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Hitchcock wrestlers score two strong state wins
OMAHA, Neb. — Hitchcock County’s Remington Hodges delivered a little revenge for three area football schools during the Nebraska State Wrestling tournament Thursday.
Hodges trailed Burwell’s Jacob Busch into the third period of their 220-pound match at HCI Health Center.
Remember, Busch was a problem along with all Burwell Longhorns during their D-1 football finals run. They knocked out Hitchcock, Cambridge and Dundy County-Stratton in three consecutive contests.
Not this time.
Busch couldn’t break away from the barrage Hodges brought into their final two minutes Thursday afternoon.
Trailing 1-o on a reversal, Hodges suddenly rallied with takedowns and relentless power for one stunning 6-5 comeback win.
Hodges (36-10) advanced into the state quarterfinals while Burwell’s Busch (25-13) was pushed into first-round consolations today.
Another super late surge has been from Falcon teammate Blake Devitt. Despite a 17-23 record, Devitt earned his state spot with one great district meet.
On Thursday, he broke free from an early single-leg grab of East Butler’s Reece Kocian.
Devitt then dominated the remaining action to pin Kocian with one second left in their second period.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, their success didn’t extend into quarterfinal action.
Devitt dropped a 12-2 major decision to Twin Loup 45-match winner Nolan Osborn (45-16).
Hodges was oh-so-close to another victory, but RPAC rival Luke Howitt (34-4) scored one late reversal which broke their 1-1 deadlock.
Both Falcons will wrestle in consolations today along with Kaleb Christofferson (26-16) and Gavin Losey (14-27).
Christofferson lost his opening match at 113 to Axtell’s Jacob Fox (23-11) in a 4:09 pin.
Losey fell at the :56 mark to Burwell’s 120-punder Tate Phillips (33-4).