The South Loup Bobcat wrestlers traveled to Loup City last Friday to compete in their last regular season tournament of this season as they turn their sights to districts and then state this week.

The Bobcats finished seventh as a team at the Rebel Duals, defeating Kearney Catholic 33-30 and Central Valley 33-27, but falling to Wood River 36-39 and Neligh Oakdale 24-57.

Up first against Kearney Catholic, at 106 pounds Josiah Coleman (21-12) pinned Carter Lawrence in 4:48. At 113 pounds, Paxton Bierman (19-17) won by decision 2-0 over Kellen Forrest. Bo Brennan (22-14) at 120 pounds pinned Eddie Mueting in 1:16; and Dawson Mason (27-9) was pinned by Sam Luther in 41 seconds. Luther was a state qualifier last year at C126.

At 152 pounds, Dylan Handley (7-19) was pinned by Austin Smith in 1:59; and Kyle Bloomer (2-17) at 182 pounds was pinned by Darby Runge in 45 seconds.

Wrestlers who won by forfeit were CJ Quandt (22-15) at 145 pounds; Jamie Tickle (4-12) at 160 pounds; and Dawson Doggett (17-7) at 195 pounds.

In the second round against Neligh-Oakdale, Bierman fell to Dylan Furstenau by decision of 7-1; and Quandt was pinned by Kegan Payne in 3:12 - Payne was a state qualifier last year at D126. Handley was pinned by Dane Schmoldt in 2:45; and Tickle fell to Levi Drueke in 1:18. Drueke was a state qualifier last year at C160. Bloomer was pinned by Jaco Henery in 17 seconds.

Wrestlers receiving forfeits were Brennan, Mason, Doggett, and Coleman.

The third round against Wood River was the only full round of the day with no forfeits and quite a lot of action.

Coleman was pinned by Jace Martin in 59 seconds; and Bierman lost by a 4-3 decision to Hector Bonilla. Brennan got an easy pin over Jhett Trejo in 30 seconds, followed by wins by Mason over Gage Starr in 1:12; and Quandt over Alex Wagner in 1:04. Handley got a second period win against Alex Wagner in 3:04; and Tickle stuck Damion Drake in 3:00. Bloomer fell to Ikaiah Edgren in 24 seconds; and Doggett pinned Andy Aguilar in 3:47.

The final round of the day for the Bobcats saw wins by Brennan over Ky Cargill in 3:37 and Doggett over Donovan Burns by a decision of 7-4. Quandt fought hard against Bo Pokorny, but lost by decision 9-8; and Handley was pinned by Jairo Lazos in 31 seconds.

Wrestlers receiving forfeits were Coleman, Mason, Tickle, Bloomer.

The team travels to Pender on Friday for the NSAA D-1 District Tournament. This tournament will decide which wrestlers will compete at the state tournament in Omaha the following week.

Watch the school’s Facebook page for information on live streaming of the two-day tournament.