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GOTHENBURG - Sidney roared through semi-final action at the B4 District Wrestling Tournament Saturday, setting the stage for the school's best district finish in nearly 20 years.
"We got hot and had a really good semifinal round and continued the rest of the way," said Sidney Coach John Ganser. "That was a credit to the kids and the other coaches."
When the smoke cleared, the Raiders won the District crown and qualified eight wrestlers for the state tournament, which begins Thursday at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.
Leading the charge for the Raiders were four wrestlers who worked their way to the top of the podium at District. Earning district championships were Kaden Vowers at 126 pounds, Trey Arellano at 132, KC Higer at 145 and Derek Robb at 152 pounds. Also making it to the finals was 138-pounder Brody Raines, who finished second.
This is the largest team Sidney has sent to the state wrestling tournament since 1995 - the last time Sidney won the district championship - sending nine to state. That year, Sidney finished second as a team and had one individual champion.
Ganser can't make any predictions on how this year's team might fare, but said "we're in a position with eight qualifiers and four district champions to place pretty well."
The key to a strong finish, Ganser said, is a strong start.
"We've got to wrestle hard in the first round and wrestle hard for each other," he said.
Leading the team into the state tournament are two returning state champions, Arellano and Robb. Arellano came away with his first state championship last year, and Robb is chasing his fourth. Returning as state qualifiers from last year are Higer and Vowers. Also returning to state is senior Colton Peckham, who qualified for state as a freshman.
Jacob Peckham, Brody Raines and Jack Hinrich round out the Raider qualifiers, all making their first state appearance.
Wrestling begins with first round action at 9:30 a.m. (CST) Thursday, with the championship round beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday.
District Results:
Team Scores
1. Sidney 159.5
2. Lexington 152.0
3. Alliance 130.5
4. Gothenburg 119.0
5. Scottsbluff 114.0
6. Gering 95.0
7. Cozad . 91.0
8. Chadron 82.5
9. Holdrege 79.5
10. McCook 77.0
11. Ogallala 55.0
12. O`Neill 33.0
Sidney Individual Results
106 - Deekun Cerenil (23-19) scored 3.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Deekun Cerenil (Sidney) 23-19 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Tanner Ostrander (Ogallala) 25-19 won by fall over Deekun Cerenil (Sidney) 23-19 (Fall 5:50)
Cons. Round 2 - Deekun Cerenil (Sidney) 23-19 received a bye
Cons. Round 3 - Deekun Cerenil (Sidney) 23-19 won by tech fall over John Stanley (Gothenburg) 7-29 (TF-1.5 4:12 (20-5))
Cons. Semi - Quinton Chavez (Gering) 36-7 won by fall over Deekun Cerenil (Sidney) 23-19 (Fall 0:44)
113 - Colton Peckham (13-5) placed 3rd and scored 18 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Colton Peckham (Sidney) 13-5 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Colton Peckham (Sidney) 13-5 won by fall over Tallon Craig (Chadron) 19-12 (Fall 3:14)
Semifinal - Ean Bailey (Lexington) 17-13 won in sudden victory - 1 over Colton Peckham (Sidney) 13-5 (SV-1 10-8)
Cons. Semi - Colton Peckham (Sidney) 13-5 won by fall over Tyson Knaub (Alliance) 16-9 (Fall 1:46)
3rd Place Match - Colton Peckham (Sidney) 13-5 won by fall over Trevor Felber (McCook) 15-13 (Fall 1:17)
120 - Jacob Peckham (24-9) placed 4th and scored 13 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Jacob Peckham (Sidney) 24-9 won by decision over Alexander Longoria (Scottsbluff) 7-23 (Dec 7-2)
Quarterfinal - Jacob Peckham (Sidney) 24-9 won by fall over Carson Richards (McCook) 29-15 (Fall 5:33)
Semifinal - Evan Steggs (Alliance) 32-6 won by decision over Jacob Peckham (Sidney) 24-9 (Dec 6-2)
Cons. Semi - Jacob Peckham (Sidney) 24-9 won by fall over Trinity Mosel (O`Neill) 18-17 (Fall 0:25)
3rd Place Match - Jace Russman (Cozad) 39-9 won by decision over Jacob Peckham (Sidney) 24-9 (Dec 7-4)
126 - Kaden Vowers (54-3) placed 1st and scored 25 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Kaden Vowers (Sidney) 54-3 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Kaden Vowers (Sidney) 54-3 won by fall over Cobie Bila (Chadron) 16-16 (Fall 1:19)
Semifinal - Kaden Vowers (Sidney) 54-3 won by fall over Gage Stokey (Ogallala) 39-11 (Fall 3:52)
1st Place Match - Kaden Vowers (Sidney) 54-3 won by major decision over Nate Rocheleau (Gering) 36-8 (MD 16-7)
