Eagles, 'Riders reach high Ravenna places

RAVENNA, Neb. — Some familar top Gazette-area wrestlers reached title maches at Friday’s Ravenna Invitational.

Junior Kaden Guerrero claimed second place at 138 pounds while leading the Southwest Roughriders to 65 points.

Guerrero pinned Minden’s Dawson Holsten with almost no time remaining (6:00) and then won a 9-5 decision over Central Valley’s Enrique Martinez.

Undefeated Evan Waddington of Wood River (6-0 record) pinned Guerrero in 3:25 for the championship.

Heayweight Anthony Starr and Joel Costello (106) captured consolation titles for the Roughriders.

Costello pinned three consecutive foes with Starr rising to a team-high four wins on the day.

Starr delivered four pins and none took longer than 1:47.

Both Starr and Guerrero reached last year’s state wrestling tournament.

Meanwhile, Southern Valley’s Chase Becker returned to start another strong season with his second-place finish at 160 pounds.

Becker scored three pins including a great semifinal battle against Southwest’s Ryan Pelt. He finally finished Van Pelt as only nine seconds remained in regulation.

He nearly claimed a title for Southern Valley, but Becker lost the tough 7-5 finale to Burwell’s Bode Jensen.

Burwell ruled the 18-team title race (197 points). Southern Valley totaled 47 points.