By Blake Peterson Editors note: Once again in 2024, the outstanding Blake Peterson attended the State Wrestling Tournament and provided his excellent recap of all the action for the Sheridan County Wrestlers.
The SCJS is very appreciative of Mr. Peterson in sharing his recap and photos from the tournament to bring a little piece of Omaha back for the fans of Gordon-Rushville and Hay Springs.
Gordon-Rushville: Jaxon Kearns
Class C 106: This weight features 2 returning medalists.
Jaxon Kearns (34-12) Sophomore vs Erik Prado Johnson County Central (43-4) Freshman (Prado will finish in 6th place) Prado wins by fall, 1:57. Kearns was on his offense early but Prado displayed good defense fending off two of Jaxon’s leg attacks. Prado was able to secure a takedown of his own and with time winding down in the first period he stuck in a wing and a half on Kearns and was awarded the fall.
Jaxon Kearns (32-13) vs Peyton Welsh Louisville (29-20) Junior Welsh wins in Overtime by decision, 6-4 .
Welsh starts off the match with a single leg attack defended by Kearns with a head outside single but Welsh’s offense proves greater as he scores the takedown.
Neutral to start the second period Kearns hits a blast double and drives Welsh out of bounds, Kearns in another shot Welsh defends with going to a far ankle scramble and some good mat wrestling here as Kearns is able to sit the corner for the take down.
Jaxon does a good job in the top position and is able to ride out the period to enter the third tied. Neutral again and Welsh’s shot is defended by Kearns this time going head inside cradle and getting around for the 2 and the lead. Jaxon does another great job on top controlling wristing and working in wings to keep Welsh flat. Get Jaxon a saddle because he’s putting on a ride.
Restart for blood time with :30 seconds remaining Welsh reverses Kearns and ties the match at the end of regulation. In sudden victory Kearns is the first to attack and the athletes get into another far ankle scramble this time Welsh finishing for the victory. Very exciting but also heartbreaking match. Kearns will finish 32-14
Gordon-Rushville: Kyler Vincent
Class C 144: 5 returning medalist including Vincent. This was a deep, deep weight class.
Kyler Vincent (33-8) Junior 3x Qualifier Returning 3rd vs Hunter Sykes Raymond Central (33-16) Junior Vincent wins by major decision, 12-3.
Kyler was able to get the first take down and Sykes was awarded an escape on the release from Vincent. Kyler baited Sykes into a pancake and took him to his back and was looking for the pin when he was rolled through for a reversal but was able to get an escape of his own before the end of the period.
Its always interesting in these east vs west match ups wrestling an athlete you’ve never seen before.
Sykes chose down in the second proving to be costly because Vincent is very good in the top position and was able to get to his leg ride and a powerhalf for some nearfall and a second period ride out.
Kyler chose neutral in the third and was able to once again get a take down and ride out to win by major and advance.
Kyler Vincent (34-8) vs Tristan Burbach Central City (43-0) Senior #1 Rank Returning Champ UNK Commit 4x medalist Burbach wins by decision, 103.
Burbach, one of the best in the state, certainly one of the best defensive wrestlers; he is very tough to score on.
Tristan gets the initial take down and Vincent hips over and is close to a reversal but gets the escape for one. Burbach chooses down in the second stanza and gets an escape and another take down and finishes the period on top.
Kyler elects to go neutral for the final period and gets a takedown of his own and keeps Burbach from escaping with a nice far ankle scramble. Vincent releases Burbach and takes a desperation shot and Burbach is able to get the go behind to secure the 11-3 major decision win. Burbach will finish as champion Kyler vs Hunter Kuchta Cedar Catholic (29-18) Sophomore Returning Qualifier Vincent wins by decision, 11-5. Kyler gets on Kuchta’s chin and arm and gets the first take down and gets to work on top physical ride with hard cross faces and Kyler finds wrist and half turning Kuchta.
Vincent goes on top in period 2 goes leg inside with a half and puts Hunter on his back again maybe with a little too much energy as Kyler gets too high with his position and is reversed.
Kyler then hits a switch for a reversal of his own but puts himself in bad position and gives up another reversal. Kuchta goes on top in the third and starts with a strong ride but Vincent is able to earn another reversal and secure his spot to wrestle Friday night for a chance at a medal with an 11-5 decision Kyler Vincent (35-9) vs Zayden Delgado Doniphan Trumbull (36-4) Junior #7 Rank Vincent wins by Fall, 4:33. No score in the first period, both wrestlers engaging in the hand fight and finding their distance.
