OMAHA, NE – Saturday began the final day of the 2021 NSAA State Wrestling Individual Championship tournaments for both Classes B & C. River Country had eight wrestlers advance to day two.

CLASS B

PLATTSMOUTH

Junior Cael Nieslen (113) was eliminated by Gering freshman Jordan Shirley, the eventual fifth place winner, in a 3-1 sudden victory due to a takedown at the 34 second mark in overtime.

Josh Colgrove (160) began day two of his junior season’s state tournament in the winner’s bracket and set to face #2 seed Michael Kruntorad, a junior from Pierce. Colgrove would stave off any attempts by Kruntorad in gaining a lead, advancing to the semifinals via a 6-3 decision. The Blue Devil would then face top seeded, and undefeated, senior Kobe Lyons from York. In a back and forth championship match. The undefeated Lyons scored a quick takedown at the 1:08 mark in the opening period and never gave up the lead. Colgrove would end up being your 2021 Class B 160 State Runner-Up after a 3-2 decision.

Junior Cameron Aughgenbaugh (170) would start off on day two against Seward sophomore Nolan Hill. Aughenbaugh would only give up a reversal at the 32 second mark of the third period to win via decision, 7-2. Cameron would then face Pierce sophomore Zander Schweitzer and lose via pinfall at the 1:23 mark. The Blue Devil would then face Hastings senior Jackson Phelps and lose via a technical fall at the 4:59 mark, with a score of 18-2. Aughenbaugh would finish the tournament in sixth place.

NEBRASKA CITY

Number four seed Junior Mikah Ruiz (220) started off his day two in the winner’s bracket, facing off against top seeded Alec Langan from McCook. Both entered the matchup with a combined record of 99-4. Both would end up going scoreless in the first period, only to end up 2-1 after period two. Langan would score four to Mikah’s two in the third period to win via a 6-3 decision. Not getting any bit easier, Ruiz was then slated against Wayne sophomore Martin Carillo, the third ranked seed. The lone Pioneer on day two would win via pinfall to be in the third-place match against senior Joe Rodriguez from West Point-Beemer. Mikah would completely dominate his opponent, winning via a major decision 11-3 to be crowned as the third-place winner of the 2021 Class B 220 individuals state tournament.

CLASS C

CONESTOGA

Junior Keegan Chini (126) started off his day two against Battle Creek junior Boston Reeves. Chini would end up pinning Reeves at the 4:10 mark, advancing on to face Aquinas Catholic senior Zack Zitek. Zitek would only allow the junior to score a reversal at the 26 seconds mark in the third period to win 8-2. The Cougar would then be set up against the second overall seed Alex Schademann, a sophomore from Fillmore Central. Keegan would fall to Schademann via a 15-6 major decision and end up finishing sixth overall in the state tournament.

Senior Cameron Williams (132) was slated to do battle on the mats against number four seed Ty Rainforth, a junior from O’Neil. The two, with a combined record of 100-9 coming into the matchup, was slated on paper as one of the best matches to start the second day. However, Rainforth cut expectations short by pinning the senior at the 2:28 mark. Rainforth would eventually go on to become state champion. Cameron was then set to face Raymond Central junior Logan Bryce. Williams decided to take out his frustrations on the junior, winning via major decision 13-5. The senior was then due up against Centennial senior Ryan Payne and lost via a 4-1 decision where Williams couldn’t score until the opening third period escape. The senior would end his high school career in fourth place in the 2021 Class C 132 individuals state tournament.

SYRACUSE

Junior Jace Goebel (120) was slated up against the fourth ranked seed on day two. Sophomore Lance Alberding from Fort Calhoun make quick work of Goebel, eliminating him from the tournament at the 2:51 mark via pinfall before eventually placing fourth.

Senior Burton Brandt (195), the fourth overall seed, was due up in the circle against Logan View junior Logan Booth to start off Saturday in the semifinals. The senior showed no mercy, crushing Booth in a 12-0 major decision, and advancing onto the championship matchup against Cross County/Osceola senior Kyle Sterup.

The two, with a combined record of 105-4, had a much different 2020 tournament. Brandt, then competition in the 170-weight class, ended up being the state runner-up. Sterup, then in the 182-weight class, ended up in fifth place back in 2020. The two, now set for battle for the championship, gave it their all. After a scoreless first period, Sterup scored a reversal with 1:04 to go in the second period. Sterup would have the lead at the end of two, but not the advantage. Brandt had choice two to start the third period and scored with a reversal at the 1:13 mark. However, Brandt worked Sterup into a deadly position and it proved to be Kyle’s undoing as he fell to Brandt’s pin at the 5:04 mark. Your new 2021 Class C 195 State Champion was Syracuse Rockets senior Burton Brandt.

Burton Brandt, in his last high school wrestling match, dedicated his championship victory to former teammate and fellow Rocket Max Hughes. Brandt was quoted saying “Him and his dad put a lot of time into me… They’re a big influence on my wrestling career”. Hughes, a former standout wrestler at Syracuse, passed away back on November 5th of 2020 in a deadly car accident that also took the life of Christian Miller. They were both 21.

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