SUMNER – The Elwood and Overton wrestling teams braved the snowy roads, traveling to S-E-M for the 2010 Fort Kearny Conference wrestling tournament.

 The 10-team conference was filled with a variety of talent from all parts of central Nebraska.

 The Pirates and Eagles flexed their conference muscle well, placing in the top half of the team standings at the end of the day, with Overton taking fourth and Elwood fifth.

 At 103 pounds, Ethan Enochs of Overton is stating his case for the state tournament in a couple of weeks, winning the 103-pound championship. Enochs took the championship, by pinning Nick Johnson of Wilcox-Hildreth. Enochs is currently 12-5 overall on the year.

 At 112 pounds, Tanner Taubenheim of Amherst was the champion, after pinning Aaron Jones of Eustis-Farnam. Taubenheim looks to be a threat in class D at 112 pounds, as he improved his record to 30-2 overall.

 Elwood’s Walter Flint was runner-up Thursday at 119 pounds. Flint advanced to the championship after pinning Jason Holen of Loomis/Bertrand. Flint faced a tall order for the conference title, as he faced off with undefeated and defending state champion Justin Taubenheim of Amherst. Flint fell to Taubenheim by pin in the final, but Flint looks to be a strong candidate for state, moving to 18-10 on the year.

 Pirate Michael Daake did not have the easiest road on his way to the conference championship today. Daake’s first match was against state-ranked Lane Barry of Amherst. Daake pulled off the upset of the sixth-ranked Bronco by decision to advance. An Amherst fan was escorted out of the building after the Daake-Barry match for approaching and arguing with an official following the match.

 Daake faced Toby Thompson of Loomis/Bertrand in the championship match. Daake had lost earlier in the season to Thompson, but the Pirate got the best of Thompson, winning by decision to win the conference championship. Daake improved his record to 21-5 in his senior season, heading into the district tournament next week.

 Paul Martin of Overton fell one match short of a conference championship berth, as he fell to Alec Ibach in the semi-finals at 130 pounds. Martin however made it to the consolation finals, where he finished in third after winning by decision over Anthony Warta of Loomis/Bertrand. Martin is currently 13-17 overall heading to the district tournament.

 Will Rahjes took home fourth place at 135 pounds, after going through a brutal bracket, where all the wrestlers had single-digit losses on the season. Rahjes first faced off with Devyn Schaake of Amherst, who was 30-3 on the season. Schaake barely squeaked by Rahjes, winning by decision. Rahjes took on Justin Vojta of Loomis/Bertrand in the consolation finals, where Vojta defeated Rahjes by decision. The Pirate is currently 19-11 on the season.

 Thad Reiman went 0-2 on the day at 140 pounds and failed to place at the tournament. Reiman is 8-17 going into the district tournament.

 Michael Zern of Overton and Mitch Kubert of Elwood were both in the 145-pound bracket, where Kubert took the runner-up spot while Zern finshed fourth overall. Kubert took an overtime match from Calvin Frerichs of S-E-M before losing to Gavin Kenney of Amherst in the championship. Zern wrestled Frerichs in the consolation finals where Frerichs pinned Zern to take the bronze.

Trey Colburn of Overton has been fighting a bad shoulder all season, as he walked into a lion’s den full of quality wrestlers. Colburn’s opening match was against Dalton Meier of Elm Creek, who was currently ranked fourth in Class D. Meier made quick work of the injured Colburn, pinning him within 30 seconds of the first period. Colburn then had to face Justin Dahlgren of Loomis/Bertrand in the consolation finals. Dahlgren pinned Colburn to take third overall. Colburn is currently 4-8 on the season.

 Elwood’s Hunter Ertz and Overton’s Preston Meier were both in the 171-pound bracket, as they would meet later in the tournament. Ertz advance to the semi-finals after defeating Vade Jensen of Wilcox-Hildreth by decision in his first round match. Ertz fell in the semi-final match to Zach Burden of S-E-M in the final seconds of the third period. Meier lost his first round match to Spencer Trampe of Amherst by pin. Meier then took Jensen, where Meier got the pin to meet up with Ertz, after he pinned Nigel Forster of Loomis/Bertrand. Ertz got the win, pinning Meier and taking home the bronze medal. Ertz improves to 21-8 overall, while Meier is currently 20-11.

 Brandon Jerred of Overton was conference champion at 215 pounds, rolling through his competition. Jerred pinned his way to the championship, defeating David Brandt of Pleasanton and Shane Robbins of Eustis-Farnam to take the gold medal. This is Jerred’s second straight gold medal in the last two meets.

 Class D No.1 Amherst took home the FKC title, with 216.5 points, almost 100 more than the runner-up, host S-E-M who had 120.5. Overton took fourth with 81 team points, while Elwood took fifth with 75 points. Both teams prepare for districts as the Eagles and Pirates both travel to Amherst on Feb. 12 to find out what wrestlers will qualify for the state tournament.

• Elwood Pirates
• Elwood Wrestling
• Overton Eagles
• Overton Wrestling

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