Dramatic finish highlights Bobcat wrestling invite

Summerland Public School played host to an action-packed Bobcat wrestling Invite on Jan. 11, with the home team placing third overall by scoring 94 points. The tournament's final match provided a dramatic conclusion, determining the team championship in nail-biting fashion.

Jason Shaver of Summerland stepped onto the mat in the decisive 190-pound championship match against Luke Hagedorn of Guardian Angels Central Catholic. With the team title on the line - a Hagedorn victory would secure the trophy for GACC, while a loss would hand it to Pender - Shaver delivered a clutch performance. Leading up to the final seconds, Shaver executed a match-ending pin with 23 seconds remaining, handing the narrow overall victory to Pender by a margin of 120.5 to 119. The crowd erupted in cheers, as wrestlers gathered around the mat celebrated the thrilling finale.

Medalists for the Bobcats included:

150 pounds: Ethan Kester secured first place and scored 20 team points. He received a bye in the quarterfinal, then defeated Domingo Centino of Wakefield with a 7-3 decision in the semifinal. Kester claimed the championship with a 5:34 pin over Korbin Carlson of Winside in the first-place match.

190 pounds: Jason Shaver earned first place and added 24 team points to Summerland's total. He pinned Kaden Ripp of Ravenna in 0:59 during the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, he pinned Logan Timm of Pender in 1:46. Shaver clinched his title by pinning Hagedorn of GACC in 5:37 during the first place match.

132 pounds:Isaac Mendoza claimed second place and scored 20 team points. He opened with a 3:23 fall over Santiago Gutierrez of Riverside in the championship round one. In the quarterfinal, he pinned Travin Schauda of Twin Loup in 3:45. Mendoza earned a 9-2 decision over Lane Fischer of Wakefield in the semifinal, but was pinned by Ryder Anderson-Ray of GACC in 4:22 during the first place match.

• 144 pounds: Austin Mendoza placed second and contributed 19 team points. After receiving a bye, he pinned Dylan Schinstock of GACC in 5:22 during the quarterfinal. In the semifinal, he won by a 14-5 major decision over Stratton Sellin of Winside. He was unable to compete in the first-place match, losing by medical forfeit to Grady Rasmussen of Ravenna.

• 120 pounds: Liam Cleveland took third place and earned eight team points. He began with an 11-6 decision victory over Timothy Hittner of Fullerton in round one. Cleveland then lost by fall to Thomas Toline of GACC in 0:57. He rebounded with a 13-0 major decision win over James Luoma of Pender in round three, but lost again by fall to Cameron Fisher of Ravenna in 0:53 during round four.

Additional Summerland competitors included:

• 113 pounds: Lane Sanne finished without placing. He lost by fall to Tate Wood of Fullerton in 1:52 during the quarterfinal. In consolation round one, he received a bye but was defeated by Abraham Lopez of GACC by fall in 0:49 during the consolation semifinal.

• 126 pounds: Ayden Bazelman finished without placing. He lost by fall to Kolt Smith of Pender in 1:28 during the quarterfinal and was eliminated after losing by fall to Levi Rutten of Riverside in 4:11 during consolation round 1.

• 138 pounds: Steven Mast finished without placing. He lost by fall to Wyatt Fauss of Twin Loup in 5:04 during championship round one and was later defeated by Pedro Gonzalez of Wakefield by a 6-2 decision in consolation round one.

• 215 pounds: Jacob Schlecht finished without placing but contributed three team points. He lost by fall to Aiden Gallop of Lutheran High Northeast in 0:38 during the quarterfinal. Schlecht then pinned Brody Schmeits of Riverside in 2:18 during consolation round one, but was eliminated after a 0:44 fall to Parker Aaberg of Fullerton in the consolation semifinal.