Bison seven healthy and aiming for high places

McCook freshman Canyon Hosick scored 32 points and allowed only one during his two subdistrict tournament wins on Friday at Lexington.

Courtesy photo

LEXINGTON, Neb. — Have no fear, Bison fans, all those medical forfeits do not mean a plague has hit McCook High’s wrestling team.

“Our guys are OK healthwise,” coach Nick Umscheid confirmed following Friday’s Class B subdistrict 4B tourney in Lexington. “We medically forfeited to ward against the possibility of injury. Several other wrestlers from other teams did the same thing.”

It was already mission accomplished for McCook as seven wrestlers moved within one stop of the Class B state tournament next week.

Seniors Talyn Campbell (120 pounds) and Tate Felber (152) dominated their weight classes while winning subdistrict titles.

Felber stuck Jack Meyers from team champion Broken Bow just 34 seconds into their second period.

He didn’t have to wrestle a final because Cozad’s Isaac White (28-5) medically forfeited.

McCook senior Alec Langan (220), sophomore Alex Anthony (160) and freshman Canyon Hosick (145) also “opted out” of their title matches since the top four placers all qualify for districts.

Senior heavyweight Reid Steinbeck (25-7) completes the Bison district qualifiers with his second-place finish on Friday.

“Our seven wrestlers that advanced competed well,” Umscheid observed.

Campbell crushed 31-8 Austin Munier of Sidney, needing only 73 seconds before finishing a semifinal pin.

T.C. did take on Lexington finalist Ivan Lazo (32-6), but Lazo forfeited after only 21 seconds.

“Talyn Campbell had an excellent day and really improved his position seeding wise for districts with wins over the Sidney kid and Lexington kid,” Umscheid said.

The B-4 district meet take place on Saturday at Gering High School.

Gering’s Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 1 among Class B teams, according to the latest Nebraska Wrestling Coaches Association ratings.

Top four district players qualify to compete at Class B state Feb. 19-20.

“Our district is by far the deepest and toughest to qualify out of and we are excited to see what we can do,” the coach proclaimed.

Bison “rookie” Beeby delivered a huge 7-2 win over Bow’s Wilson Cucul Tzin, who owns 34 wins this season (34-15).

Beeby (19-10) did challenge 35-3 Daven Naylor of Lexington, but Naylor pinned him midway through their second period (3:07).

Hosick only allowed ONE point all day as he tech falled two foes by a combined 32-1 score.

Anthony piled up 23 points during his one subdistrict win, 23-10, over Sidney’s Cuyer Glanz.

Steinbeck earned his district spot when he pinned 20-match winner Jaden Cervantes (20-13) of familiar Southwest Conference foe Cozad in 3:19.

Broken Bow powerhouse Sawyer Bumgarner (38-2) pinned Steinbeck during the 2:32 title match.

Watch for some rematches when these wrestlers join the B Subdistrict 4A top placers at Gering on Saturday.

“All seven of our wrestlers are in good position to qualify for the State tournament in Omaha, but they still have to perform and prove it,” Umscheid concluded.

In other words, Bison must bring an “edge” like Class C No. 1 Central City’s Bison brought to McCook last week during their 58-13 dual win.

McCook took six more wrestlers into subdistricts to gain experience.

Wyatt Felzien (106) and Wyatt Meyers (132) both earned eight varsity victories this season.

Layton Carpenter captured six wins at 182 with Teagan Jones (138), Keegan Rice (170) and Jose Campos (195) also scoring their first varsity ‘Ws’.

Senior Matt Herron finished his career on Saturday at subdistrict.