Three Washington County wrestlers won Nebraska Capitol Conference (NCC) Tournament brackets Saturday as the Arlington girls finished third and the hometown Pioneers took fourth at Fort Calhoun High School.
The Eagles' Kelise Krivohlavek and Dianna Flores won their weight classes, while Beckah Gossman of FCHS claimed her's. Altogether, AHS finished with 106 team points as Calhoun produced 99 — 32 behind the champion Yutan Chieftains.
Wrestling down a class from her usual 125 pounds, Krivohlavek went 2-0 at 120 during the seven-team tourney. The Eagles senior pinned the Pioneers' Kendall Magana-Torres in 27 seconds and Yutan's Leah Thompson in 1:58. She is 25-1 overall this season.
Flores, meanwhile, won her 190-pound finals bout with Logan View's Katrina Schriener by staying active on the mat.
“I know I've been struggling a lot mentally, and I get in my head when I make mistakes, but one thing that will help me is just saying 'keep moving' in my head,” the 18-9 wrestler said. “Whether I get in a bad position or a good position, I've just got to keep moving.”
Why is it important?
“It'll tire them out before it tires me out because Coach (Layne) Laaker pushes us in conditioning,” she said. “That's for sure.”
Flores pinned Schreiner in 1:37 after stopping Karrie Weaver of Raymond Central in 3:54 to start the NCC event. The conference champ said she was nervous coming into the day.
“But I came out and I did exactly what I needed to do,” Flores said.
Arlington's Mya Kitt and Jaydin Allen were both one win away from NCC titles in Fort Calhoun, too. Kitt was second at 100 pounds with a 1-1 mark, while Allen split matches at 140.
The Eagles' Brooklyn Ruskamp (110 pounds), Callee Shearer (130), Caitlyn Camp (155) and Addyson Beam (235) added third-place results as well, while Sofie Lewis (125) and Evie Bottger (170) were fourth in their weight classes.
Gossman, however, was first for coach Lilly Gossman's Pioneers at 145 pounds. The freshman won three matches by pin, including the final against 10-1 Morgan Hensch of Conestoga. She even scored points against the Cougar with her back to her.
“I was kind of going with the flow,” Gossman explained. “I don't really get into that much.”
What move was it?
“A Peterson (Roll), but it was kind of sloppy,” the NCC champ said through a smile.
The key to her conference title was her temperament, particularly during the final match.
“Just staying calm even when she was on top or I lost control,” Gossman said.
Six more Fort Calhoun wrestlers besides the 145-pounder earned top-three finishes Saturday. Both Audrea Gutierrez and Anna Rae Hartline were second with Gutierrez splitting a pair of matches at 115 pounds.
Hartline, meanwhile, went 2-1 at 135 with two pins, losing to 37-0 Alex Pehrson of Yutan in the finals.
The Pioneers' Annaleigh McLaughlin (105 pounds), Magana-Torres (120) and Lydia Kmitta (170) added third-place results as well. They next wrestle with their teammates at home 6 p.m. Thursday when FCHS hosts a triangular with Logan View and Tekamah-Herman.
Arlington, meanwhile, next competes 6 p.m. Thursday at a Pender triangular.
Eagles pick up dual wins
Arlington wrestled last Thursday, too, securing two dual wins at East Butler High School.
The Eagles squeaked past Blue River first, 36-34, before a 66-6 rout of Raymond Central. Shearer, Allen, Flores and Ruskamp all earned pins during the latter with Allen's match lasting just 18 seconds.
Against Blue River, though, it was AHS' Ruskamp, Krivohlavek, Shearer and Kitt who helped secure a close win with pins. Kitt's was clutch at 100 pounds, ultimately securing the team victory.
Lewis and Allen also secured key team points by forfeit against the home team.
NEBRASKA CAPITOL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Saturday at Fort Calhoun High School
GIRLS
Team standings: Yutan 131 points, Conestoga 130, Arlington 106, Fort Calhoun 99, Raymond Central 79, Louisville 68, Logan View 51.
Top-6 Arlington placers: 1, Kelise Krivohlavek, 120 pounds. 1, Dianna Flores, 190. 2, Mya Kitt, 100. 2, Jaydin Allen, 140. 3, Brooklyn Ruskamp, 110. 3, Callee Shearer, 130. 3, Caitlyn Camp, 155. 3, Addyson Beam, 235. 4, Sofie Lewis, 125. 4, Evie Bottger, 170.
Top-6 Fort Calhoun placers: 1, Beckah Gossman, 145 pounds. 2, Aundrea Gutierrez, 115. 2, Anna Rae Hartline, 135. 3, Annaleigh McLaughlin, 105. 3, Kendall Magana-Torres, 120. 3, Ali Dill, 125. 3, Lydia Kmitta, 170.
