Bison break into league's first four

McCook senior Trevor Felber (above) took control of North Platte’s Raymen Riley during a 4-2 GNAC tournament victory in the 132-pound divison on Saturday at McCook High School.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook’s wrestlers more than doubled Class B No. 3 Scottsbluff, 106-48, while finishing a solid fourth in the Greater Nebraska Activities Conference meet on Saturday.

The six-team tourney didn’t disappoint as Class A power Columbus finished first while tough Hastings Tigers took second.

“This could be the toughest conference tournament in the state,” McCook coach Nick Umscheid declared on Friday. “It’s not the biggest but there are seven No. 1-ranked wrestlers and numerous others rated.”

Yet the Bison still delivered eight top three places with only some of Nebraska’s best stopping McCook title quests.

Bison sophomore Alec Langan finished second at 182 pounds behind only 25-0 Carson Zwingman from Columbus.

Zwingman discovered Langan wasn’t going down in the first period like his other two GNAC foes.

However, Langan was finally stopped with just 1:08 remaining in their match.

Senior Colin Giron also placed second at 220 which included one loss to another 25-0 Columbus wrestler in Karsten Grape.

Senior Jared Cole delivered one more second-place finish in a limited 195-pound field.

Felber, seniors Carson Richards and Hunter Cunningham all earned top three GNAC finishes along with teammate Tate Felber in his first tournament of the season.Tate missed the season’s first few weeks due to an injury.

Now the Bison get ready for their first duals of 2019 Thursday night at Oberlin, Kan. GNAC champions on Saturday:

106 pounds: Quinton Chavez, Gering (9-2).

113: Paul Garcia, Scottsbluff (8-3).

120: Brock Little, North Platte (4-1).

126: Darian Diaz, North Platte (5-0).

132: Kucera (26-0).

138: Austin Korte, Columbus (19-4).

145: Rylee Iburg, Columbus (13-11).

152: Cade Fullner, Columbus (13-4).

160: Avery McKeekin, Columbus (19-5).

170: Damon Pape, Hastings (19-0).

182: Zwingman.

195: Evan Morara, Hastings (19-4).

220: Grape.

285: Eddie Loredo, Columbus (22-4).