An early look at state wrestling

With a hotly contest weekend of district wrestling action just behind us, area fans will barely have time to regather themselves as the three-day state tournament run begins Thursday at the Qwest Center in Omaha.

Who are some of the top wrestlers to watch? Well, let's start with the list of unbeaten grapplers, provided by the NSAA. This list includes three area athletes in Logan Williams of Central City, Hadley Cooksley of Grand Island Northwest and Riley Santin of Palmer.

Undefeated Wrestlers
Class A
130--Alexander Bridgeford, Omaha Burke (26-0-11)
135--RaVaughn Perkins, Omaha North (17-0-10)
160--Warner Phipps, Kearney (39-0-12)
Class B
119--Logan Williams, Central City (34-0-11)
152--Mark Fiala, Seward (40-0-11)
171--Conor Schnell, Alliance (33-0-11)
215--Kevin Barrett, Boys Town (35-0-11)
285--Hadley Cooksley, Northwest (30-0-12)
Class C
103--Shawn Nagel, Kimball (33-0-10)
119--Zachary Adams, Norfolk Catholic (33-0-12)
140--Scott Noah, Kimball (37-0-12)
145--Travis Worm, David City (31-0-11)
152--Michael Klinginsmith, Kearney Catholic (38-0-11)
152--Austin Hergott, Norfolk Catholic (32-0-12)
Class D
103--Jordan Fowlkes, Newman Grove (39-0-11
112--Devin Zitek, East Butler (29-0-12
125--Jess Wells, Anselmo-Merna (20-0-12)
130--Tyler Gifford, Banner County (40-0-11)
140--Bryan Mejstrik, Howells (37-0-11)
140--Ethan Kahrs, Franklin (33-0-12)
145--Erik Payne, East Butler (22-0-12)
145--Jerad Gubbels, Randolph (34-0-11)
160--Chase Klingelhoefer, Amherst (38-0-12)
171--Riley Santin, Palmer (37-0-10)
215--Eric Burenheide, Howells (35-0-12)
215--Joe Bob Haas, Hemingford (39-0-11)
285--Dustin Bundy, Dundy County-Stratton (22-0-12)
285--Tanner Timperley, Stanton (30-0-12)

Also, here is a list of returning state medalists from the Independent's coverage area:

Area Returning Medalists
Class A
A112--Isaiah Aguilar, Grand Island, 6/A103/06
A125--Alec Chanthapatheth, Grand Island, 6/A125/07
A140--Riley Allen, Grand Island, 5/A130/07
A160--Jason Brisbin, Grand Island, 6/A160/07
A189--Nathan Westerby, Grand Island, 5/A189/07
Class B
B103--Nicholas Helmer, Grand Island Northwest, 5/B103/07
B119--Logan Williams, Central City, 3/C112/07, 6/C103/06
B135--Alex Rostvet, Adams Central, 6/B130/07
B135--Noland Broekemier, Central City, 6/C125/07
B152--Tyson Martin, Boone Central, 4/B145/07
B160--Jeff Mills, Grand Island Northwest, 5/B145/07
B215--Dex Schwieger, Aurora, 4/B215/07
B285--Hadley Cooksley, Grand Island Northwest, 3/B215/07, 5/B215/06
Class C
C103--Brandon Morse, Sargent/Burwell, 5/C103/07
C112--Sean Trampe, Ord, 1/C103/07, 5/C103/06
C119--Josh Albright, Ravenna, 5/C112/07
C130--Brandon Starkey, St. Paul, 6/C119/07
C135--Bruce Zurek, Sargent/Burwell, 3/C119/06, 6/D103/05
C145--Matt Long, Ravenna, 4/C145/07
C171--Mathew Duffy, Kenesaw/Shelton, 6/C160/07
C189--Noah Steele, Ravenna, 3/C189/07
C215--Willy Larraga, Gibbon, 6/C215/07
Class D
D112--Trenton Nekoliczak, Greeley-Wolbach/Cedar Rapids, 1/D103/07, 6/D103/06
D130--Corbey Grause, High Plains Community, 3/D125/07, 6/D119/06
D130--Brian Mills, Ansley/Arcadia, 6/D130/07
D171--Riley Santin, Palmer, 5/D171/07
D189--Michael Swanson, Nebraska Christian, 6/D160/06