LEXINGTON – The Lexington wrestling team had a chance last Friday to prove themselves worthy of competing for a state championship as they hosted a triangular against Gering and defending state champion Omaha Skutt Catholic.
The Minutemen had a chance to see what both teams were made of as Gering and Skutt dueled each other in the first match of the day. Skutt used six pins to take care of Gering 51-15.
The Minutemen stepped up to take on Gering in their first dual of the day. The Minutemen hoped that their wrestlers could wrestle just as good as when they upset Cozad a couple nights before.
Lexington struggle from the opening whistle, as Gering went on 34 point run before Lexington could score again, defeating the Minutemen 58-15.
Reece Ureste began the day for Lexington at 130 pounds, taking on Francisco Garcia. Garcia took control from the start with a quick takedown. Garcia nearly got the pin, receiving two back points and leading 4-0 after one period. The second period Garcia got a quick reversal and got the pin over Ureste 23 seconds into second period, as Gering went up 6-0.
At 135, Manuel Dominguez took on Dylan Wolf, who pinned Keith Jadlowski of Omaha Skutt previously. Dominguez lasted until the second  period, where Wolf got the pin at 1:38 mark. With the pin, Gering extended their lead to 12-0.
Rolando Gonzalez got the Minutemen back in the meet, as he defeated Steven Garcia 9-6 to bring Lexington with nine at 12-3.
Phillip Martinez of Gering made quick work of Jesus Guerrero at of Lexington at 152 pounds, by pinning him in the first period at 1:38.
At 160, Nery Cabrera was up next for the Minutemen, taking on Dustin Fuhrman. Nery got the early takedown and led Fuhrman by a 2-1 score. Cabrera extended the lead, getting an escape and another take down to lead 4-1 after two period. Fuhrman took down to start the thid period, where he got the quick reversal and ended pinning Cabera 39 seconds into the final period to put Gering ahead 30-3.
Jose Cohtero stepped up at 171 pounds, wrestling against Jessy Richard. Richard dominated the match from the beginning, not allowing Cohtero to score any points, shutting him out 10-0. Gering went up 34-3.
Jose Muniz was another victim to the Bulldogs, as he was pinned by Joey Munoz in the third period to extend the Gering lead to 40-3. The match was starting to get out of hand.
Carlos Guajardo took on Hayden Martinez at 215. Martinez made quick work of the Minuteman, pinning him at 1:17 of the first period.
Gering used seven pins in the first nine matches of the dual to take a commanding 46-3 lead going into the heavyweight match.
Alex Munoz got the next points for Lexington, as he went into overtime to defeat Tom Heimbouch 3-2 in the heavyweight division. Munoz got an escape in the first part of overtime, then had to keep Heimbouch from escaping in the second part of the first overtime to hang on for the win as Munoz lay on the mat exhausted after the match.
The little guys were up next, as Henry Espinoza got a 6-4 decision over Kyle Hemphill at 103 pounds. Espinoza trailed after the first period 4-2, but used a furious rally in the second period to take the lead for good.
Mauricio Calmo, celebrating a birthday Friday, wrestled at 112 against James Lopez. Lopez was ready to celebrate with him, as he led Calmo 2-0 after two periods. He finally got the best of Mauricio, pinning him at 5:48 to make the score 52-9.
Seth Kopf got a chance to wrestle in his first varsity meet of the year, by taking on Brad Lovesee. Kopf got a quick taste of varsity action as he was pinned in the first period.
Danny Ibarra was the last Lex wrestler to score during the dual, as he pinned Grant Rimington at 1:02 for Lex’s only pin of the evening.
The Minutemen took a short break before their they got a crack at the champs.
Omaha Skutt Catholic this season is riding a 12-year reign as state champions, and this season seems to be well on track for number 13.
The Skyhawks won their first two matches by decision and technical fall, before winning 11 of their last 12 matches by pin, blanking the Minutemen and shocking the crowd, winning 78-0.
