Peterson runner up, Co fifth at wrestling championships

While many programs would be happy bringing home runner up and fifth place medals from the Nebraska State Wrestling Championships, this year’s finish left Chase County wrestlers hungry for more next year.
Junior Jaret Peterson finished second at Class C 220 lbs.
Peterson rolled through the first three rounds, starting off by manhandling Riley Laven (29-18) of Central City with a 15-0 tech fall in the first round.
CCS Head Coach Matt Vlasin said it was a good match to get Peterson going and confident.
Peterson built up a 5-0 lead in the quarterfinals before pinning Clay Hedges (22-10) of Archbiship Bergan. The wrestlers also faced in a quarterfinal match at last year’s state meet, with about the same result.
In the semifinals, Peterson earned a 5-0 win over Ty Tramp (32-13) of Crofton/Bloomfield. Peterson had a first period takedown, then an escape and takedown in the second period which gave him the points to ride out the final two minutes.
Vlasin said it wasn’t a very exciting match. Peterson knew what Tramp wanted to do and stayed in control of the match.
The win set up one of Class C’s most anticipated matches, No. 2 Peterson against No. 1 Cal Wells of Broken Bow.
Wells (47-3) won the pair’s first match in December. Peterson (42-2) came out on top in the district finals.
The pair battled to a scoreless first period, but, besides cotton shoved up his nostrils to stop a bloody nose, Peterson broke his left hand 90 seconds into the match.
Struggling to maintain his grip, Peterson gave up an escape and takedown in the second period. An escape with 35 seconds left in the period had Peterson trailing 1-3 going  into the final period.
Peterson quickly earned an escape in the third period to pull to within one point, 2-3, but shot after shot to Wells’ legs failed to connect for Peterson. Peterson came just short of getting an arm thrown over the top of Wells as the final seconds ticked away in the match.
“They’re as equal of two wrestlers as I’ve seen in a long time,” Vlasin said, adding that either could win on any given day.
With new weights divisions coming to Nebraska wrestling next year, Vlasin wasn’t sure if Peterson and Wells, a sophomore, will match up again in the future or not.
Although Luis Co (38-11) finished on the medal stand at 138 lbs., Vlasin said the sophomore recognizes he missed a chance for a higher medal.
Part of that comes from Co’s youth, Vlasin said, and never being on the mat in Omaha.
Co dominated his opening match over Levi Boardman (43-14) of Johnson County Central. Co had three takedowns and a nearfall, while only giving up escapes, in the 10-4 win.
Vlasin said Co was caught off guard in his quarterfinals match with Brandon Fye (37-12) of Central City, falling behind 0-9 before chipping his way back into the match.
Co finished the second period with a reversal and nearfall, then gave up two escapes around a takedown in the third period. Co dropped to the consolation rounds with a 6-11 loss.
Co started his battle back through the bracket with a win over Austin Forney (33-10) of Southern. Co never trailed in the 10-4 win.
A familiar face was up in the hearbreak round, district opponent Ian Hughes (33-12) of Amherst. Vlasin said Co was in control of the whole match, a 6-3 win.
Kyler Vincent (33-11) of Gordon-Rushville was Co’s second opponent from districts.
Matched up in the consolation semifinals, Co held a 2-1 lead going into the third period.
Vlasin said coaches were feeling good about the match as time ran down.
But Vlasin noticed Vincent keeping a close eye on the clock and with nine seconds left Vincent got a reversal that handed Co a 2-3 loss.
In his final match of the tournament, Co once more had a familiar opponent.
Facing Fye in the fifth place match, Vlasin said Co performed much better than in the quarterfinals and got his takedowns going early. Co led 6-3 going into the third period and doubled his score in the final two minutes with two takedowns and a near fall to claim the fifth place medal.
Zach Tarin (12-6) got his tournament off on the right foot with a first round win over Omar Garcia (35-14) of West Point-Beemer. Tarin never trailed in the 6-3 win. Vlasin said it was huge for Tarin to get that first win at state.
Tarin lost to eventual runner up JT Brands (45-2) of Oakland-Craig in the quarterfinals.
After a scoreless first period, Tarin was first on the board with an escape in the second period. A takedown and escape by Brands gave him the lead and Tarin took a 1-4 loss.
Vlasin said Brands was massive, but Tarin stuck with him.
“We knew it would be tough if Zach fell behind,” Vlasin said.
