The South Loup wrestlers had a quiet week with a single meet at Central Valley last Friday. This was the biggest meet yet this season for the Bobcats, with 23 teams and 218 wrestlers all competing for a place on the podium.

Dawson Mason (27-9) was the lone placer, bringing home a third place finish at 132 pounds. Mason had a quick pin in 37 seconds in the first round over James Dean of Weeping Water; then lost by decision 3-1 to Jesse Thiele of Summerland in the quarterfinals. Mason went on to pin Isaac Hemenway of Elgin Pope John in 2:29 and Prestin Horwart of Southern Valley in 1:48 to earn wrestleback rights in the consolation semifinals. Unfortunately, his next two matches were medical forfeits by his opponents, Lance Russell of High Plains and Trevor Carraher of Riverside.

At 106 pounds, Josiah Coleman (21-12) faced off against his own teammate, Zane Ellison, and won with a pin in 1:11 in the first round of action. In the quarterfinals, Coleman was pinned by Owen Krafka of Shelby Rising City in 42 seconds, but won by decision of 9-3 over Connor Edwards of Hi-Line. Moving into the third round of consolations, Coleman was pinned by Collin Shutts of Hi-Line in 2:03, to end his day.

Also at 106 pounds, Zane Ellison (11-14) was pinned by Peytin Grossart of Wood River in 1:56 and was pinned by Clayton Scoville of SEM in 38 seconds. Scoville was a qualifier for the state tournament last year at D106.

Paxton Bierman (19-17) at 113 pounds won over Hector Bonilla of Wood River in the first round by major decision 13-3; then lost by a tech fall 15-0 at 4:34 to Tristan Olson of Anselmo-Merna in the quarterfinals. Olson was a fifth place finisher at last year’s state tournament in D106. In the second round of consolations, Bierman won by decision 5-3 over Chase Beitler of Hi-Line, but lost by a tech fall 16-0 at 4:00 to Canon Holley of Central Valley.

At 120 pounds, Bo Brennan (22-14) pinned Traven Reznicek of Shelby-Rising City in 1:34; but was pinned by Alex Thiele of Summerland in the quarterfinals in 3:26. In the second round of consolations, he was pinned by Talan Wood of Central Valley in 4:39.

CJ Quandt (22-15) had a full day of wrestling at 138 pounds with a major decision win 8-0 over Austin Miller of Grand Island Central Catholic; was pinned by Max Egr of Yutan in 2:36 in the quarterfinals; had another major decision win of 13-2 over Logan Lindsley of Shelby-Rising City; but was pinned in the third round of consolations by Landyn Veik of Elgin Pope John in 2:44.

At 145 pounds, Dylan Handley (7-19) was pinned by Luke Harms of Weeping Water in 1:09 in the first round; pinned Myles Smith of Fullerton in 1:54 in the first round of consolations; and was pinned in 1:47 by Dane Schmoldt of Neligh/Oakdale in the second round of consolations.

Jamie Tickle (4-12) at 160 pounds was pinned in the first round by Justin Knoll of Shelby-Rising City in 1:38. Knoll finished fourth at last year’s state tournament in D152. Tickle was also pinned by Zach Krajicek of Yutan in 2:18 in the first round of consolations.

At 195 pounds, Dawson Doggett (17-7) pinned Owen Thorberg of Mullen in 47 seconds in the first round; but was pinned by Elijah Fjell of Shelby-Rising City in 4:44 in the quarterfinals. Doggett went on to the second round of consolations and pinned Andy Aguilar of Wood River in 3:51; and pinned Trey Broeker of Southern Valley in 2:24 in the third round of consolations. Doggett lost by decision 4-3 to Chase Thomas of Neligh/Oakdale in the consolation semifinals to end his day.

As the season begins to wind down, the Bobcats will only have one tournament this week - the Loup City Duals on Friday with action beginning at 2 p.m. District wrestling will be held at Pender on Feb. 10 - 11.