2014 SIDNEY-BRIDGEPORT WRESTLING INVITATIONAL - Robb claims title as Raiders finish 3rd

Freshmen don't generally embark on their high school athletic careers with lofty thoughts of spectacular seasons.

First-year Sidney High School wrestler Derek Robb is no different. As this season progresses, that may change.

Robb won the 138-pound championship at the Sidney-Bridgeport Invitational on Saturday at the Cabela's Athletic Facility, pushing his record to a perfect 13-0 on the season.

"It is kind of a surprise to start the season like this," Robb said. "I've had some tough matches, but I've been fortunate to come out on top in each of them.

"It's a great goal to make it to state," Robb added. "It's something that you work hard for. I try to wrestle every match like it's my last one."

As a team, the Red Raiders finished third behind champion Sterling (Colo.) and runner-up Alliance in the 14-team event.

"I honestly wish we would have finished a little better," said Sidney head coach John Ganser. "There's a lot left in us. We simply have to get better. We've got to get stronger in the third period of matches. That's when we want to do our best wrestling."

While Robb was the only Red Raider that claimed an individual championship, several others placed well. Colton Peckham (113 pounds), Michael Muggli (145) Zach Borges (160) and Kane Taylor (220) all finished second in their respective weight classes, while Kaden Vowers (106) took third and Patraic Hayes (170) and Dominic Beyer (285) each nabbed fourth.

For Robb, he faced a familiar face in Bridgeport's Joe Weibert in the finals. Weibert – a sophomore with just one loss on his record this season – and Robb have clashed on the mat on several occasions in the past during club and middle school action.

"The last two times we wrestled, I was beating him and then he caught me in a headlcok both times and pinned me," Robb said. "I knew this time was my turn to win."

Robb did just that, jumping out to a 2-0 advantage after the first period. He extended that lead to 5-0 early in the second before pinning Weibert at the 2:37 mark of the match.

"The key thing about Derek is that he is always moving forward," Ganser said. "He has been coached well in his younger days and he constantly maintains a great position."

Peckham, also a freshman, won his first three matches of the day, before squaring off against Bayard's Alex Araujo in the finals. Araujo won by pin in 1:52.

"He just took me down and I couldn't get off my back," Peckham said. "I've never been able to beat him and we've wrestled like eight or nine times over the years. But, I'm pleased with how the season is going so far. I'm excited to be wrestling on the varsity as a freshman and I have a goal of qualifying for state."

At 145, Muggli lost a 5-1 decision to Alliance's Walker Johnson. Muggli, a three-time state qualifier for the Red Raiders, trailed just 2-0 after the opening period. Johnson pushed his lead to 5-0 through the second, and surrendered a point for stalling in the third to make it a 5-1 final.

Borges, at 160, had a chance at redemption in the finals as he squared off against Alliance's Danny Vallejo. In round-robin action earlier in the day, Vallejo pinned Borges in 3:02. Borges won his next two bouts to set up the rematch. However, Vallejo prevailed with a late pin at the 5:58 mark.

"It was a pretty good match in the finals," said Borges, who trailed 3-2 when the fall came. "I knew time was running out and I had to try to throw him. It didn't work and he just caught me in those last few seconds for the pin."

Taylor's championship match at 220 pitted him against Ogallala's Brody Cleveland. Taylor was down 6-2 when Cleveland managed a pin at the 3:03 mark.

"I tried to go toe to toe with him," Taylor said. "I'm pleased to make it to the finals. It's all about trying to get better in every match you compete in."

Sidney is back in action Jan. 8 when it travels to the Hemingford Invitational.

Sidney-Bridgeport results

Team Scores

Sterling (Colo.) 196, Alliance 183, Sidney 139, Mitchell 107, Bayard 100, Arcadia-Loup City 87.5, Bridgeport 84.5, Ogallala 76, Chase County 52, Hemingford 49, Kimball 36, Minatare 21, Hyannis 15, Sioux County 3.

Sidney individual results

106 – Kaden Vowers, 3rd place.

113 – Colton Peckham, 2nd place.

120 – No wrestler entered.

126 – Jack Feddersen, did not place.

132 – Brett Jaggers, 6th place.

138 – Derek Robb, 1st place.

145 – Michael Muggli, 2nd place.

152 – Coby Haas, 6th place.

160 – Zach Borges, 2nd place.

170 – Patraic Hays, 4th place.

182 – No wrestler entered.

195 – Brandon Lulf, did not place.

220 – Kane Taylor, 2nd place.

285 – Dominic Beyer, 4th place.