OMAHA — Performing on the state’s biggest stage for high school wrestling, Wolfpack wrestlers won matches at state but saw their quest for medals come up empty.
The setting was the CenturyLink Center, site of the 2014 Nebraska State Wrestling Championships.
The Wolfpack had two wrestlers competing in Class D at the meet, senior Brett Kinney and sophomore Andrew Fangman.
Both wrestlers placed fourth in districts one week earlier. That meant they would draw a district champion in the opening round.
For Kinney, he opened the tournament against Garrett Toner of Perkins County. Toner (41-10) managed to pin Kinney in 3:20.
Fangman’s first match was against Jacob Klingelhoefer of Amherst. Klingelhoefer scored the first points of the match and went on to defeat Fangman 6 to 3.
Both wrestlers then wrestled in first round consolation matches early Friday afternoon. It was there that the Wolfpack made their mark at state.
Kinney faced Jake Buhring (Sumner-Eddyville-Miller) and posted a six to four victory. The lossed ended Buhring’s season with a 35-17 record.
Fangman, wrestling in the 145-pound division, got his first victory at State with a seven to two victory over Tyler Huddle of Hemingford (26-19).
In the second round of consolation matches, both Wolfpack wrestlers saw their seasons come to an end.
For Kinney, it came against Tanner Stec of North Central (37-12) who posted a nine to six victory over the Wolfpack senior. Kinney finished the season with a 26-15 record.
Tyrell Reichert (Dundy County-Stratton) ended Fangman’s season with a 15 to 4 major decision. Fangman ended the season with a 32-15 record.
