Buffs and Falcons climb near top of Sutherland tourney

SUTHERLAND, Neb. — Class D top-ranked Sutherland hosted its wrestling tourney on Saturday where both Hitchcock County and Rawlins County (Kan.) placed top four among 25 teams.

The Rawlins Buffaloes were third with 113 points behind only champion Sutherland (200.5) while Mullen took second (122).

Hitchcock’s Falcons finished just below the Buffaloes in fourth, scoring 91 points. Pleasanton ‘s 82.5 completed the top five teams.

Wauneta-Palisade was 14th (35 points), Rawlins County’s girls 17th (32) and Dundy County-Stratton took 24th (13 points).

Rawlins County’s Drew Withington remained unbeaten at 12-0 with his 160-pound title.

A glance at all the Gazette-area top three placers at Sutherland.

Rawlins County

160 — Drew Withington (12-0) won the championship. Won by fall over Rhett McFadden (Sandhills-Thedford) 5-8 (Fall 1:01); won by fall over Matthew Phelps (NPSP) 9-5 (Fall 2:40); won by fall over Tanner O`Brien (Hitchcock County) 6-4 (Fall 3:20)

126 — Ryan Sramek (11-3 record) placed second and scored 20 points. He won by fall over Brock Burry (Bayard) 7-5 (Fall 1:07); won by fall over Keenan Jensen (Pleasanton) 6-4 (Fall 1:54); lost in 3:55 to Cauy Kohl, Sutherland, 3-0.

113 — Gus Hanson (10-4) placed second and scored 16 points.Won by fall over Nathaniel Barker (Bayard) 5-5 (Fall 1:26); won by decision over Blake Devitt (Hitchcock County) 6-3 (Dec 9-6); lost 9-3 final to Gatlin Krepela, Pleasanton (12-2).

285 — Preston Bearley (10-3) placed second and scored 18 points. Won by fall over Landon Nichols (NPSP) 11-8 (Fall 3:15); won by decision over JySeann Pugh (Pleasanton) 12-3 (Dec 4-2); lost 13-4 to Isaac Welch, Mullen (13-0).

Hitchcock County

160 — Tanner O’’Brien (6-4) placed second and scored 18 points. Won by fall over Kole Walz (Sutherland) 6-6 (Fall 0:30); won by decision over Kolton Kriha (Bayard) 9-3 (Dec 5-1); lost final to Withington in 3:20.

220 — Keegan Shuler (10-2) placed third and scored 18 points. Won by fall over Conner Finley (Atwood-Rawlins County) 5-6 (Fall 3:13); lost 8-4 semifinal to Gavin Anderson, Hyannis (11-2); won by fall over Tel Kvanvig (Mullen) 4-6 (Fall 2:55); won by fall over Samuel McMillan (Anselmo-Merna) 11-9 (Fall 0:30).

Wauneta-Palisade

170 pounds — Conner Bryner (13-4) won the championship. Won by fall over Klarissa Rinne (Dundy County-Stratton) 2-7 (Fall 2:53); won by fall over kolby Houchin (Bayard) 8-4 (Fall 3:05); won by fall over Sean Simonson (Mullen) 7-1 (Fall 3:03); won by fall over Trey Kirch (Garden County) 11-2 (Fall 2:59).

Rawlins County girls

114 — Kaleigh Mcfee (5-1) won the championship. Won by fall over Chloe Schaeffer (Sandhills Valley Girls) 3-9 (Fall 0:28); won by fall over Marianne Zuniga (Sandhills Valley Girls) 10-8 (Fall 1:30)

145 — Xavia Brenn (4-1) won the championship with three