Bluejay Wrestling
Osmond Invite
by Kaila Spieker
The Pierce wrestling team traveled to Osmond to take on their fellow opponents on Saturday, December 19 and came away as meet champions. Starting at 113, Zakary Abler placed 3rd. Abler lost against Tyler Gleason from O’Neill St. Mary’s 10-4. On to Isaiah Adams (120), who placed 1st by winning over Gavin Prewitt of North Central 5-1. Brock Bolling placed 1st at 126 by winning 2-1 over Zach Dickau from North Central in the final match. Ethan Dohmen (132) ended up placing 7th. In Dohmen’s final match, he won by forfeit. At 138, Blake Bolling placed 1st with a 6-0 decision over Channing Ogden from West Holt. Aiden Gnat, at 152, placed 4th, and in the final round, Gnat lost by fall to Jeremiah Chase from Wakefield.Ashton Schweitzer (160) pinned Aiden Cook from Ponca in 1:43, and this ended with Schweitzer placing 1st in his bracket. Onto Michael Kruntorad who wrestled at 170 and placed 1st by pinning Sam Vortherms from Creighton in the final match. Kruntorad said, “Over the break, we will be trying to lose weight and get in better condition.”At 182, Zander Schweitzer received 1st place when he pinned Philip Panning from West Holt in 0:53.Colton Fritz (195) placed 3rd and in his final round, he pinned Garrett Kaup from West Holt in 0:09.Nick Erickson (220) placed 4th. Erickson lost in the last match against Giovani Salcedo from Wakefield.At 285, Travis Jensen placed 9th and in his final round he lost by fall to Jason Hagedorn of West Point-Beemer.Head coach Tyler Legate said, “The guys wrestled really hard and they are looking forward to the Christmas break, we look forward to competing in our tournament on January 2.”
The wrestling team will host the Pierce Invite on January 2.
Wrestling Split at Battle Creek Triangular
by Kaila Spieker
Pierce High School wrestling team drove to Battle Creek, on Thursday, December 17, to compete in a triangular competition against Elkhorn Valley and O’Neill. In this triangular, Pierce won against Elkhorn Valley 42-32 but lost to O’Neill 48-25.
In the dual against Elkhorn Valley, Zakary Abler lost at 106 to Waylan Warneke. Pierce had no one at 113 or 120. At 126, Brock Bolling lost to Adam Miller, and Ethan Dohmen (132) also lost to Maverick Havemann. Blake Bolling (136) pinned Mason Schaffer in 2:00. At 145, Kaden Froehlich lost against Malachi Tegeler, and Aiden Gnat (152) lost to Reed Bennett. Ashton Schweitzer (160), Tyler Friesz (170), Michael Kruntorad (182), and Zander Schweitzer (195) all won in a forfeit. At 220, Nicholas Erickson pinned Gavyn Clause, and Ren Gleason (285) won in a forfeit.
Z. Schweitzer said, “I think we did good overall, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to get to where we would like to be.”
Pierce lost against O’Neill 48-25. Abler (106) lost against John Alden, and in weight 113 and 120 Pierce did not have anyone. At 126, Br. Bolling won 6-3 Joseph Yates, but Zach Meier (132) lost against Ty Rainforth. Blake Bolling won at 138 by pinning Oliver Schluns, and at 145, Pierce didn’t have anyone. Gnat (152) lost against Levi Drueke, and at 160, A. Schweitzer won 19-5 over Fabian Acevado. Kruntorad (170) lost to Servando Gonzalez, and Z. Schweitzer (182) pinned Korbyn Grenier in 0:58. Jaden Jones lost at 195 to Salvador Rodriguez. Erickson won at 220 over Noah Shabram, but Travis Jensen lost at 285 to Tucker Shabram.
In exhibition Friesz lost against Fernando Gutierrez, but Zavien Boul beat Matias Jiminez and Froehlich won over Anthony Miller.
Head coach Tyler Legate said, "The guys wrestled tough, but we still have a lot to work on.”
The wrestling team will host the Pierce Invite on January 2.