132 - Trey Arellano (52-3) placed 1st and scored 21 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Trey Arellano (Sidney) 52-3 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Trey Arellano (Sidney) 52-3 won by major decision over Daniel Wellnitz (Chadron) 15-21 (MD 11-1)
Semifinal - Trey Arellano (Sidney) 52-3 won by decision over Asa Johnson (Alliance) 30-14 (Dec 10-4)
1st Place Match - Trey Arellano (Sidney) 52-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Mario Ybarra (Scottsbluff) 33-7 (SV-1 3-1)
138 - Brody Raines (31-8) placed 2nd and scored 16 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Brody Raines (Sidney) 31-8 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Brody Raines (Sidney) 31-8 won by decision over Julian Corona (Gering) 23-15 (Dec 8-6)
Semifinal - Brody Raines (Sidney) 31-8 won by decision over Trystan Berry (Lexington) 30-16 (Dec 5-0)
1st Place Match - Devontae Gutierrez (Scottsbluff) 37-7 won by major decision over Brody Raines (Sidney) 31-8 (MD 11-3)
145 - KC Higer (49-8) placed 1st and scored 23 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - KC Higer (Sidney) 49-8 received a bye
Quarterfinal - KC Higer (Sidney) 49-8 won by fall over Arturo Navarrete (Lexington) 21-17 (Fall 2:55)
Semifinal - KC Higer (Sidney) 49-8 won by major decision over Jorgen Johnson (Alliance) 36-5 (MD 11-3)
1st Place Match - KC Higer (Sidney) 49-8 won by decision over Zachary Hurlbert (Holdrege) 38-6 (Dec 10-4)
152 - Derek Robb (57-0) placed 1st and scored 26 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Derek Robb (Sidney) 57-0 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Derek Robb (Sidney) 57-0 won by fall over Landon Towne (McCook) 15-20 (Fall 1:21)
Semifinal - Derek Robb (Sidney) 57-0 won by fall over Brock Skinner (Ogallala) 33-17 (Fall 0:56)
1st Place Match - Derek Robb (Sidney) 57-0 won by fall over Tomas Margritz (Lexington) 17-4 (Fall 3:33)
160 - Josh Ballance (2-5).
Champ. Round 1 - Brennan Seitsinger (Gothenburg) 17-25 won by tech fall over Josh Ballance (Sidney) 2-5 (TF-1.5 3:38 (17-1))
Cons. Round 1 - Josh Ballance (Sidney) 2-5 received a bye
Cons. Round 2 - Ozzy Fernau (Chadron) 14-21 won by fall over Josh Ballance (Sidney) 2-5 (Fall 2:11)
170 - Brady Robb (35-15).
Champ. Round 1 - Brady Robb (Sidney) 35-15 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Kody Hahn (McCook) 13-13 won by fall over Brady Robb (Sidney) 35-15 (Fall 4:25)
Cons. Round 2 - Brady Robb (Sidney) 35-15 received a bye
Cons. Round 3 - Jayce Bauer (Alliance) 15-20 won by decision over Brady Robb (Sidney) 35-15 (Dec 5-3)
182 - Nathan Hofrock (18-28) scored 4 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Nathan Hofrock (Sidney) 18-28 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Prestin Melroy (Holdrege) 41-1 won by tech fall over Nathan Hofrock (Sidney) 18-28 (TF-1.5 1:48 (15-0))
Cons. Round 2 - Nathan Hofrock (Sidney) 18-28 won by fall over Heydon Strope (O`Neill) 4-24 (Fall 1:38)
Cons. Round 3 - Nathan Hofrock (Sidney) 18-28 won by decision over Matthew Escamilla (Alliance) 19-17 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Semi - Lance Cattin (Chadron) 9-12 won by major decision over Nathan Hofrock (Sidney) 18-28 (MD 13-4)
195 - Jack Hinrichs (24-23) placed 4th and scored 11 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Jack Hinrichs (Sidney) 24-23 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Jack Hinrichs (Sidney) 24-23 won by decision over Isaiah Beye (Chadron) 22-15 (Dec 12-7)
Semifinal - Cody Ybarra (Gering) 32-4 won by fall over Jack Hinrichs (Sidney) 24-23 (Fall 1:38)
Cons. Semi - Jack Hinrichs (Sidney) 24-23 won by fall over Jared Cole (McCook) 18-22 (Fall 2:52)
3rd Place Match - Isaiah Beye (Chadron) 22-15 won by decision over Jack Hinrichs (Sidney) 24-23 (Dec 6-2)
220 - Hayden Hofrock (22-19).
Champ. Round 1 - Hayden Hofrock (Sidney) 22-19 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Quinten Onstott (Gering) 17-15 won by decision over Hayden Hofrock (Sidney) 22-19 (Dec 10-9)
Cons. Round 2 - Cody Wolf (Lexington) 8-19 won by major decision over Hayden Hofrock (Sidney) 22-19 (MD 13-5)
285 - Lane Hughes (19-24).
Champ. Round 1 - Lane Hughes (Sidney) 19-24 received a bye
Quarterfinal - Garrett Nelson (Scottsbluff) 27-3 won by fall over Lane Hughes (Sidney) 19-24 (Fall 1:36)
Cons. Round 2 - Lane Hughes (Sidney) 19-24 received a bye
Cons. Round 3 - Josh Stallbaumer (Cozad) 30-16 won by fall over Lane Hughes (Sidney) 19-24 (Fall 2:32)
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