Gothenburg Downs Sidney, Hanes Second at Cozad; Cottam, McKenzie Winners At Southwest Invite

Sidney's Red Raider Boys Wrestling team opened their dual meet season Friday with a loss against Gothenburg, 60-to-24. With Gothenburg gaining eight wins by forfeit from 106 lbs. - 152 lbs., the grapplers took action in the heavier weights. Sidney's Zech Roggasch took down Kaden Cox by Fall at 5:25 to score for Sidney at 160 lbs., followed by Gothenburg's Gavin Peterson winning by Fall at 2:40 over Sidney's Matthew Cabbage at 170 lbs. Patrick McCartney won by Fall at 1:06 over Brandon Schriner at 182 lbs., while Jeremiah Roggasch took down Max Wyatt by Fall at 5:19 at 195 lbs.

At 220 lbs., Gothenburg's Jacob Olson defeated Dawson Stoneking by Fall at 0:39 and Sidney's Landon Hanes won by Fall over Alex Geiser by Fall at 1:07. Extra matches at 220 lbs were won by Gothenburg's Caleb Graham and Cole Atkinson over Isaiah Buettenback by Fall and an extra 182 lb. Match was won by Sidney's Caleb Graham over Zander Hruza by Fall at 0:46.

At the Cozad Invitational on Saturday, several Red Raider wrestlers earned medals in the competition. Junior Landon Hanes earned second place at 285 lbs. by defeating Holdrege's Connor Fulmer in the Championship round, but then lost to Aurora's Jack Allen in the first place match. Sophomore Patrick McCartney earned third place at 182 lbs. by defeating Gothenburg's Brandon Schiner by 4-to-2 decision. Sophomore Caleb Graham earned fourth place at 195 lbs. After defeating Ogallala's Avery Grafford then losing by decision to McCook's Jose Campos in the third place match.

The Sidney Lady Raider Girls Wrestling team also opened their season, traveling to the Hemingford Bobcat Round Robin 22 on Thursday. At 100 lbs., Analicia Hernandez earned second place by defeating Bayard's Kimberly Ruperto in the semi-final round then losing to Bayard's Carlie McKibbin in the first place match. At 145 lbs., Kaylee Bowker earned fourth place by defeating Sidney's Isabelle Neve in the consolation semi-finals, then losing to Hay Springs Hayden Boles in the third place match.

On Friday the girls traveled to compete at the Southwest Girls Invite, and Jayden Cottam won first place at 110 lbs., Ciena McKenzie won first place at 120 lbs., Saphira Whitley placed third at 235 lbs., Kaylee Bowker earned fourth place at 140 lbs., Analicia Hernandez placed fourth at 100 lbs., Izabelle Owens placed fifth at 130 lbs., Isabelle Neve placed seventh at 145 lbs., and Alexis Welvaert placed ninth at 120 lbs.