Four Kenesaw/Shelton Wrestlers Compete at State

by Nick McDowell

March 07, 2012

The Kenesaw-Shelton wrestling team qualified four wrestlers for the State Meet at the Century Link Center in Omaha of February 17-18 as they tallied 80 points at the District C-3 wrestling tournament on Friday and Saturday, February 10-11 at Utica Centennial. The four wrestlers gave a valiant effort at the State tournament as they accumulated eleven points to finish thirty-eight from among the fifty-four teams competing in Class C.

Sophomore David Jimenez (106) placed third at districts with a pin (1:41) over Levi Vogler from Red Cloud. Jimenez won his first match at the state competition with a major decision (12-3) over Vince Hartline from Fort Calhoun. He then was pinned (3:28) by Ely Sharkey from Ainworth, the loss placed him in the wrestle backs where Mitchell Palmer from Loomis/Bertrand pinned (1:00) jimenez who finished with a 29-14 season.

Sophomore Michael Duffy (182) placed fourth at district as he fell in a major decision (10-1) to Ethan Schambach, a senior from Ravenna. Duffy then lost in a 4-0 decision to Derek Wallin from Newman Grove/Lindsay Holy Family in the first round of the State tournament. Duffy didn't give up, however, as turned around and pinned (2:34) Tyler Dahlgren from Loomis/Bertrand in the wrestle backs on Friday. He met Shambach once again with a stronger performance than the district match; however, Shambach won again in a decision (6-2) to eliminate Duffy from consolation competition at the State tournament. Duffy finished with a 29-14 record.

Senior Cogan Thompson (195) placed first over Chris Svoboda with a 4-2 decision. Thompson split his record at his final trip to the state torunament for the Kenesaw-Shelton wrestling team. He won his first round in Omaha with a 12-10 decision over Tyler Schumaker from Louisville but then lost in a close 7-5 decision to Joshua Hoxworth from Bridgeport. Thompson was determined, however, and won with a major decision (11-3) over Jackson Suminski from Hastings St. Cecilia in the wrestle backs. Thompson fell in a 9-3 decision to Tyler Plueger from Lutheran High Northeast; Thompson, finished with an outstanding 36-6 season record.

Sophomore Zach Oliver (220) placed third with a pin (3:24)over Neil Samek from David City. Andrew Lorenz from Hartington Cedar Catholic pinned (2:54) Oliver in his first round at the State tournament. Then Oliver turned around in the wrestle backs and won in a 5-0 decision over Caleb Atkins from West Holt. Samek from David City found revenge, however, and crushed Oliver's chance for a consolation medal with a pin (3:34) at the Quest Center. Oliver finished the season at 29-11.