Krebs, Arroyo win first Bobcat girls' state wrestling medals

Ammy Arroyo and Raina Krebs have gone where no female Bobcat wrestler has gone before.

They both finished the season on the medal podium at the 2024 Nebraska School Activities Association State Wrestling Tournament, held Feb. 14 to 17 at the CHI Health Event Center in Omaha.

Arroyo finished fourth in the 190-pound division and Krebs placed second in the 235-pound class.

Coach Dan Roeber said the Bobcats have a group of girls who "want to be in the room and be the best they can be" by supporting one another.

"As a coach, you really couldn't ask for a better group to have in the room," he said.

It made for a fun, yet competitive, wrestling room.

"This group of freshmen is going to do great things and has been involved in the sport for as long, if not longer, than some of our upperclassmen. They want to work, they want to grow and they want to be successful. The upperclassman don't want to be outworked by the freshman and it has really brought the best out in them as well.

Roeber said Arroyo has battled through injuries, so capping off her senior season with a medal was "great."

"We limited her in the practice room at times and just did what we could to give her the chance to compete at districts and state," he said.

Once in Omaha, Arroyo took advantage of the opportunity.

"She has been the silent leader of the team; she isn't going to say much in the room but her actions lead the way," Roeber said.

Arroyo said she genuinely did not think she would make it as far as she did.

"It was definitely a tough tournament, having to go against people that I'd lost to in the past, but with all the practice and support from everyone I went into the tournament knowing it was redemption time," she said.

She credited her uncle, Dan Mendoza, who also serves as a coach, for helping her become the person she is today.

"He has always been someone I look up to when it comes to wrestling. Having him there to talk me through my matches and letting me know that it would all be okay no matter the outcome of the match. He's always been someone I could talk to no matter what. Seeing him light up the way he did at state after winning my matches was one of the best feelings, knowing I made him proud," the senior wrestler said.

Arroyo also credited Krebs for being her practice partner, noting she pushed her become a better athlete and pushed her to do her best.

How did she feel about bringing home a state medal?

"It was like a dream come true. It was something I worked hard for, but I most definitely couldn't have done it without the help of the entire team, along with each and every one of the coaches who have supported me throughout my whole wrestling career, which I could not be more thankful for," Arroyo said.

Roeber described Krebs season as a "redemption year."

"She had been ranked very high last year and was a district champion and once she got to state," the coach said. "This year, we really focused on canceling the noise and just doing what we know she can.

Krebs repeated as district champion and took advantage of that placing once in Omaha.

"She was on a mission this year, although she felt she fell short of the overall goal, she did cap the season with a silver medal and momentum going into her senior year," Roeber added.

The coach and his staff look forward to building on experiences from this season when they regroup next year.

"Ava Cleveland and Kaylee Thiele led our team in almost every stat we keep a record of this year. Those two now have the experience and have felt the pressure of the state meet. These girls are going to be the leaders in the wrestling room and they are going to help build a strong girls wrestling program, along with the other freshman, for the Summerland Bobcats," Roeber said.