KEARNEY — The fourth ranked Kearney High wrestling team got closer to defeating second ranked Lincoln East Tuesday night, but they ultimately fell short, 38-35.
Earlier in the season, the Spartans defeated the Bearcats at the Flatwater Fracas tournament, 42-26.
“Tonight was a challenge to the guys of “What are you going to go show”,” Kearney Head Coach Ryan Bauer said. “Even by losing by 17 at fracas, we felt that it was a competitive dual, and it was “Alright, are we content with that, or are we gonna come put a fight on them.”
Having an open weight at 106, Kearney would climb back and take an 11-9 lead after Kaden Kowalek would win his match at 126lbs by fall against Zach Masek. That would be the only time that the Bearcats would lead in the dual, as Lincoln East won five straight matches to take a commanding 33-11 lead. Taj Wilson would stop the bleeding with a pin at 160lbs against Cooper Junge. The Bearcats would pick up two more pins from John Florell (173lbs) and Kendall Kleen (190lbs), but a tech fall for Lincoln East’s Colton Tucker over Alec Newell at 215lbs would seal the win for Lincoln East. Xavier Martinez would win the final match for Kearney, in a pin against Elijah Gutz.
With Lincoln East’s win on Thursday, and Skutt Catholic defeating top ranked Creighton Prep, the Spartans could be the king of the hill in the next poll.
The Kearney High wrestling team will compete in today’s Gator Invite at Lincoln North Star, and will return home on January 16th against North Platte for their CHaT Duals.
Lincoln East 38, Kearney 35 (Click here for the Score Sheet)
106: Cayden Engel (LE) over (KRNY) (For.)
113: Jack Sponenburgh (KRNY) over Mathysin Marco (LE) (TF 17-0 5:40)
120: Leland Sindel (LE) over Jameson Small (KRNY) (Dec 8-2)
126: Kaden Kowalek (KRNY) over Zach Masek (LE) (Fall 3:44)
132: Chase Cole (LE) over Zaen Green (KRNY) (Dec 9-5)
138: Noah Ingwersen (LE) over Braxton Robinson (KRNY) (TF 18-0 5:15)
144: Sean Stanton (LE) over Kaedun Goodman (KRNY) (Fall 1:07)
150: Scottie Meier Jr (LE) over Kade Abbey (KRNY) (Fall 1:12)
157: Ryder Kruse (LE) over Sam Nachtigal (KRNY) (MD 10-1)
165: Taj Wilson (KRNY) over Cooper Junge (LE) (Fall 1:17)
175: John Florell (KRNY) over Jordan Johnson (LE) (Fall 4:57)
190: Kendall Kleen (KRNY) over Charlie Everman (LE) (Fall 1:43)
215: Colton Tucker (LE) over Alec Newell (KRNY) (TF 16-0 3:48)
285: Xavier Martinez (KRNY) over Elijah Gutz (LE) (Fall 3:46)
