Momentum shifts Raiders' way in dual win over Gering

Back-to-back pins gave Sidney the momentum in its dual win against Gering Thursday night.

The Raiders trailed 18-12 early in the dual before pins from Nathan Cuello (182) and Kade Price (195) put the home team up 24-18 and shifted the momentum. Sidney used that extra edge and rolled to a 48-21 win at Cabela's Athletic Facility.

"The 182 and 195 matches were the keys right there," Sidney coach John Ganser said. "That was big, there's no other way to put it."

The match opened at the 126 weight class, and KC Higer put Sidney on top early with a pin win over Gering's Conner Grant.

The Bulldogs came back as Aaron Tovar topped Jack Feddersen in the 132 weight class, followed by a pair of forfeit wins in the 138 and 145 weight classes for a 15-6 advantage.

Sidney's Derek Robb easily dispatched Carmelo Ozuna in 56 seconds by pin to cut Gering's advantage to 15-12. Patraic Hays then lost an 8-3 decision to the Bulldogs' Cody Ybarra.

That's when the guys in the heavier weight classes stepped up to put Sidney on top for good. Cuello battled Quintien Onstott in a tough match to win by pin in 3:45 and tie things up, and Price easily dispatched Weston Hutson in 36 seconds to give Sidney the momentum and the 24-18 advantage.

Cody Hofrock (220), Trey Arellano (106) and Colton Peckham (120) each won by forfeit and Kaden Vowers (113) took out Gering's Kale Hamilton by pin in 1:41. The Raiders' lone loss in the final stretch was a hard-fought 2-0 decision loss by Seth McMillen in the 285 weight class.

"We really, I thought, did a nice job with our heavier kids tonight. They showed up really well," Ganser said. "Patraic Hays wrestled a tough kid close, and we got big wins with Nathan Cuello and Kade Price. Those were really key.

"Then even though Seth McMillen, a heavyweight, that was a losing match, he did some nice things there. So that was big."

Ganser said his team had not been able to practice all week due to the snow storm and missed school, which left things up in the air heading into the meet.

"It was especially interesting because we hadn't been able to practice all week because of the weather and no school and stuff like that," he said. "I didn't really know what to expect. It is what it is. I think we had a nice crowd and people had fun."

Heading down the stretch in the final weeks of the season, Ganser said his team is focusing on bonus points as it prepares for the Feb. 12-13 district meet.

"We've got a duals meet Saturday, so everything is geared on getting bonus points," he said. "District time, you want to get everything ready and stay healthy and be mentally and physically ready to go."

SIDNEY WRESTLING VS. GERING DUAL

106 - Trey Arellano (Sidney) wins by forfeit.

113 - Kaden Vowers (Sidney) over Kale Hamilton (Gering) (Fall 1:41)

120 - Colton Peckham (Sidney) wins by forfeit.

126 - KC Higer (Sidney) over Conner Grant (Gering) (Fall 1:28)

132 - Aaron Tovar (Gering) over Jack Feddersen (Sidney) (TB-1 3-1)

138 - Austin Garcia (Gering) wins by forfeit.

145 - Andres Canales (Gering) wins by forfeit.

152 - Double forfeit.

160 - Derek Robb (Sidney) over Carmelo Ozuna (Gering) (Fall 0:56)

170 - Cody Ybarra (Gering) over Patraic Hays (Sidney) (Dec 8-3)

182 - Nathan Cuello (Sidney) over Quintien Onstott (Gering) (Fall 3:45)

195 - Kade Price (Sidney) over Weston Hutson (Gering) (Fall 0:36)

220 - Cody Hofrock (Sidney) wins by forfeit.

285 - Austin Duncan (Gering) over Seth McMillen (Sidney) (Dec 2-0)