Four Arlington High School juniors wrestled Thursday and Friday during the NSAA State Boys Wrestling Championships in Omaha.
Three of them — Jake Flesner, Braxton Soll and Tate Johannes — bounced back after first-round losses to pick up their first Class C wins inside the CHI Health Center. Their eliminations followed during the second consolation round, but coach Doug Hart was proud of the Eagles' efforts in giving themselves a chance to reach the podium.
Johannes, for example, extended his tourney stay to three matches with a 12-3 major decision victory against Pierce's Kyle Kuehler.
“I knew it was my last (match) if I didn't do what I had to do, so there's no reason to leave anything out there,” the 190-pounder said. “If I gave 100 percent and I lose, that is what it is. But, if I don't give a hundred percent and lose, I'll be kicking myself all year for it.”
Flesner, Soll, Johannes and 165-pounder Ben Flesner started competition Thursday, though, going 0-4 against district champion wrestlers after they themselves qualified for the NSAA Championships with fourth-place district finishes in Malcolm.
“Even though it didn't go the way we wanted it to, they still wrestled tough,” Hart said of the first round.
Jake Flesner came back the next day and bested Pender's Nate Sanderson by pin during the first consolation round. He took 40-10 Tekamah-Herman wrestler Blayne Williams to the limit during the second consolation round, too, but fell by 1-0 decision.
After the season-ending loss, Hart reminded Flesner of his state tournament history. The 120-pounder went 0-2 as a freshman in Omaha and fell short of qualifying as a sophomore.
“I said, 'We're here and we won a match,'” Hart recalled telling the AHS junior. “'Now, next year, let's not be denied of the medal stand.'”
Soll went 0-2 at state last year, too, but not this time. The 126-pounder won his second match in Omaha, pinning West Point-Beemer's Tanner Renner in 2:27.
The Eagle's arms shot up into the air in celebration before a season-ending 7-2 decision loss about an hour later.
“He just got himself into the right mentality,” Hart said, explaining how Soll went from starting the season injured to winning a match at state. “I kind of started seeing it at districts when we won an ultimate tiebreaker match to go.”
As noted, Johannes earned his own win during the first consolation round.
“A million bucks is the best way to put it,” he said of how he was feeling afterward. “I did some moves I wanted to do. Made some mistakes, but I know I've got another one coming.”
The junior lost his next bout to Syracuse's Brody Brandt, however, ending the year 28-13 overall.
“It's a big jump for him and he'll jump levels next year,” Hart said.
The coach can see Ben Flesner showing the same improvement after he went 0-2 during his two days at the CHI Health Center. He already stepped up to qualify for state this season with a 20-21 record.
“At districts, it was a totally different Ben,” Hart said. “To just be down here is a big accomplishment for him. I knew he could do it.”
Altogether, four Arlington wrestlers completed Class C tournament competition Friday, earning three wins during their time in Omaha.
NSAA STATE BOYS WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thursday-Saturday at the CHI Health Center, Omaha
CLASS C
Top-10 team standings: Battle Creek 119.5 points, Minden 118.5, Hartington Cedar Catholic 108, Crofton/Bloomfield 73, St. Paul 68.5, David City 64.5, Wilber-Clatonia 63, Pierce 55.5, Syracuse 55.5, Elkhorn Valley 51. Also: 47, Arlington, 8.
Arlington Eagles Results
(Weight, wrestler: Tourney record (overall record), place)
120 pounds, Jake Flesner: 1-2 (28-12), NA.
126, Braxton Soll: 1-2 (22-10), NA.
165, Ben Flesner: 0-2 (20-23), NA.
190, Tate Johannes: 1-2 (28-13), NA.
