Trio of champs power Bison into top three at Valentine

McCook heavyweight Spencer Steinbeck

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

VALENTINE, Neb. — Heavyweight Spencer Steinbeck’s title-clinching pin secured a top three team finish for the McCook Bison wrestlers at Saturday’s Valentine Invitational.

The Bison outscored Cozad for third, 157.5-156, to avenge a 35-34 home dual loss vs. those Haymakers on Dec. 12.

“The guys were pretty excited about that,” coach Nick Umscheiid told KICX radio.

Steinbeck took first at heavyweight as did sophomore Tyce Hammerlun (120) and undefeated Tristan Campbell (144).

Steinbeck pinned a strong 10-2 foe from Gordon-Rushville for his title.

Hanmerlun (7-3) pinned a 9-2 final opponent while Campbell topped one high Kansas state medalist from last season.

Junior Trenton Raile continued surging into second place at 150 pounds while classmate Gabe Roberts was another Bison finalist at 190.

Team scores and all McCook Bison best wins during Saturday’s Valentine Invitational.

Top 10 teams of 14: 1. David City 181.5, 2. Winner, S.D., 173.5; 3. McCook 157.5, 4. Cozad 156, 5. Chadron 120.5, 6. Amherst 117.5, 7. Gordon-Rushville 106, 8. Gothenburg 105, 9. O’Neill 80.56, 10. Valentine 62.5.

120: Tyce Hammerlun (7-3 record) won the championship. He pinned M. Prue, Todd County, S.D., in :42; pinned G. Tobin, WIN, in 2:55; and pinned finalist J. Kearns (9-2), Gordon-Rushville in 5:02.

144: Tristan Campbell (12-0) won the championship. He won 15-0 tech fall over A. Marino, DC; pinned C. Wick, AMH, in 1:50; pinned M. Gilligan, GOTH, in 1:19; and won 8-5 over finalist R. Orel (13-4), WIN.

285: Spencer Steinbeck (8-2) won the championship. He pinned S. Smith, CHAD, in :21; pinned C. Brave, Todd County, in 1:35; and pinned finalist L. Tausan (10-2), Gordon-Rushville, in :18.

150: Trenton Raile (5-6) placed second. He won by forfeit over M. Lien, CHAD; won 17-8 over J. Graham, AMH; won 18-12 over T. Burdick (11-5), VAL; and was pinned by finalist J. Rerucha (10-2), DC, in 1:46.

190: Gabe Roberts (10-3) placed second. He won 7-0 over C. Scroggin, COZ; pinned L. Benedict, WIN, in 5:33; won 9-6 over G. Rice (12-5), Ord; and lost 19-3 to finalist K. Cihak-Brozik (9-5), WIN.

165: Kalen McCorkle (10-4) placed fourth. He pinned G. Small, DC, in 1:10; won 19-3 over B. Groene, GOTH.

106: John White (6-4) placed fifth. He won 18-2 tech fall over H. Oestreich, Todd County; pinned D. Brave, Todd County, in 1:28; pinned P. DeGroff, Ord, in 1:37; pinned L. Moore, Hershey, in 4:38.

215: Davien Hanson (3-4) pinned M. Wyatt, GOTH, in 3:39.