The beginning  of the dual began at 135 pounds, with Manuel Dominguez facing Keith Jadlowski. Dominguez hung in well with the Skyhawk through the first period, trailing only 2-0. After Dominguez narrowed the margin with a quick escape, Jadlowski scored a near-fall and another takedown to make it tougher on Dominguez, who now was trailing 6-1. Jadlowski scored four more points, allowing Dominguez to escape, and took the 10-2 major decision.
Rolando Gonzalez looked to improve after his near loss to Gering the previous match. Andy Hollins used his quickness to take down Gonzalez several times throughout the match, and by the third period, sealed up the technical fall, scoring a takedown at the 5:01 mark. At that point, Skutt led the Minutemen 9-0 after two matches.
The 145 lb. was open for Lexington so Skutt scored a free six points, then it was time for more wrestling.
Jesus Guerrero faced off with Grant Randall at 152 pounds. Randall got a quick take down at the beginning and never backed down, getting a quick pin on Guerrero at 1:46.
Nery Cabrera at 160 pounds looked to get his first win of the day, taking on Eli Moseman. Cabrera survived the first period, but not before trailing by a 6-0 margin at the end of the period. Moseman finished off Cabrera by pinning him at the 3:24 mark. That made the score 27-0 Skyhawks.
At 171, Ryan Leonardo of Skutt made quick work of Jose Cohtero, pinning him in :56 seconds of the first period to make the dual score 33-0.
Mark Diaz saw the same fate, as he was pinned also in the first period by Kyle Pokorny at :57 seconds. That extended the Skyhawk lead to 39-0.
Jose Muniz lasted a little bit longer than his teammates, but still suffered a first round pin, losing to Alex Howard at the 1:22 mark. Skutt now was ahead 45-0. Would Lexington get a point to stop the shut out?
Alex Munoz, still spent after his overtime match with Gering, took on Jake Hasz at heavyweight.
Munoz was out of gas, lasting only 1:22 seconds before being pinned by Hasz. Skutt now led 51-0.
Henry Espinoza had a chance to get some points for the Minutemen, after his fiesty performance in his last match.
No one saw this coming.
JT Sloboth of Skutt, in the blink of an eye, took down Espinoza, and before anyone had a chance to say a word, the referee Dale Bear blew the whistle, at :12 seconds. Skutt led at that point 57-0.
Mauricio Calmo was still looking for that birthday win, taking on Thomas Gilman. Gilman spoiled the birthday boy’s chances, ending his night in :35 seconds to put Skutt even further ahead at 63-0.
Lexington’s closest chance of scoring points was at the 119 pound match, as Seth Kopf, who was wrestling in his first varsity dual, took Eric Moseman the distance, but Moseman got the best of Kopf, taking the match 3-2.
Kopf trailed the Skyhawk 2-0 at the end of the first period. During the second period, the crowd rose to its feet, as Kopf got the Skutt wrestler to his back, nearly pinning him and gaining two back points to tie it all up. Moseman got an escape at the end of the period to take the lead back at 3-2. Kopf started the third period in the down position, needing only an escape to stay in the match. Moseman muscled Kopf down to the mat the entire third period, holding on for the one point win.
As Kopf exited, the crowd rose to its feet and gave Kopf a standing ovation as the emotional Minuteman left the mat.
If there was any chance for Lexington to score, Danny Ibarra could do it at 125. Zach Nelson ended all hopes of that happening with a pin at 1:20 in the first period.
Reece Ureste was rested and ready after waiting the entire dual to get his shot. Ureste struggled as well, losing to Zach Nelson by pin at :44 seconds.
“We wrestled for the most part like we were intimidated by our opponents,” Head coach Ken VerMass Jr. said. “The experience that we got from wrestling these guys will pay dividends, especially for our young kids. They can see how good they need to be in order to be a championship team.”
Lexington prepares to host the John Higgins Inviational on Saturday, Jan. 23. The invite is set to begin at 9 a.m.

• Lexington Minutemen
• Lexington Wrestling

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