Strong champion 'Riders lead Southwest to top two

THEDFORD, Neb. — Southwest’s Kaden Guerrero and Logan Kircher won championships while leading the Roughrider wrestlers to second place at Saturday’s Sandhills-Thedford Invitational.

Guerrero (25-2 record) conquered the 145-pound division with Kircher (15-6) a champion heavyweight.

Southwest scored 101.5 team points which was behind only Class D powerhouse Mullen’s 159.5.

Sutherland completed the top three teams with 100.5 points.

Cambridge and Medicine Valley were other Gazette-area squads competing.

M.V. Raider Austin Wolfe ruled the 195-pound division.

A look at all the top four area finishers:

126 pounds — Southwest sophomore Garrett Latimer (21-6) earned second place, winning every match except a 10-2 final to Zak Palmer (22-5) of North Central.

138 — Medicine Valley sophomore Jaden Henderson’s now 20-9 following a fourth-place finish. Henderson lost the consolation final showdown vs. North Central freshman Levi Lewis (23-7).

145 — Guerrero (25-2) captured his title by taking an 8-7 final thriller from Ansley-Litchfield’s Collin Arehart (19-7).

Mullen senior Zachary Sweet (21-7) settled for third place.

152 — Southwest sophomore Matthew Van Pelt (24-7) won his consolation final over Hemingford’s Tyler Coleman (14-6).

170 — Medicine Valley senior Dylan Davis-Mack (13-5) took second and Cambridge sophomore Bobby Evans (14-8) placed fourth.

Davis-Mack reached the title match but ran into Talan McGill (23-5) of North Platte St. Patrick’s, who pinned him in 3:42.

Evans dropped a tough 7-5 consolation final to Mullen’s Riley Kessler (19-8).

182 — Cambridge senior Drew Sprinkle (11-4) placed second, just one point from a title as Hay Springs junior Bryce Running Hawk (2-1) delivered the 2-1 final decision.

Sophomore Kaden Cole of Medicine Valley took on a tough Tate Carson of Southeast (22-2) in the third-place match and received a 32-second pin.

195 — Wolfe (21-4) pinned 20-win Kolby Larson of Ansley-Litchfield (20-9) to decide the title in only 1:12.

220 — Cambridge teammates Keithen Huntley (fifth) and Taylor Donohue (sixth) were area placers.

Huntley pinned Donohue in 2:44.

285 — Kircher took down finals foe Will Baker of Southeast and scored a 1:36 finals pin.

Other team scores and results were not obtained.

Watch for more wrestling coverage of area teams next wek.