Aside from Brands’ loss in the finals, Tarin was his only state opponent Brands didn’t pin.
Tarin lost his final match of the tournament 0-3 to Lincoln Lutheran’s Jackson Masek (35-11).
The match was 0-0 going into the third period before an escape by Masek, stalling on Tarin and a takedown with four seconds left.
Vlasin said they never felt like Tarin was ever out of a match.
Thomas Reeves (39-11) lost his opening 182 lb. match 1-7 to Nate McDonald (24-17) of North Bend Central.
Like Co, Vlasin said Reeves’ youth showed in his first match and a tough warm up Thursday morning didn’t help.
Reeves fell behind 0-5 in the first period and couldn’t recover.
In the consolation rounds, Reeves first faced Weston Heine (24-17) of Cedar Catholic. After a scoreless first period, Reeves scored four straight points and only gave up a late penalty in the 4-1 win.
Reeves took down Bishop Neumann’s Thomas Vrana (40-16) in his next match.
Reeves’ season nearly ended with a nearfall in the first minute of the second period, but Reeves got a reversal and manhandled Vrana onto his back for a pin.
Vlasin said Reeves got mad in the match and was ready for it to be over.
The tournament came to an end for Reeves with a 1-5 loss to Braydon Wobken (39-9) of Logan View in the heartbreak round.
Reeves only trailed 0-2 going into the third period, but his only point came on a penalty with 28 seconds remaining in the match.
Vlasin pointed out that if Reeves gets a win in the first round and Co gets a win in the quarterfinals, it would have been a totally different tournament for both.
Vlasin said the team was planning for next season during the van ride home, including maintaining weight and healthy habits.
Everyone knew Westyn Mendenhall would have a tough match in the first round at 145 lbs., Vlasin said.
Mendenhall matched up with Barret Brandt (40-2) of Syracuse to start his tournament.
Brandt set the tone early, but Mendenhall did get a reversal in the first period. Mendenhall went deep into the second period before being pinned.
Vlasin said Mendenhall didn’t wrestle poorly and handles every match well.
Mendenhall faced Max Lautenschlager (49-10) of Bishop Neumann in the consolation round. It was another tough matchup, Vlasin said, and Mendenhall was pinned in the second period.
Even though Mendenhall lost both matches, Vlasin said coaches were happy with how he went out and competed in his first trip to Omaha.
“This is a great group of kids,” Vlasin said, adding that they support each other and don’t leave anybody on the team out.
“We’re excited to have five returning qualifiers for next year,” Vlasin said.
NSAA State Championships
Individual Results
C138—Luis Co (38-11) won by decision over Levi Boardman (Johnson County Central), dec 10-4; Quarterfinal - lost by decision to Brandon Fye (Central City), dec 11-6; Cons. Round 2 - won by fall over Austen Forney (Southern), fall 4:35; Cons. Round 3 - won by decision over Ian Hughes (Amherst), dec 6-3; Cons. Semi - lost by decision to Kyler Vincent (Gordon-Rushville), dec 3-2; 5th Place Match - won by decision over Fye (Central City), dec 12-5.
C145—Westyn Mendenhall (34-17) lost by fall to Barret Brandt (Syracuse), fall 4:27; lost by fall to Max Lautenschlager (Bishop Neumann), fall 2:10.
C182—Thomas Reeves (39-11) lost by decision to Nate Mcdonald (North Bend Central), dec 7-1; Cons. Round 1 - won by decision over Weston Heine (Cedar Catholic), dec 4-1;Cons. Round 2 - won by fall over Thomas Vrana (Bishop Neumann), fall 2:15; Cons. Round 3 - lost by decision to Braydon Wobken (Logan View), dec 5-1.
C220—Jaret Peterson (42-2) won by tech fall over Riley Lavene (Central City), TF-1.5 5:01 (15-0); Quarterfinal - won by fall over Clay Hedges (Archbishop Bergan), fall 3:07; Semifinal - won by decision over Ty Tramp (Crofton/Bloomfield), dec 5-0; 1st Place Match - lost by decision to Cal Wells (Broken Bow), dec 3-2.
C285—Zach Tarin (12-6) won by decision over Omar Garcia (West Point-Beemer), dec 6-3; Quarterfinal - lost by decision to JT Brands (Oakland-Craig), dec 4-1; Cons. Round 2 - lost by decision to Jackson Masek (Lincoln Lutheran), dec 3-0.