Southwest ties for second in state wrestling race

Southwest senior Garrett Latimer (right) reached 51 wins this season and started his state medal effort with a 7-4 win over High Plains Community’s Wyatt Urkoski on Wednesday at Omaha.

Diane Stamm/For The Gazette

OMAHA, Neb. — The Southwest Roughriders are bringing home a trophy for today’s celebrations in Indianola and Bartley.

With five state medalists, coach Jay Helberg’s teams tied Palmer for second place among all Class D wrestling teams on Thursday.

The ’Riders totaled 75 points which was second only to champion Plainview’s 105.5.

“We had a great state tournament and a great season,” coach Jay Helberg concluded.

All the Roughrider state results on Wednesday were included in Thursday’s Gazette.

Southwest then took aim the five state medals topped with senior Matt Van Pelt reaching his 152-pound title match.

Following two pins, M.V.P. went the full six minutes without allowing a semifinal point to RPAC rival Ayden Molzahn from Alma, who brought a 37-4 record into state.

Van Pelt earned his spot on the biggest “primetime stage” where battled two-time state champ Colton Holthus of Garden County as mentioned above.

Junior Brett Tryon took third place (45-12 record) when he won his final four matches capped by a 6-4 decision over 50-match winner Levi Belina of Howells-Dodge (50-10).

Senior Garrett Latimer reached 51 wins (51-6) when he pinned Elkhorn Valley’s Reed Bennett for fifth place at 138 in 1:54.

Jacob Kerns also claimed fifth place among 126-pounders as he conquered a final 6-4 decision over champion Plainview’s Kyler Mosel.

Kerns finished 35-10 for the season.

Sophomore Clayton Hardy captured 33 victories along with a Class D sixth-place medal. He won three matches by pins and 10-2 decision over Neligh-Oakdale’s Dawson Kaup.

Carter VanPelt added three key points to help the Roughriders catch Palmer while earning their trophy.

Tyler Ellis (145) and Bryson Shoemaker (285) were the other two qualifiers from this RPAC/district champion team.