Grapplers Bring Home Four Medals

Sidney’s Red Raider Wrestling team qualified seven wrestlers for the State Tournament, and brought back four medals at the end of the competition. Sidney head coach Beau McConnell spoke about the performances of each of the wrestlers after the tournament.

Austin Munier: Freshman: 106 weight class: 28-11 record: 6th place state finish. 

“Austin wrestled really tough and dropped a close quarter finals match but was able to wrestle back for a 6th place medal on Saturday. The experience left Austin motivated for the next three years and gave him an idea of what he’s capable of doing as a wrestler”.

Cameron Brauer: Freshman: 113 weight class: 33-16 record.

“Cameron went 1-2 and wrestled tough in every match. I know he was hoping for a better result but just being able to have the experience to wrestle on that stage as a freshman is going to help prepare him for the next three years and the success he will have.” 

Jacob Peckham: Junior: 120 weight class: 30-15 record.

“The 120 pound bracket was as tough of bracket as there was in the tournament. Jacob faced off with a returning state champ and fought hard but came out on the losing end. His second match didn’t get much easier with a Northwest competitor who we had lost close matches to prior to state. Another hard fought battle resulted in a 7-3 loss. Jacob isn’t discouraged and is motivated for his senior year and another trip to Omaha with the dream of getting a state medal intact.”

Trey Arellano: Senior: 138 weight class: 45-3 record: second place state finish. 

With Trey being a 4 time qualifier, 3 time finalist, and 2 time champion, the state tournament is almost like a home meet at this point. He wrestled as well as he ever has throughout the tournament but came up just short in the finals against a tough Skutt wrestler. Arellano has had a fantastic high school wrestling career with 202 wins, two state titles, a runner up and a 3rd place finish. His funky style always made for exciting a high scoring matches. He plans to wrestle for Northeastern Junior College in Sterling next year and I believe a lot of success is ahead for him.” 

Brody Raines: Junior: 145 weight class: 44-11 record: 5th place state finish.

“After getting 6th place last year, Brody was looking to improve this year and he did just that. He won his first two matches and earned a spot in the semifinals against Guiterrez of Scottsbluff who he wrestled in the same match the week prior at districts. Brody came up short in a high flying, high scoring match. The next day he dropped an exciting bout against a Raymond Central wrestler before earning a 5th place medal with a win over an Auburn grappler.” 

KC Higer: Senior: 152 weight class: 44-8 record: 5th place state finish. 

“KC had one goal in mind going into this year’s tournament, and that was to get a state medal. After qualifying the two years prior and not obtaining the medal he put in the extra time and work necessary to create the best senior year possible for himself. After making it to the semi finals and losing a nail biter against the York senior, KC wrestled the next day to earn his 5th place medal.”

Brady Robb: 160 weight class: 42-12 record.

“After not qualifying last season, sophomore Brady Robb earned his spot and knocked off a district champion in the first round of the tournament before losing at the last second in the quarter finals. The next morning Brady got past a solid Crete wrestler before coming up 2 points short to a talented Schuyler grappler to just miss out on a state medal. Brady has two more years in front of him and we expect nothing but great things from him in the next two seasons.”

McConnell added, “You always aim for more medals and higher places but nothing in the state tournament comes easy and earning any type of medal is a huge accomplishment. As a whole, our wrestlers represented themselves, their school, and their community really well.”