Raiders Runner-Up at State Duals

Sidney's Red Raider Wrestling Team ended their dual season with a second place finish in Kearney Saturday at the NSAA State Dual Championship.

The No. 2 seeded Red Raiders fell to the number one seeded Blair team in the championship dual, ending their dual season with a 23-and-3 record.

Sidney's day started against a tough Central City team, and after falling behind 9-to-0 the Red Raiders were able to match their intensity and come back for the dual win.

Sidney head wrestling coach Beau McConnell said, "Central City's a scrappy team but our guys were fired up and took 10 of 14 matches while scoring a lot of bonus points that led to a 54-to-21 victory."

The Raiders next faced Hastings, upset winners over Columbus Lakeview, and again fell behind in the early going. Sidney battled back recording wins until Sidney's KC Higer scored a pin in the 152lb match to tie the dual at 32. Brady Robb's pin in the 160lb match won the dual for the Raiders and sent them to the championship round.

Sidney faced Blair in the championship round, and the match-ups favored the number one seed as they started at the 182lb slot and sprinted to a 24-to-0 lead before Sidney's Austin Munier won by decision at 106lbs.

Hard fought matches continued through the rest of the dual, and although Sidney came back with wins of their own, they could not overtake the Blair team and fell by a final score of 47-to-26 to take the runner-up spot.

"As a whole our guys wrestled their hearts out for the team and proved that Sidney deserved to be in the state finals. As a coach I am super proud of the guys and how they wrestled for each other but unfortunately we don't have much time to celebrate with districts starting this Friday in Ogallala. We hope to carry our momentum into this weekend and qualify as many guys for the individual state tournament as we can", said McConnell.

Sidney next travels to the B-4 District Wrestling Tournament at Ogallala this Friday and Saturday.

QUARTERFINALS ROUND

Sidney over Central City 54-21

170lbs - Dyllan Lee (Central City) won by Pin over Tristan Ahrendt (Sidney) (1:43)

182lbs - Dillon Kohl (Central City) won a 9-3 Decision over Hunter Ahrendt (Sidney)

195lbs - Nathan Hofrock (Sidney) won by Pin over Austyn Redmond (Central City) (3:15)

220lbs - Hayden Hofrock (Sidney) won by Pin over Nik Erickson (Central City) (3:36)

285lbs - Lane Hughes (Sidney) won by Forfeit

106lbs - Austin Munier (Sidney) won by Pin over Cole Kunz (Central City) (1:01)

113lbs - Cameron Brauer (Sidney) won a 14-2 Major Decision Drew Garfield (Central City)

120lbs - Dyson Kunz (Central City) won by Pin over Jordan Ruiz (Sidney) (0:46)

126lbs - Jacob Peckham (Sidney) won by Pin over Dyllan Bellici (Central City) (1:20)

132lbs - Koby Brandenburg (Central City) won by Pin over Paul Houser (Sidney) (2:00)

138lbs - Trey Arellano (Sidney) won by 18-3 Tech Fall over Tanner Schneiderheinz (Central City)

145lbs - Brody Raines (Sidney) won a 6-0 Decision over Jackson Tejeda (Central City)

152lbs - KC Higer (Sidney) won by Pin over Jared Gallion (Central City) (1:56)

160lbs - Brady Robb (Sidney) won by Pin over Sam Moore (Central City) (3:21)

SEMIFINALS ROUND

Sidney over Hastings 38-32

170lbs - Damen Pape (Hastings) won by Pin over Dietrich Lecher (Sidney) (0:41)

182lbs - Kyle Patten (Hastings) won a 8-4 Decision over Tristan Ahrendt (Sidney)

195lbs - Evan Morara (Hastings) won a 9-8 Decision over Nathan Hofrock (Sidney)

220lbs - Hayden Hofrock (Sidney) won by Pin over Blake Davis (Hastings) (2:34)

285lbs - Josh Callejas (Hastings) won by Pin over Lane Hughes (Sidney) (1:59)

106lbs - Austin Munier (Sidney) won by Pin over Markus Miller (Hastings) (0:35)

113lbs - Landon Zeckser (Hastings) won a 12-5 Decision over Cameron Brauer (Sidney)

120lbs - Jacob Peckham (Sidney) won by Pin over Dylan Miller (Hastings) (5:38)

126lbs - Bryce Brown (Hastings) won by 17-2 Tech Fall over Jordan Ruiz (Sidney)

132lbs - Izaak Hunsley (Hastings) won by Pin over Paul Houser (Sidney) (1:32)

138lbs - Trey Arellano (Sidney) won a 19-6 Major Decision Austin Yohe (Hastings)

145lbs - Brody Raines (Sidney) won a 17-4 Major Decision Mason Brumbaugh (Hastings)

152lbs - KC Higer (Sidney) won by Pin over Tony Perez (Hastings) (0:13)

160lbs - Brady Robb (Sidney) won by Pin over Jackson Phelps (Hastings) (1:47)

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Blair over Sidney 47-26

182lbs - Braden Hanson (Blair) won by Pin over Hunter Ahrendt (Sidney) (1:14)

195lbs - Trevor Rutcosky (Blair) won by Pin over Nathan Hofrock (Sidney) (4:33)

220lbs - Gabe Rand (Blair) won by Pin over Hayden Hofrock (Sidney) (0:59)

285lbs - Brady Soukup (Blair) won by Pin over Lane Hughes (Sidney) (1:04)

106lbs - Austin Munier (Sidney) won a 2-1 Decision over Luke Bailey (Blair)

113lbs - Landon Templar (Blair) won a 4-2 Decision over Cameron Brauer (Sidney)

120lbs - Jackson Nielsen (Blair) won by 23-8 Tech Fall over Jordan Ruiz (Sidney) TF 23-8

126lbs - Brody Karls (Blair) won a 7-5 Decision over Jacob Peckham (Sidney)

132lbs - Hank Frost (Blair) won by Pin over Paul Houser (Sidney) (5:23)

138lbs - Trey Arellano (Sidney) won by Pin over Charlie Powers (Blair) (5:52)

145lbs - Brody Raines (Sidney) won by Pin over Devon Michalak (Blair) (1:58)

152lbs - KC Higer (Sidney) won by 18-3 Tech Fall over Liam Landauer (Blair)

160lbs- Brady Robb (Sidney) won by Forfeit

170lbs - Trey Lewis (Blair) won by Pin over Tristan Ahrendt (Sidney) (3:24)