Bison wrestle with Class B's best at NP

While McCook was winning big matches at North Platte, Bison wrestlers like Wyatt Felzen (left) placed in the top three at Saturday’s Southwest Inviational in Bartley. Felzien earned third place at 106 pounds when he scored a second-period pin. The Bison varsity wrestles next at Dundy County-Stratton on Friday.

Tami Pochop/For The Gazette

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — McCook heavyweight Reid Steinbeck pinned all of his foes while senior classmates Tate Felber and Alec Langan both went undefeated at Saturday’s North Platte Invitational.

The Bison sent their seven best veterans into this dual tournament where they took on North Platte, district foes Alliance, Scottsbluff and Class B No. 1-ranked Gering.

“We got some good head-to-head matchups against those teams to give us a better understanding of where we sit against the competition,” Bison coach Nick Umscheid remarked. “Our guys fared pretty well individually.”

Steinbeck’s admittedly missing the big boisterous wrestling crowds, so he’s taking it out on opposing heavyweights who are being “stuck” quickly to mats.

Iziah Blanco from No. 1 Gering made it 58 seconds into the second period. Steinbeck’s other matches didn’t make it past the 1:18 mark.

He needed just 23 seconds before pinning Scottsbluff’s Trenton Jenkins.

Langan remained an unbeaten force with his three wins at 220 which included pins needing only 20 and 27 seconds.

Felber stepped up while aiming to reach the Class B state torunament just as he did in 2019.

He dominated the 152 division but also showed he could take a tough 8-6 overtime decision from Alliance’s Asa Johnson.

Bison sophomore Alex Anthony (160) won three of his four matches.

Anthony dealt No. 1 Gering a blow when he trounced Carmelo Timblin with the 19-3 tech fall. He was close to becoming a fourth unbeaten Bison wrestler for the day, losing only 3-2 to Alliance’s Philip Halstead.

Senior Talyn Campbell split four matches at 120 with both those being first-period wins in 1:00 and 24 seconds.

Freshman Canyon Hosick scored two wins at 145 but saw his tournament shortened due to an injury. Watch for more details next week.

Results from McCook’s busy dual day at the North Platte Invitational:

N.P. 48, Bison 28

152 - Tate Felber (McCook) over Santana Morin (North Platte) Dec 5-1; 160 - Alex Anthony (McCook) over Raymen Riley (North Platte) Maj 16-4; 220 - Alec Langan (McCook) over Peyton Dimmitt (North Platte) Fall 3:44; 285 - Reid Steinbeck (McCook) over Jacob Kohler (North Platte) Fall 1:18; 113 - Cadde Beeby (McCook) over Jace Kennel (North Platte) Dec 4-2; 120 - Talyn Campbell (McCook) over Ethan Jackson (North Platte) Fall 1:00; 145 - Skyler Geier-Dodson (North Platte) over Canyon Hosick (McCook) Fall 2:33.

Gerng 56, Bison 23

160 - Anthony over Carmelo Timblin (Gering) TF 19-3; 285 - Steinbeck over Iziah Blanco (Gering) Fall 2:58; 113 - Jordan Shirley (Gering) over Beeby Maj 19-6; 120 - Quinton Chavez (Gering) over Campbell Maj 14-4; 126 - Paul Ruff (Gering)l 145 - Nate Rocheleau (Gering) over Hosick Fall 1:59; 152 - Felber over Keenan Allen (Gering).

Bison 24, Allnce 15

220 - Langan over Matthias Benzel (Alliance) Fall 0:20 113 - Beeby (over Tory Picket Pin (Alliance) Dec 9-2; 120 - Campbell over Benjamin Cassatt-Reina (Alliance) Fall 0:24; 152 - Felber over Asa Johnson (Alliance) SV-1 8-6; 160 - Philip Halstead (Alliance) over Anthony Dec 3-2.

Bluffs 36, Bison 25

220 - Langan over Justin Ahlers (Scottsbluff) Fall 0:27; 285 - Steinbeck over Trenton Jenkins (Scottsbluff) Fall 0:23; 113 - Joey Canseco (Scottsbluff) over Beeby Fall 5:47; 120 - Connor Whiteley (Scottsbluff) over Campbell (McCook) Fall 5:35; 152 - Felber over Mychaia Moss (Scottsbluff) Maj 16-6; 160 - Anthony over Frankie Trevino (Scottsbluff) Dec 3-2.