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ELM CREEK — The Hartington-Newcastle wrestling program had three Wildcats qualify for the 2026 NSAA State Boys Individual Wrestling Championships Feb. 19 -21 at the CHI Health Center in Omaha by placing in the top four at the Class D-2 District Meet held here on Feb. 14.
Grady Lammers (126) will be heading to Omaha for the second time in his career with a second-place finish in the district meet, Ty Opfer (157) and Kyptin Collier (215) made it with fourth-place finishes.
Plainview won the team title in the district meet with 160.5 points, Southern was second with 148.5 and Twin Loup was third with 115.
The Wildcats posted a score of 47 which put them in 11th in the team race. Lammers pinned his way to the finals before dropping a 10-5 decision to Beau Johnson of Plainview.
“Grady had a big win to get into the finals,” said Hartington-Newcastle coach Justin Bartling. “He has improved so much over the season, he could make some noise down there this weekend.”
Ty Opfer grabbed a spot in the van to Omaha at 157 pounds in his first-ever district meet.
“Ty was literally just 30 seconds away from getting to the finals,” said Bartling. “And after he lost he got back out there and won to qualify. I’m excited to see what he can get done down there in Omaha.”
Kyptin Collier advanced with his fourth-place finish. “Kyptin was also close to making the finals at districts,” said Bartling. “I really believe he can compete with anyone in his weight class. I look forward to seeing what he can get done in his first trip to the state tournament.”
Cris Kneifl won his second match at the district meet with a pin over Blake Teel of Bertrand.
The three Wildcat wrestlers will hit the mats at the CHI Health Center at 3 p.m. on Feb. 19.
NSAA CLASS D-2 DISTRICT BOYS INDIVIDUAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT
Team Results
Plainview 160.5; 2. Southern 148.5; 3. Twin Loup 115; 4. Elm Creek 114.5; 5. Ravenna 89; 6. GACC 89; 7. East Butler 75.5; 8. Arcadia/Loup City 65.5; 9. Bertrand 61.5; 10. Southern Vlly 58; 11. Hartington-Newcastle 47; 12. Sandy Creek 45; 13. Palmer 42.5; 14. Ainsworth 42; 15. Anselmo- Merna 39; 16. Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 36; 17. Kenesaw 25.5; 18. Meridian 21; 19. Hastings St. Cecilia 17.5; 20. Alma 19; 21. Axtell 17.5; 22. Lawrence-Nelson 6.5; 23. Ansley-Litchfld 2.
Hartington-Newcastle Individual Results
126 - Grady Lammers (2nd*) defeated Beau Grunterad (ELCR) by fall 2:44; defeated Dylan Wendell (BERT) by fall, 0:27; defeated Keidan Kocian (EABU) by fall, 2:22; was defeated by Beau Johnson (PLNV) by decision, 10-5.
132 - Logan Kneifl (0-2) was defeated by Drake Oleson (BERT) by fall, 0:20; was defeated by Dean Collins (SOVA) by major decision, 16-7.
157 - Ty Opfer (4th*) defeated Michael Kunasek by decision, 8-2; was defeated by Kolten Ideus (STHR) by decision 8-2; defeated Rhett Brown (BERT) by major decision, 10-2; was defeated by Logan Spotanski by decision 4-0.
175 - Cris Kneifl (1-2) was defeated by Jackson Gerdes (SAND) by fall, 0:50; defeated Blake Teel (BERT) by fall, 1:52; was defeated by Jack Kucera (RAV) by fall, 2:42.
215 - Kyptin Coller (4th *) defeated Erik Samuelson (PALM) by major decision, 19-5; was defeated by Blake Bottorf (TWLO) by fall, 3:50; defeated Luke Soucie (SAND) by fall 4:29; was defeated by Jaegar Frahm (PLV) by sudden victory, 4-1.
