Broken Bow claimed the 2023 Class C state wrestling tournament team championship Saturday. It’s Broken Bow’s first state tournament team title. The Indians were state runners up in 2019. The Indians won the title with 119 points. Bishop Neumann of Wahoo was second with 97 points and Fillmore Central was one point behind in third with 96 points. Broken Bow had three representatives in the state finals. Connor Wells won the state championship at 182 lbs. The senior collected his 47th win of the season with a 3-2 decision over Derek Wacker of Yutan. Not to be outdone by his older brother, Cal Wells won the championship at 220 lbs. Cal collected his 47th win of the season with a 3-2 decision over Jaret Peterson of Chase County in the championship match. Colton Kelley was the runner up at 132 pounds. The freshman dropped a hard fought 1-0 decision to undefeated Tristan Burbach of Central City in the championship match. Kelley finishes the season at 46-5. Other medal winners for the Indians included Cash Watson 3rd at 120 lbs., Braxon Rynearson 5th at 126, Jack Myers 5th at 170, and Max Denson 5th at 195 lbs.
Anselmo-Merna and Mullen both finished in the top five of the Class D team standings. Mullen finished in third with 76 points and Anselmo-Merna was 4th in the team standings with 71 points. Aquinas Catholic of David City was the team champion and Elkhorn Valley was the runner-up. Anselmo-Merna had two wrestlers in the championship finals. Sid Miller won the Class D championship at 195 lbs. Miller defeated Keegan Shuler of Hitchcock County by a 7-4 decision in the championship match. Miller ends the season at 41-1. Tristan Olson claimed the silver medal at 113 lbs. Sebastian Sauceda of Shelton won by fall to finish his season undefeated at 36-0. Olson ends the year at 44-4 overall. Isaac Welch of Mullen won the championship at 285 lbs. Welch won by fall over Thomas Psota of Ravenna in the championship match. Welch ends the season with a 37-1 record.
Slate Micheel of Twin Loup claimed the state title at 220 lbs. in Class D. The Twin Loup senior completed his season at 36-1 by winning in the championship match over Luke Pawloski of Pleasanton by a 5-3 decision to claim the gold medal.
Isaac White of Cozad finished as the runner-up in Class B at 182 lbs. White dropped a tight 2-1 decision to Drew Moser of Waverly in the final.
Other medal winners from the coverage area included:
Class D
120 – Jeffrey Forsen of Mullen 4th
126 – Eli Paxton of Mullen 4th
138 – Austin Mayfield of Burwell 5th / Keaton Dowse of Twin Loup 6th
170 – Chase Gracey of Mullen 3rd / Maddox Jones of SEM 6th
220 – Cale Buss of Burwell 6th
285 – Tayte Thornton of Anselmo-Merna 6th
Class B
106 – Abel Flores of Gothenburg 4th
113 – Aaron Wilson of Cozad 5th
195 – Eli Boryca of Cozad 3rd
Girls
Jocelyn Ambriz of Ansley/Litchfield 4th
