Walters Brings Home Silver For The Eagles

Blake Walters prepares to roll Steve Bader of Centennial in the first round of the state tournament. Photo courtesy Jodi Fox.

The O'Neill varsity wrestling mats are now silent and the eight wrestlers have returned, and one with a silver medal.

The O'Neill wrestlers gave it their all at the state competition, and freshman Blake Walters came away with a second place.

On Thursday Jon Marvin opened up for the Eagles taking on Mitchell Palmer of Loomis Bertrand. Marvin pinned Palmer in 2:42, next for Marvin was Doyle Trout of Centennial. Marvin fell to Doyle in decision 16-2. Next opponent was Dakota York of Creighton/Verdigre who Jon beat 8-4. The final match for Jon Marvin was  Damon Rodriguez of Kearney Catholic who took Marvin in decision 4-2 ending Marvin's competition.

At the 113 lb. class, Joseph Gillham took down Dex Jensen of Fort Calhaun with a pin in 4:35. Gillham got taken in the next match being pinned in 4:43 against Bart Miller of Valentine. Gillham then moved down the bracket to face Justin Miller of Sergent/Burwell, who ended Gillham's season on a 3-1 decision.

At the 120 lb. class, Blake Walters took on Steven Bader of Centennial and came out 9-0 in major decision, then placing him against Mitch Kliegl of Conestoga. Walter won that match 3-2 in decision. In the quarter finals ,Walters faced Evan Gideon  of Sargent/Burwell beating him Dec 8-2 moving Blake to parade of champions and the finals on Saturday afternoon. In the championship match, Blake faced Adam Koenig of Kearney Catholic losing in major decision 11-2.

In the 132 lb division, Cory Rowse of O'Neill took out Aksel Wiseman of Hershey squeaking by 10-9. In his second match Rowse fell to Frank Manning of Conestoga barely losing 7-6 in decision. Rowse then moved down the bracket to face Isaac Bergquist of Southern Valley winning over him 9-8 in decision. Rowse faced Dylan Field of Norfolk Catholic for his final match losing in decision 7-4.

David Fox the 152 lb class, representative for O'Neill downed Michael Virka of North Bend Central in major decision 14-16. Fox then faced Bryce Wiedeman  of  Mitchell and lost getting pinned 1:01. Fox then moved down to face Dennis George of Bishop Neman in the second consolation winning 5-3 and then facing Tanner Clark of Ainsworth. Clark defeated Fox with a pin in 4:14.

Spencer Knopp was the O'Neill challenger at 182 lbs and his first match was against Jeremiah Starostka of Grand Island Central Catholic losing 10-3. Knopp then went down the bracket and faced Nick Maschman of Wilber/Clatonia. Knopp won this match in decision 5-0. Knopp's final match was against Cory Assarson of Valentine who pinned him in 2:45.

In the 195 lbs class, Morgan Sterns of O'Neill drew Trent Osnes of Valentine. Osnes pinned Sterns in 3:20 in the first match sending Sterns to face Jackson Suminski of Hastings St. Ceclia, who pinned Sterns in 31 seconds.

Thomas Schipporeit, O'Neill's last wrestler came in at the 220 lb weight class and faced Chase Ehlers of South Central Nebraska Unified District losing by pin in 2:19. Schipporeit's second opponent was Pat Cleary of Liousville losing being pinned in 4:20.