COZAD- When it comes to the Lexington-Cozad rivalry, every game is crucial. Every game is highlighted on someone’s calendar as a critical spot during the season.
This definitely includes wrestling.
Lexington and Cozad have one of the fiercest rivalries in the state of Nebraska. You could say that this is the Nebraska-Oklahoma in the state it’s that serious.
This rivalry lived up to the hype Thursday night, as Cozad hosted the Minutemen in another chapter in its storied feud.
Both teams came into the dual with wrestlers that were able to make some noise and it could be heard from miles around this night.
With Cozad suffering from four open matches, the Minutemen were able to squeeze out a win on the road, taking out Cozad 42-34.
To open the dual, junior Kyle Carlson took to the mat, taking on Reece Ureste. Carlson made quick work as he got the pin over Ureste and Cozad took an early 6-0 lead.
A couple of open matches gave Lexington a 12-6 lead, with Derrick Kvasnicka stepping up at 140, to take on Manuel Dominguez, who had to step up in weight class due to an injury to senior Bill Reynoso.
Kvasnicka battled with Dominguez, but the Haymaker proved to be too quick and powerful for Lexington, getting the decision over Dominguez and turned the lead into ten points.
Sophomore Bernardo Revelo stepped up for his match, knowing his match was a pretty tall order, taking on ranked Rolando Gonzalez. Gonzalez used his strength and quickness to make quick work of Bernardo, getting the pin and bringing the dual closer at 10-6.
Mikey Becerra of Lexington got the win by default as he won his open match at 152. That gave Lexington the lead at 12-10.
Chris Dinges looked to get the ball rolling on his season tonight, taking on Jesus Guerrero at the 160 pound match. Much to the surprise of the Cozad crowd, Guerrero got the pin over Dinges to keep Cozad from closing in on the lead, as Lexington started to pull away, 18-10.
After another open match at 171, top-ranked Tanner Sturgeon walked on the mat calm, cool and collected in his match with Jonathan Alvilez. Alvilez looked at first to be a thorn in Sturgeon’s side, but one false move by the Lex wrestler proved costly as Sturgeon was able to use his strength to get the reversal and eventually pin Alvilez in the first period, capturing six points for Cozad. Sturgeon still remains undefeated on the season. Sturgeon’s win brought the score to 24-16.
At the 215-pound match, one of Lexington’s dark horses in Jose Muniz took on Daniel Chacon.
The first period was pretty slow for both wrestlers, struggling to get any points, but Muniz led 2-0 after the first. The second period proved to be much more exciting as both wrestlers traded escapes, then Muniz got a nother takedown before the end of the period to lead by three. The third period Muniz hung on to get the win, 7-4, keeping Lexington’s lead in check, 27-16.
At 285, the crowd erupted as one of their favorites, Pedro Garcia took to the mat with Alex Munoz.
The big boys looked like a couple of goliaths on the mat, after a few equipment delays on Lexington’s side, the match was in full swing.
Garcia got the upper hand, getting a quick take down in the first part of the second period, with Munoz not finding an answer. Eventually, Pedro caught Munoz off guard and eventually got the pin in the second period. As the referee blew the whistle, the crowd rose to their feet as Garcia hopped up, pumped up after the win, bringin Cozad within five points at 27-22.
Minuteman Henry Espinoza got his win, as Cozad opened at 103. The win put the Minutemen back ahead at 33-22.
Young freshman star Logan Hunke looked to set a tone early in his short wrestling career, taking on Mauricio Calmo in the 112 pound match.  Hunke was too quick for Calmo, as Hunke got the pin in the second period to bring the dual almost even at 33-28.
Seth Kopf opened at 119 to give Lexington six more points to make the score 39-28.
Caleb Lucero and Danny Ibarra stepped onto the mat for their 125-pound clash. The match proved to be the match of the night, as both wrestlers reversed each other several times, trading points back and forth.
Going into the third period, Lucero held a tight lead, but Ibarra got an escape to tie, with seconds remaining Lucero took Ibarra down to take the lead at 10-8. However the match was not over, as Ibarra reversed Lucero one last time, getting the reversal and was able to get Lucero on his back long enough for Ibarra to get three more back points as time expired. Ibarra shot up to his feet with arms raised in jubilation as Lucero laid on the mat in disappointment.
The win put the dual out of reach for Cozad, as Lexington led 42-28.
The final match of the night was at 130 pounds, as Colton Derr took on Mark Diaz. Derr bobbed and weaved for the first few seconds before taking down Diaz and before long, Derr got the pin to end the dual with Lexington on top 42-34.
“This was a dual that had some twists and turns,” Head coach Ken VerMaas Jr. said. “I thought our kids wrestled their hearts out in some tough matches. They are showing us that they are becoming  a better team.”
Cozad traveled to Minden for the Minden Invitational and will travel to Lexington to take part in the John Higgins Invitational, set to take place on Jan. 23. Lexington hosted Gering and defending Class B state champion Omaha Skutt Catholic in a triangular on Friday before hosting the Higgins Invite.

• Cozad Haymakers
• Cozad Wrestling
• Lexington Minutemen
• Lexington Wrestling

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