The Kearney High Picks Up Two Dual Wins on Opening Night of the Season
Kearney High 62, Hastings 7
The Kearney High School wrestling team showcased its strength with a commanding victory over Hastings. Kearney secured wins in 12 of the 14 matches, with seven victories coming by fall.
Standout performances included Taj Wilson’s lightning-fast pin in just 49 seconds at 165 pounds, Alec Newell’s 1:15 fall at 215 pounds, and Jameson Small’s technical fall at 120 pounds with a dominant 17-1 score in 2:42.
Hastings’ two victories came from Zander Lockling, who earned a major decision at 190 pounds, and Emmet Kelley, who edged out a high-scoring 17-14 decision at 132 pounds.
Kearney High 51, Klein (TX), 22
In a rare Nebraska Vs. Texas matchup, Kearney High School (NE) hosted Klein High School (TX) and secured a dominant victory on the mat. Kearney claimed nine of the 14 weight classes, including six wins by fall.
Standout performances for Kearney included Taj Wilson (165) and John Florell (175), who earned pins in under a minute, as well as Braxton Robinson (144) and Kade Abbey (150), who also recorded quick falls. Klein's Marcos Gutierrez (190) and Kaulahea Leal (106) highlighted their team's effort with a pin and technical fall, respectively.
Kearney High Bearcats Shine at Home Wrestling Invite
The Kearney High Bearcats showcased their grit and determination at their home wrestling tournament, turning in an impressive overall performance. With strong finishes across all weight classes, the Bearcats finished at team champions earning 201 teams points over 2nd place Grand Island (172.5 pts).
Top Finishers Lead the Way
At 113 pounds, Jack Sponenburgh dominated his competition, going undefeated (4-0) to claim 1st place and be names the tournaments outstanding wrestler. He showed his technical mastery with a tech fall victory, two pins, and a 7-4 win in the finals. Similarly, at 157 pounds, Sam Nachtigal also earned gold with a perfect 5-0 record. Nachtigal’s journey included a hard-fought ultimate tie-breaker win and a sudden victory match, proving his resilience and focus under pressure. Sam also picked up his 100th career victory in the process.
Close Runner-Up Performances
The Bearcats secured several silver medals. At 138 pounds, Kaedun Goodman blazed through his matches with four pins before falling in the finals to North Platte’s Kirk Wilson. Meanwhile, at 144 pounds, Braxton Robinson utilized a combination of tech falls and pins to reach the final, where he fell to Grand Island’s Gavin Pedersen. At 165 pounds, Taj Wilson showcased his explosive style with four quick pins but narrowly lost a 7-5 decision in the championship to Jace Schartz of Great Bend, KS. Additionally, Jaxon Lewis (106 lbs) claimed 2nd place, earning two pins along the way.
Strong Placements Across the Board
Other Bearcats added crucial points to the team’s overall success.
Jameson Small (120 lbs) and Kaden Kowalek (126 lbs) both took 3rd, with Small notching two pins and a tech fall, while Kowalek earned three wins by fall.
Zaen Green (132 lbs) battled his way to 5th, including an exciting tech fall win and a clutch pin in his final match.
At 150 pounds, Kade Abbey placed 4th with a mix of decisive victories, including a tech fall and a pin.
John Florell (175 lbs) also placed 3rd, showcasing versatility with a major decision, a tech fall, and a pin.
In the heavier weight classes, Kendall Kleen (190) secured 7th with two wins by fall, while Alec Newell (215) placed 5th, finishing strong with two pins. At 285 pounds, Xavier Martinez placed 4th, demonstrating power and consistency with three falls before dropping a close 3rd-place match.
The Bearcats will look to carry this momentum into next week at the Council Bluffs Classic.
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