Arlington senior wrestler Hunter Gilmore started his run to a Nebraska Capitol Conference (NCC) Tournament title Saturday with a 20-4 technical fall.
“I like first-match techs,” the 145-pounder said, putting his warmup gear back on. “I'm out there a little longer. Get the butterflies out.”
Gilmore was one of three Washington County wrestlers to claim individual NCC championships at Arlington High School. Josh Miller and Gilmore took first for the host Eagles, while Trey McCoy won the 106-pound bracket for his Fort Calhoun Pioneers.
Overall, FCHS earned fifth out of nine teams, while AHS was eighth. Logan View/Scribner-Snyder won the NCC team title with 166 points — one more than second-place Yutan.
Gilmore scored four points to beat Logan View wrestler Hunter McNulty's three during the 145-pound first-place match. Before that matchup of the first- and fourth-ranked wrestlers in Class C, according to the NSWCA, the senior Eagle notched a 13-second pin in the semifinals and those 20 points against Syracuse wrestler Noah McKenzie. He used the opener to work on different techniques and attacks.
“You can't really keep it the same all year because these kids are going to figure me out,” Gilmore said. “So, we talk about it in practice that we've got to switch it up.”
No matter his approach, Miller has been unbeatable this season. Arlington's defending state champion swept through the 170-pound bracket, claiming his conference title with a 4-0 decision against 24-4 Yutan wrestler Josh Jessen.
Miller also pinned two opponents and broke the AHS record for consecutive victories during Saturday's event. He is 38-0 this season.
Though both Gilmore and he were successful, no other Eagle wrestler picked up a win. At the same time, five Fort Calhoun wrestlers placed for coaches Drew and Jake Welchert.
McCoy went unbeaten at 106 pounds, pinning his way through the bracket. He stuck Ashland-Greenwood's Lucas Konen to the mat in 1:34, Conestoga's Asher Koehnen in 46 seconds and finalist Janson Pilkington of Yutan in 4:51.
With his three wins, the Pioneer senior improved to 21-4. McCoy has been particularly successful in January tournaments, winning the last three he's competed in.
In addition to the title win, Fort Calhoun wrestlers Ely Olberding, Lance Olberding and Jesse Hartline claimed second place in their weight classes.
Ely Olberding, a defending state champion, earned two first-period pins to reach the 113-pound finals Saturday.
“I feel pretty good,” the sophomore said. “I think I'm going to have to turn it up a little bit, but I think I've got a pretty good start going.”
Ashland-Greenwood's Blaine Christo (18-1 overall) bested him in the championship match, however. The overtime tie-breaker went in the Bluejays' favor.
Lance Olberding, meanwhile, beat Syracuse's Jace Goebel by 9-1 major decision to reach the finals before dropping a 10-8 decision to Logan View's Dru Mueller at 120 pounds. Hartline added two Pioneer pins at 220 pounds before 27-1 Yutan wrestler Quran Cook pinned him in the finals.
Lastly, Fort Calhoun 182-pounder Grant Nixon won his final match of the NCC Tournament, claiming a third-place finish. He was 3-1 overall, making the most of his time on the mat after nearly getting caught in his first match against Cinch Beetison of Ashland Greendwood. The Bluejay scored first-period back points, but the Pioneer came roaring back and pinned him in 3:08.
“He was pretty quick, so I just stayed with it,” Nixon said. “And then I just saw an opportunity for a takedown and I just took it.”
In summation, Washington County finished the NCC meet with three champs and seven overall medalists at AHS.
Pioneers sweep duals against OPS
Two days before the conference meet, Fort Calhoun celebrated Parents Night on Thursday with dual wins against a pair of visiting Omaha Public Schools. The Pioneers defeated Omaha Benson 36-18 and Omaha Northwest 42-33.
Against Benson, Lance Olberding picked up a 46-second pin in one of the two contested matches. The Bunnies had just four active wrestlers available.
Then, against Northwest, FCHS' Ely Olberding, Lance Olberding and Mason Touring picked up victories. The Olberdings notched pins in 3:10 and 0:42, while Touring evened the team score at 24 with his own at 182 pounds. The Pioneer's pin against the Huskies' Michael Puczylowski came at the 3:39 mark and led to his team's win.
