The South Loup Bobcats competed in the Class D - District 1 wrestling tournament at Shelton on Feb.

14 and 15, with the top four wrestlers in each weight class punching their ticket to the state tournament in Omaha. The Bobcats saw two wrestlers qualify, with one claiming the top spot - district champion.

Aquinas Catholic took the district team championship in the 23-team field, with South Loup finishing in 13th place overall.

Individually, it was Dawson Mason’s day as he cruised through the 132-pound district bracket without losing a match to win the gold medal and a chance to compete on the big stage at the Nebraska State High School Wrestling Championships. Firstround matches began this morning (Feb. 20) at the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha. The Class D consolation matches will begin Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. with semifinals and third-round consolation matches in all classes set to start at 6 p.m. on Friday. All consolation semifinals and medal rounds will be held on Saturday.

Here is how Mason’s road to district gold went. He won his opening round match by fall over Owen Flores of Archbishop Bergan 32 seconds into the match. It took him slightly longer than that to get the pin in the quarterfinal over Jhet Hagan of Shelton, in 1:42.

Mason then won his semifinal by decision (6-3) over Owen Krafka of Shelby-Rising City to advance to the championship. In the 1st Place Match, Mason won by decision (13-8) over Connor Rempe of Sandy Creek.

The other district medalist and state qualifier for the Bobcats is CJ Quandt, who finished 4th at 157 pounds. Quandt received a bye in round one, then won by fall over Jackson Christen of Anselmo-Merna in the quarterfinal in 2:35. In his semifinal match Quandt faced a tough Dominick Larraga of Shelton and lost by fall. He came back in the consolation semifinal to get a pin on Oran Grint of Twin Loup in 2:12, but lost his 3rd Place Match to Trentin Brown of Burwell.

The rest of the Bobcats saw their wrestling season come to an end at the district tournament. Those results are as follows.

106 - Noah Hiatt lost round one by fall to Michael Hunter of Burwell; received a bye in consolation round

cont. PAGE 11: Wrestling