Bison charging into B-4 mat 'grinder'

McCook wrestlers like senior Kody Hahn (right) will be trying to take down some high-rated opponents during the B-4 district meet today and Saturday.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

OGALLALA, Neb. — High rankings mean a mighty fall if the McCook Bison wrestlers have their way at today and Saturday’s B-4 district tournament.

There are five Class B No. 1s in the first seven weight divisions who will likely have their spots tested when facing coach Nick Umscheid’s team.

“We have several guys who will be favorites to qualify for state (next week) and several who are right on the bubble,” he said entering a field of 12 teams ranging from Alliance to Holdrege. “They have the ability. Now they just have to perform on the mat. It should be an electric and nerve-wracking weekend as it always is.”

The Bison begin competition at 4 p.m. central time today, then start those final state qualifying rounds get started Saturday morning (10 a.m).

Once again, top four finishers in each weight class advance to Omaha for Class B state tournament matches starting on Thursday.

McCook senior Colin Giron’s clearly targeting his first state tourney after returning from a concussion and winning the Southwest Conference 220-pound title last week.

Giron missed all of last season and needed one more win to make state two years ago. He’ll be a B-4 title favorite along with Class B No. 5 Alliance Bulldog Bailey Hood.

Sophomore Alec Langan (32-4 record) will aim for a return state trip following his SWC championship on Saturday. He’s currently rated Class B No. 6 at 182 while Chadron’s Clark Riesen holds the No. 5 state spot.

No other Bison being rated doesn’t mean many won’t make state. Senior Carson Richards (126) qualified two years ago. He’ll take on a tough B-4 bracket featuring Class B No. 1, 2 and 5 according to newrestle.com this week.

Senior heavyweight Hunter Cunnigham took second at SWC last week. His toughest obstacle appears to be Class B No. 2 Jade Wurth from Lexington.

Sophomore Talyn Campbell’s reached 25 wins this season and only Paul Ruff of Alliance brings a Class B ranking (No. 4) into the 120-pound division.

Freshman Julian Stiver also finished strong, aiming to join top 106-pounders like No. 1-ranked Quinton Chavez of Gering and Sidney No. 6 Austin Munier in Omaha next week.

Brothers Trevor Felber (132) and Tate Felber (138) both own winning records while senior Kody Hahn wants to make the most of his final B-4 tourney at 170 pounds.

“We feel really good about our wrestlers and how they have performed up to this point of the season,” Umscheid remarked. “The B-4 district is a meat grinder once again this year. We will need to perform at our very best to punch tickets to Omaah next week.”

A quick final rundown of top B-4 talent:

Ranked teams: No. 3 Scottsbluff, No. 8 North Platte, No. 9 Lexington.

Top-ranked Class B wrestlers:

106 pounds: No. 1 Quinton Chavez, Gering; 6. Austin Munier, Sidney.

113: No. 1 Paul Garcia, Scottsbluff.

120: No. 4 Paul Ruff, Alliance.

126: No. 1 Darian Diaz, North Platte; 2. Nate Rocheleau, Gering; No. 5 Bryce Brown, Hastings.

132: No. 2 Jerryd Hernandez, Scottsbluff; No. 4 Wyatt Hotz, Gothenburg.

138: No. 1 Trey Arrelano, Sidney.

145: No. 1 Devontae Gutierrez, Scottsbluff; No. 3 Trystan Berry, Lexington; No. 4 Cameron Zink, Ogallala; No. 5 Brody Raines, Sidney.

152: None ranked in top six.

160: No. 3 Riley Kopf, Lexington; 4. Cash Arensdorf, North Platte; 5. Jake Lemmon, Chadron.

170: No. 1 Damen Pape, Hastings; 6. Brock Skinner, Ogallala.

182: No. 5 Clark Riesen, Chadron; 6. Alec Langan, McCook.

195: None ranked in top six.

220: No. 5 Bailey Hood, Alliance.

285: No. 2 Jade Wurth, Lexington.