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G.I. grapplers motivated for NSWCA All-Star Classic
PREP WRESTLING
By Terry Douglass
terry.douglass@theindependent.com
Redemption equals motivation for two city wrestlers who will be closing out their high school careers on the mat this weekend.
Grand Island Senior High’s Riley Allen and Grand Island Northwest’s Kevin Roehrich will be among the nine area grapplers competing in Saturday’s Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic. Allen (157 pounds) has been named to the East roster, while Roehrich (285) will be on the West squad for the all-star dual.
Roehrich is coming off a 34-3 senior season and a fifth-place medal in the Class B state tournament at Omaha. However, the Vikings’ standout admits he had much higher expectations for himself.
Roehrich won his first two matches at state to reach the semifinals, but suffered a 7-2 loss to Matt Greve of Waverly. He said he had a difficult time bouncing back from the disappointment of not making the finals, losing his first consolation match the following day before rebounding with a win to place fifth.
“I was pretty disappointed with my performance at state,” Roehrich said. “I was happy to medal, but on the other side of it, I was one win away from being in the state finals match and that’s going to be in the back of my head forever.
“I’m always thinking about what I could’ve done differently.”
While he can’t change the past, Roehrich is hopeful for a rematch with Greve in the All-Star Classic.
“I might have a chance for some revenge,” Roehrich said. “Nothing tastes better than that, so I’m excited.
“A win here might help make up for that semifinal loss, at least a little bit.”
Allen also knows about dealing with heartbreak at the state tournament. Despite wrestling with a boxer’s fracture in his hand and needing a faceguard to protect his broken nose, Allen was rated No. 1 in the state at 152 and advanced to the championship match.
Even though Allen got the pleasure of celebrating Grand Island’s first Class A state team wrestling title since 1973, Allen’s season ended with a 6-3 loss to Nick Rimpley of Kearney in the state finals, leaving him with a runner-up medal and a 40-2 record.
While Allen won’t have an opportunity for revenge against the competitor who derailed his dreams of gold medal, the Islander graduate said he’s just happy to be healthy again. On Saturday, he’ll be able to wrestle with two healthy hands and with no faceguard obstructing his view.
“I’m a little bit out of shape, but I feel healthy, so that’s the good thing,” Allen said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to give it a better shot Saturday than I was able to give it in state.”
Allen said it’s an honor to be selected for the All-Star Classic and he plans to give it his all.
“I look at every match the same way, whether it’s an exhibition or for the state championship,” Allen said. “I just want to wrestle hard and stay focused.”
Allen plans to wrestle for Nebraska-Kearney next season. For that reason, he said he won’t put too much importance on Saturday’s end results.
“I don’t really look at it as capping off my career — my career is not over, but it would be nice to win going out as a high school wrestler,” Allen said. “I’m always looking to win. I hate losing.”
Roehrich is headed to Doane College to play football this fall, but said his wrestling career might not be finished yet, either. He said the Tigers are planning to add a wrestling program next year, so he might revisit the situation then.
“I talked to the football coaches and they said they wouldn’t have a problem with me trying two sports,” Roehrich said. “I hope it works out.”
Seven area wrestlers will join Roehrich on the West squad. They include Trent Nekoliczak (125) of Greeley-Wolbach/Cedar Rapids, Logan Williams (125) of Central City, Alex Rostvet (141) of Adams Central, Brandon Starkey (149) of St. Paul, Nick Lonowski (157) of Adams Central and Darcy Huffman (174) of Burwell/Sargent.
Northwest’s Brian Sybrandts will be an assistant coach for the West.
On the East team, Allen will be a teammate of High Plains’ Tanner Kuhn (141).
NSWCA All-Star Classic
At Beatrice119—Mitch Randel, Beatrice.
EAST ROSTER
125—Robbie Johnson, Stanton; Westley Negley, Lincoln Christian.
133—Ben Reel, Norris; Austin Coufal, Howells.
141—Tanner Kuhn, High Plains; Jerry Rowden, Beatrice.
149—Jacob Manley, Syracuse; Kiefer Coatney, Auburn.
157—Riley Allen, Grand Island; Seth Kubik, Auburn.
165—Mark Fiala, Seward; Colby Legate, Neligh-Oakdale.
174—Chris Pokorny, David City; Nathan Kimball, Syracuse.
185—Nick Sims, Blair; Keith Chvatal, Wahoo Neumann.
