State tournament provides valuable experience for Bobcat wrestlers

Neither Colton Thiele or Rafe Grebin advanced to the medal round in their respective weight classes at the 2020 NSAA State Wrestling Championships, last week, in Omaha.

But Summerland head wrestling guru Dan Roeber said Thiele and Grebin gained experience that will be valuable when they return to the mat next season.

"Those guys represented us very well in Omaha. The outcome was maybe not what we had hoped for but, we will build off it for next year," Roeber said.

Grebin lost his first match in the 126-pound division to Samuel Foster, of Sutherland, who pinned Grebin in 3:15.

On Friday, he met Josh Spatz of East Butler in the first consolation round. Spatz earned a 3-2 decision in a hard-fought match.

Spatz went on to finish fifth overall.

Grebin ends the season with a 36-16 record.

Colton Thiele opened the meet with a win in the 195-class, by fall, over Sid Miller of Anselmo-Merna. In the quarterfinal, Thiele lost, by fall, in :25, to Carl Mundt, of Nebraska Christian.

Mundt, a junior, entered the state tournament with a 45-1 record. He claimed the 195-pound championship, Saturday, with a 7-4 decision over Neligh-Oakdale's Kaleb Pofahl.

On Friday, Thiele pinned Jake Sellman, of Hemingford, in :39.

The win set up a heartbreak round match against Kayden Stubbs, of Maxwell.

Thiele lost, 5-4, eliminating him from medal contention. He finished the year with a 38-13 record.

Looking ahead, Roeber said the squad will lose senior James Kester.

"We're a young team," Roeber said. "When you look at who we have returning, we're sitting in a good spot, where we need to be."