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Bison pins into state semis, but others fall out
OMAHA, Neb. — Forget about Mission Impossible because this feels more like Mission Unstoppable to McCook coach Nick Umscheid.
N.U. marveled at junior Alec Langan’s focus and prophetic talents entering the Class B state wrestling meet on Thursday.
“Alec said I want to get two pins today, and I said ‘go get it’,” Umscheid recalled during his chat with Bison radio man Rich Barnett. “That’s exactly what he did.”
In other words, Langan did what no other area wrestler could achieve Tuesday among five state semifinalists.
Langan (40-2 record) stuck Ralston Ram Aaron Fowler just 55 seconds into their opening 195-pound match.
Fowler only featured a 16-21 record so perhaps that was really no surprise.
However, Langan needed only 45 seconds to finish his next match against a 31-12 Dexter Larsen from Blair in their quarterfinal.
“He had a pretty tough kid from Blair. A pretty dangerous kid,” Umscheid observed. “But Alec saw an opportunity to put the kid on his back and he did it. Once he did, he finished the deal. That’s another first-period pin.”
Now Langan’s right where he was a year ago: the Class B state semifinals on Friday night.
He’ll face Fairbury senior Seth Firmanik with his 46-3 record featuring 16-0 and 13-5 major decisions on Thursday.
However...
“Alec’s a lot different wrestler than a year ago,” Umscheid said. “He’s more offensive minded. And if he approaches tonight with the same determination, he’ll have a great shot to be in the state championship finals.”
Langan’s already clinched his second Class B state medal.
Meanwhile, McCook’s other three qualifiers dropped from medal contention status.
Freshman Alex Anthony (31-19) trounced Blair’s Treyton Jones 14-4 in his 160-pound opener.
“It’s not easy for a freshman the first time under the big lights (of Omaha),” Umscheid explained. “But Alex is not your typical freshman. He looked good on his feet, took some good shots and it transferred into a first-round win.”
Anthony lost a 9-1 quarterfinal to Arlington’s Josh Miller, who boasts an amazing 48-1 season mark.
Anthony will begin Class B second-round consolation action today.
Senior Landon Towne and junior Reid Steinbeck were both to set opening consolation matches this morning.
Towne took a quick 2-0 lead to punctuate his great return from last year’s season-endng knee injury.
However, Pierce 40-match winner Asthon Schweitzer didn’t surrender anything else during his 4-2 win at 152.
“Landon will have a kid from Omaha Roncalli