 was Devin Graae. Graae was pinned by Trey Neilan in his first match and Thomas Powell in the consolation semis. Both opponents were of Chamberlain High School.
Jayden Sporleder, wrestling at 113, was pinned by Will Grape of Boone Central, Elias Lorenzo of O’Neill, Max Donovan of Chamberlain High, and Jarrett Battershaw of Valentine High School.
Wrestling at 122, Jeremiah Kruntorad was pinned in his first round by Dilen Anderson of Chamberlain High School and by Ty Conroy of Ainsworth High in the consolation semis.
Nelson Emerson wrestled at 145 and lost by decision in his first round to Pete Brown of Southern Valley High. In his next match, Emerson lost by decision to Arik Seymour of Norfolk Catholic.
Cole Cheney wrestled at 195 and was pinned by Jaden Rahn of GACC in his first match and again by Gunner Ristau of Chamberlain High in consolation round 2.
Coach Tyler Leegate said of the team’s performance, "I thought the boys wrestled hard and competed really well. We were close to getting three more individuals in the finals, which would have helped our team score. We have a lot of things to fix before North Bend."
The next Bluejay wrestling meet will be Saturday, December 9, at North Bend.
JH Wrestling Hosts Triangular
by Montana Ruppert
The junior high wrestling team held a triangular on Thursday, November 30, against Howells-Dodge and Norfolk Catholic at Pierce.
At the triangular, Pierce had twelve wrestlers who had winning matches. They were Cameron Armitage, Jayden Coulter, Brock Bolling, Braedy Grosshuesch, Colton Fritz, Richard Halligan, Nick Erickson, Blake Bolling, Nikolas Harvey, Isaiah Adams, Parker Sackville, and Max Cooper. There were no team scores kept and no weight classes at the triangular. The boys were all paired of with opponents from one or both others teams they had to wrestle.
Coach Gary Shada said, “I was extremely pleased with how everyone performed.”
The next JH wrestling meet will be Saturday, December 9, at Boone Central.
JH Wrestling Competes in Battle Creek Tourney
by Montana Ruppert
The junior wrestling team traveled to Battle Creek Tuesday, November 28, where they scored 176 team points, putting them in 3rd place.
In Battle Creek, there were eight Bluejays who medaled. Jayden Coulter placed 1st at 86 pounds, going 4-0 for the day. Brock Bolling placed 1st at 94 pounds and went 3-0 in the tournament. Placing 2nd, Michael Kruntorad was 3-1. Richard Halligan also placed 2nd, going 1-1. Parker Sackville wrestled at 145 and placed 3rd after going 4-1. Also finishing 3rd, Ren Gleason went 3-1. In the heavyweight division, Nick Erickson placed 3rd and went 3-1. Isaiah Adams got 4th, going 3-2.
Other Bluejay results included Cameron Armitage going 1-2 at 86 points. Karter Wolfe wrestled at 101 and went 1-2. Jayce Jacobs was 0-2 at 120 pounds. Also at 120, Blake Bolling was 2-2. At 135, Braedy Grosshuesch went 3-2. Also at 135, Colton Fritz went 2-2. Max Cooper wrestled at 155 and went 1-2.
Coach Gary Shada said, “I was extremely pleased with how everyone performed, and the team set a new junior high record for the most team points in a tournament.”
The next JH wrestling meet will be Saturday, December 9, at Boone Central.