Second period begins with a quick escape by Kyler and both wrestlers trying to get to their offense but the two athletes demonstrate quality defense. Pretty evenly matched at this point in the tournament the margins are pretty thin. Leading 1-0 going into the third Delgado earns an escape of his own. Delgado then hits a fireman’s dumping Kyler to his back Kyler quickly hips over reverses Delgado finds him on his back and earns the fall.
Kyler will be back Saturday morning as a 2x state medalist.
Kyler Vincent (36-9) vs Jace Rerucha David City (22-10) Junior.
Rerucha wins by Fall, 4:56. A lot of good action wrestlers engage in a scramble and Rerucha earns the opening takedown.
Rerucha goes down in the second and Kyler puts on an impressive ride bunding up cross wrists and leg riding. Kyler chooses down in the 3rd down 2-0 and is awarded a penalty point for stalling from Rerucha.
Time winding down Kyler needs to escape to force sudden victory tries a roll and ends up on his back and Rerucha pins Kyler in 4:56 Kyler Vincent (36-10) vs Luis Co Chase County (48-7) #4 Rank Returning 5th Co wins by decision, 12-6. Rivalry renewed - - according to my records Co and Vincent have met 6 times previous to this match-up with the all time series tied at 3-3.
Co really looking to find his low single attack to Kyler’s right leg. A lot of wrestlers are capable of getting to Vincent’s legs but he is so strong and has such heavy hips finishing is a different story.
Kyler counters Co’s attack and earns the first take down. Co escapes. Co earns a quick escape to start the second period, Vincent working the whole mat well is able to get another take down on the edge and releases Co.
Co gets a take down at the end of the period that really hurts Vincent. Trailing 5-4 Kyler will earn an escape in the third to tie the match but Co is back on a low single for a take down to retake the lead. Vincent escapes and is trailing by 3 attempts to take Co from his feet to his back with a headlock but Co rolls Vincent through for a take down and near fall of his own to finish the match with a win.
Vincent will finish in 6th place and will enter his senior season as a 3x qualifier and a 2x medalist with 101 career wins and counting.
Girls 135: 5 returning medalist in this deep weight class.
Lainey Filmore (20-11) Sophomore GR’s first qualifier vs Sofia Hoegemeyer Millard West (30-9) Freshman #9 Rank Hoegemeyer wins by Fall, 1:03.
Sofia came right after Lainey taking her down to her back Lainey was able to bridge off her back and roll Hoegemeyer through for a reversal but was shortly reversed herself again to her back and Hogemeyer earned the victory by fall.
Millard West coaches praise Filmore for her strength and bridging ability.
Lainey (20-12) vs Ireland Dyer Omaha Westside (23-15) Freshman Dyer wins by Decision, 6-3. Omaha Westside, one of the top girls programs in the state coming in, you have to think the freshman is coached up well and has good training partners.
In the opening period, Filmore and Dyer got into a wild scramble but Dyer landed on top and earned the opening take down. Dyer would choose neutral in the second and the two were tangled up most of the period in ties but Dyer would get another take down but Filmore would reverse her at the end of the period.
Lainey would go down in the third and earn an escape but could not get the match tying take down as Dyer would go behind her for the 6-3 Decision.
Filmore cements herself in legacy as the Mustangs first girl to earn a trip to Omaha. She finishes her season with a 20-13 mark.
Hay Springs - Jarhett Anderson
Class D 113: 2 returning medalists.
Jarhett Anderson (32-13) Senior 2x Qualifier vs Clayton Scoville Sumner Eddyville Miller (32-9) Junior Returning Qualifier Scoville wins by fall, 4:57. Anderson was able to get the only take down in the first period but locked his hands in the top position and gave a penalty point to Scoville.
Scoville went down in the second Anderson got a little too high in position while executing a leg ride and was reversed. Entering the final period Anderson was down one and chose neutral to try and get a take down for the lead.
Anderson was deep in on Scovilles legs but got powered over to his back losing by fall Anderson (32-14) vs Dallas Wadsworth Central Valley (3014) Freshman #8 Rank Wadsworth by fall, 3:00. No score in the first period as Wadsworth and Anderson battled in the hand fight.
Wadsworth was able to pick up a single leg and get to his lock but it was defended well by Jarhett. Wadsworth goes down in the second Anderson riding well a lot of tummy time by Wadsworth until he is warned with stalling he picks up his action reverses Anderson and collects the fall with no time remaining in the second period.
Anderson will finish his season at 32-15 and his career as a 2x qualifier both of his losses at state coming to medalists.