Today Central Nebraska’s Sports Source previews the Broken Bow wrestling team as they begin their season this week. Broken Bow fought through some injuries last year and put together another solid team season highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Southwest Conference tournament, a third place finish at the C-4 district tournament, where they qualified seven wrestlers for state, and then a ninth place team finish at the 2020 state wrestling tournament. This year Broken Bow will move from Class C up to Class B. Broken Bow head wrestling coach Ed Schaaf told KCNI/KBBN sports that they welcome the challenge.
It was announced earlier this year by the Nebraska Schools Activities Association that there will be some changes to the post season wrestling schedule this season because of COVID-19 concerns. This year’s high school wrestling season will feature sub district tournaments in classes B, C, and D prior to district competition. The sub district tournaments will take place the weekend of February 6th, 2021. The change was put into effect in order to reduce the amount of people that would gather for one big district tournament. Each district will now be split in half into two sub districts. The top four wrestlers in each weight class from each sub district will then advance to the district tournament with the opportunity to qualify for the state championships. Because of this change, the state duals will not take place this season. Broken Bow has been a strong dual team in years past winning back to back state dual titles in 2018 and 2019. Coach Schaaf said it is disappointing that there won’t be a state dual tournament.
Broken Bow’s wrestling room is filled with past state qualifiers including two state champions and a state runner-up. Casey Faulkenberry was the Class C state champ at 126 lbs. and Lathan Duda was champion at 182. Cyrus Wells, who wrestled for Anselmo-Merna last season, was the Class D state runner-up at 120 lbs. Coach Schaaf said that there is strong competition that goes on in practice.
The Indians will open their season Thursday when they host Arcadia/Loup City and Wood River for triangular. Bow will then host their annual home invitational on Saturday at the Indian gym.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH BROKEN BOW WRESTLING COACH ED SCHAAF
