State Runner-up for Bolling
By Alanna McKeown
The Pierce High boys Wrestling team sent eight boys to state wrestling from February 15-17 and came home with one medalist, Brenden Bolling, who finished as runner-up at 150.
“It’s been a common theme, but I just feel like we just got tougher–tougher practice team, tougher competitor, and just started doing things the right way, and we just became tough,” head coach Tyer Legate comments. “Overall we just became a tougher team, which led to success.”
Second place medalist, Bolling beat Isaac Ruwe from Tekamah Herman by fall during the championship round. Then during quarterfinals Bolling defeated Pryor Mathews from O’Neill by decision, 6-5. This win sent Bolling to the semifinals match where Bolling beat Wyatt Olberding from Falls City by a 5-3 decision. Finally, in the first place match determining who would win the state championship at the 150 weight class, Bolling lost by an 8-3 decision to Orrin Kuehn from Minden, causing Bolling to earn second place and added 20 team points.
Bolling, a two-time state qualifier states, “I did mostly what I wanted to, it wasn't the outcome I wanted, but it was still a really fun season, and I had a great time.”
Scoring five team points for the Bluejays was Kaiden Fritz (175), who pinned Gavin Ruwe from Logan View in the championship round. In the quarterfinals, Fritz fell to Ashton Meinecke from St. Paul. In consolation round two, Fritz defeated Kyle Peterson from Raymond Central by decision, 3-2. In the last round of the consolation, Fritz was defeated by a 3-2 decision to Brice Chaplin from Broken Bow.
Wrestling at 132 and adding four team points, Elijah Streff was defeated in the championship round by Easton Hochstein from Cedar Catholic by fall. In the following round, Streff defeated Zac Mullally from North Bend Central by a 7-5 decision. In consolation round two, Streff won by medical forfeit over David Hart from Bishop Neumann. Finally in consolation round three, Streff lost by a 9-5 decision to Mason Nitz from Elkhorn Valley.
In the 126 weight class, Draydin Gossman fell in the championship round to Parker Schultz of Hi-Line. In consolation round one, Gossman pinned Braxton Soll from Arlington, which added three team points. Then in consolation round two, Gossman was defeated by Holden McDonald from Superior in a major decision, 10-1.
Christian Nordby, wrestling at 215, lost in the championship round by fall against Jaret Peterson from Chase County. In consolation round one, Nordby beat Ryder Anderson from St. Paul by decision, 6-3. Then in consolation round two, Nordby was defeated by Levi Gall from Clarkson Leigh by decision, 8-4. Nordby contributed one point to the team score.
Jackson Fischer wrestled at 165 weight at state. In the championship round Fischer was defeated by Ben Mcgee from Amherst by fall. Following in consolation round one, Fischer fell to Terry Trew from Johnson County Central, making that Fischer’s last round at state.
At 285, Boston Krueger was defeated in the championship round by Tycen Breckner from Doniphan-Trumbull by fall. In consolation round one, Krueger fell to Kolten Simons of Centura.
At 120, Corbin Pfeil faced Hayden Schmit from David City and lost by fall in the championship round. Then in consolation round one Pfeil was defeated by Robinson LaDeaux from Valentine by decision, 7-3.
Pierce finished 20th out of 53 teams in class C1.
“I’m very grateful for the kids and their work ethic, and I think our future is bright with a young team. It’s what we do from here on out that will decide how we do next year,” Legate leaves as lasting thoughts.
