Courtesy Photo
These youths represented Chase County in the Nebraska USA Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament’s younger divisions, from left, Ben Lechtenberg, Bo Owens, Isaiah Pursley and Damon Spady.
Courtesy Photo
In the junior high division, wrestling at the Nebraska USA Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament were, in front, Luis Co, back from left, Coach Josh Geary, Thomas Reeves, Westyn Mendenhall, Zac Tarin and Coach Matt Vlasin. Damon Spady, front right, posed with his older teammates.
Youth wrestlers place at top in NE state tourney
Eight members of the Chase County youth wrestling club made their names known at Nebraska’s USA Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament earlier this month in Grand Island.
Coaches Matt Vlasin, Josh Geary and Trent Spady accompanied the Chase County wrestlers, three of whom placed in the top four in their age groups and came home with plaques.
Ben Lechtenberg finished third, while Isaiah Pursley was fourth in the pre-K/Kindergarten division. They competed in eight-man brackets.
Also competing in the elementary division were Bo Owens and Damon Spady
Zac Tarin finished third in the junior high division, and Luis Co was seventh. Other junior high wrestlers at state included Thomas Reeves and Westyn Mendenhall.
Vlasin said Co, Reeves and Mendenhall wrestled in 32-man brackets, while Tarin was seeded in a 16-man bracket.
The state tournament was held in Grand Island March 20-21. Wrestlers advanced there after finishing in the top four at districts in Kearney March 6-7.
By finishing in the top three at state, Zac Tarin qualified for the National Dual Tournament in Iowa as part of the Nebraska team, Vlasin said.