Holmes, Bryner qualify for state wrestling

    Wauneta-Palisade wrestling fans will have two wrestlers to cheer on in Omaha this year after Conner Bryner and Cody Holmes qualified for the state wrestling championships with top four finishes at districts in Bridgeport.
    Bryner has a year of experience at state under his belt. The sophomore got a first-period pin in his opening 170 lbs. match at districts.
    In the semifinals, Bryner earned a late pin over Garden County’s Dallas Miller (29-10). Bryner battled back from an 0-3 deficit and trailed 2-3 heading into the third period thanks to a late takedown. Two nearfall points gave Bryner an advantage before he got the pin with six seconds left.
    Bryner took on a familiar opponent in the finals, RPAC rival Kolyn Gaston (35-9) of Hitchcock County. The match was scoreless for two periods and WP coach Danny Schluckebier said he thinks both wrestlers were worried heading into the final two minutes.
    Both were nervous to make a move and not pull if off, with both knowing if they went for it and messed up it would give the other an upper hand, Schluckebier said.
    Gaston got an escape 30 seconds into the third period and held that advantage until late points ensured Bryner’s loss by decision.
    WP’s coaches were especially pleased with how Holmes shook off an injured collar bone to qualify at 195 lbs.
    Holmes faced an eight-man bracket and got a big win in his first match to set himself up in the semifinals.
    Holmes lost his semifinal matchup with Keegan Shuler (40-2) of Hitchcock County by fall.
    Needing a win to advance to state, Holmes earned a second period pin of Dundy County Stratton’s Klayton Rinne (6-23) and clinched his berth.
    Schluckebier said Holmes decided to go after what he wanted and put his heart into the match.
    In one of the surprises of the tournament, Sutherland’s Eric Halstead (23-17) lost his heartbreak round match to North Platte St. Pat’s Logan Dodson (14-25) and missed out on a trip to state.
    Schluckebier said losses like that are what makes wrestling so great.
    Anyone can lose at any time and it’s that lesson that keeps you on task, Schluckebier said, adding, Holmes knew what needed done and got to it.
    Dodson beat Holmes by pin in the third place match.
    For the second year in a row, Hunter Miner’s season ended with a loss in the heartbreak round.
    In the 11-man, 145 lbs. bracket, Miner had one of three first round matches. The senior earned a quick pin in the match.
    Miner’s second match nearly went the distance. Facing Mullen’s Chase Gracey (37-16), Miner wrestled great and moved well, according to Schluckebier, but got caught late and was pinned at the 5:10 mark of the match.
    Miner took a 3-0 lead in his first consolation round match and pinned his opponent a minute into the second period.
    In the heartbreak round, Miner took on Daniel Kohel (33-9) of Morrill.
    The first period of the match kept the referee busy.  Miner fell behind 0-5, but bounced back to tie the match. A late escape by Kohel left Miner trailing by one heading into the second period. A reversal by Kohl and escape by Miner brought the score to 6-8.     Miner fell behind 6-10 after a takedown and had Kohel on his back, but Schluckebier said Kohel bridged enough to slide out of Miner’s hold and get Miner on his back. Miner was pinned with just over a minute left in the period.
    Schluckebier said Miner wrestled awesome, especially coming back from an ankle injury.
    Cole Hamilton also lost in the heartbreak round. Facing eight wrestlers at 200 lbs., Hamilton lost his first round match by fall to Perkins County’s Austin Meyer (26-11).
    Hamilton bounced back with a pin of St. Pat’s Landon Nichols (20-15) to keep his season alive. Schluckebier said it was a huge win for the WP senior.
    Mullen’s Tel Kvanvig (15-13) quickly took control in their heartbreak match and Hamilton lost by pin in the first period.
    Schluckebier said Hamilton doesn’t back down from an opponent, but Kvanvig came into the match on a mission.
    Trey McCrumb went 0-2 at 160 lbs. Eight wrestlers in the 14-man bracket had at least 23 wins. McCrumb lost to Bayard’s Beau Lake (24-6) in the first round and Drew Varner (15-20) of Hemingford in the consolation bracket.
    Schluckebier said McCrumb has the toughness and knowledge to do what he needs to and continues to grow in strength and aggressiveness.
    Schluckebier said this is the first year he and fellow coach Shad Wiese  has had four wrestlers in the heartbreak round and they are very excited to be taking two Broncos to state.
    It’s been a great season with great wrestlers and great kids, Schluckebier said, adding team moral has been wonderful.
    Results from district wrestling can be found on page 12.
Up next
    The state wrestling championships will begin Thursday. Class D will start at 3 p.m. MT.
    Bryner is one of four RPAC wrestlers who qualified at 170 lbs. He will take on Overton’s Dylan Pooschke (26-20), the third place finisher in District D3, in his opening match.
    Holmes will face undefeated Reece Zutavern of Sandhills/Thedford, the District D1 champion, in the first round.
    The state meet will continue Friday and wrap up Saturday with the televised state championships at 3 p.m. MT.

Team Scores—1. Sutherland, 229.0; 2. Mullen, 175.5; 3. Hitchcock County, 103.0; 4. Perkins County, 75.0; 5. Bayard, 71.0; 6. North Platte St. Pat’s, 67.0; 7. Kimball, 65.0; 8. Morrill, 48.0; 9. Wauneta-Palisade, 45.0; 10. Bridgeport, 34.0; 10. Crawford, 34.0; 12. Garden County, 29.0; 13. Hemingford, 25.0; 14. Leyton, 21.0; 15. Hay Springs, 20.0; 15. Hyannis, 20.0; 17. Banner County, 13.0; 18. Dundy County Stratton, 9.0; 19. Medicine Valley, 8.0; 20. Sioux County, 4.0; 21. Minatare, 2.0; 22. Paxton, 0.0
Individual Results
145­—Hunter Miner (14-7) won by fall over Kyser Lewis (Morrill), fall 0:44; lost by fall to Chase Gracey (Mullen), fall 5:10; won by fall over Trevor Kohl (Hyannis), fall 2:59; lost by fall to Daniel Kohel (Morrill), fall 2:51.
160—Trey McCrumb (5-26) lost by fall to Beau Lake (Bayard), fall 0:42; lost by fall to Drew Varner (Hemingford), fall 0:20.
170—Conner Bryner (36-14) won by fall over Josh Gage (MV), fall 1:58; won by fall over Dallas Miller (GC), fall 5:56; 1st Place Match - lost by decision to Kolyn Gaston (Hitchcock County), dec 5-0.
195—Cody Holmes (8-11) won by fall over Kaden Vasquez (Paxton), fall 1:22; lost by fall to Keegan Shuler (HC), fall 0:34; won by fall over Klayton Rinne (DCS), fall 2:32; 3rd Place Match - lost by fall to Logan Dodson (NPSP), fall 3:23.
220—Cole Hamilton (11-19) lost by fall to Austin Meyer (PCS), fall 0:37; won by fall over Landon Nichols (NPSP), fall 2:50; lost by fall to Tel Kvanvig (Mullen), fall 1:28.