197—Nathan Wragge, Plainview.
215—Paul Schlecht, Scribner-Snyder; Colton Harper, Arlington.
285—Matt Greve, Waverly; John Wonka, Wahoo Neumann.
Co-head coaches—Chad Fuller, Syracuse; Justin McDufee, Scribner-Snyder.
Assistant coaches—Michael Jernigan, Omaha Westside; Tyler Hodges, Oakland-Craig.
WEST ROSTER
119—Dusty Stodola, Schuyler; Sergio Lara, Holdrege.
125—Trent Nekoliczak, Greeley-Wolbach/Cedar Rapids; Logan Williams, Central City.
133—Porter Groves, Lincoln Northeast.
141—Caleb Hoyt, Ainsworth; Alex Rostvet, Adams Central.
149—Brandon Starkey, St. Paul; Paul Dolezal, Norfolk.
157—Nick Lonowski, Adams Central; Noah Dorcey, York.
165—Michael Klinginsmith, Kearney Catholic; Vincent Chancellor, Medicine Valley.
174—Darcy Huffman, Burwell/Sargent; Tracer Hudson, Morrill.
185—Morgan Denson, Millard South; Terry Laursen, O’Neill.
197—Brandon Uehling, Norfolk; D.J. Dubas, Lincoln Pius X
215—Ty Branz, York; Dillon Mortensen, Medicine Valley.
285—Kevin Roehrich, Grand Island Northwest; Zac Christo, Millard South.
Co-head coaches—Tony Brown, Norfolk; Craig Mauler, Sargent/Burwell.
Assistant coaches—Todd Hoyt, Anselmo-Merna; Brian Sybrandts, Grand Island Northwest.
Grand Island Senior High’s Riley Allen and Grand Island Northwest’s Kevin Roehrich will be among the nine area grapplers competing in Saturday’s Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic. Allen (157 pounds) has been named to the East roster, while Roehrich (285) will be on the West squad for the all-star dual.
Roehrich is coming off a 34-3 senior season and a fifth-place medal in the Class B state tournament at Omaha. However, the Vikings’ standout admits he had much higher expectations for himself.
Roehrich won his first two matches at state to reach the semifinals, but suffered a 7-2 loss to Matt Greve of Waverly. He said he had a difficult time bouncing back from the disappointment of not making the finals, losing his first consolation match the following day before rebounding with a win to place fifth.
“I was pretty disappointed with my performance at state,” Roehrich said. “I was happy to medal, but on the other side of it, I was one win away from being in the state finals match and that’s going to be in the back of my head forever.
“I’m always thinking about what I could’ve done differently.”
While he can’t change the past, Roehrich is hopeful for a rematch with Greve in the All-Star Classic.
“I might have a chance for some revenge,” Roehrich said. “Nothing tastes better than that, so I’m excited.
“A win here might help make up for that semifinal loss, at least a little bit.”
Allen also knows about dealing with heartbreak at the state tournament. Despite wrestling with a boxer’s fracture in his hand and needing a faceguard to protect his broken nose, Allen was rated No. 1 in the state at 152 and advanced to the championship match.
Even though Allen got the pleasure of celebrating Grand Island’s first Class A state team wrestling title since 1973, Allen’s season ended with a 6-3 loss to Nick Rimpley of Kearney in the state finals, leaving him with a runner-up medal and a 40-2 record.
While Allen won’t have an opportunity for revenge against the competitor who derailed his dreams of gold medal, the Islander graduate said he’s just happy to be healthy again. On Saturday, he’ll be able to wrestle with two healthy hands and with no faceguard obstructing his view.
“I’m a little bit out of shape, but I feel healthy, so that’s the good thing,” Allen said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to give it a better shot Saturday than I was able to give it in state.”
Allen said it’s an honor to be selected for the All-Star Classic and he plans to give it his all.
“I look at every match the same way, whether it’s an exhibition or for the state championship,” Allen said. “I just want to wrestle hard and stay focused.”
Allen plans to wrestle for Nebraska-Kearney next season. For that reason, he said he won’t put too much importance on Saturday’s end results.
“I don’t really look at it as capping off my career — my career is not over, but it would be nice to win going out as a high school wrestler,” Allen said. “I’m always looking to win. I hate losing.”
Roehrich is headed to Doane College to play football this fall, but said his wrestling career might not be finished yet, either. He said the Tigers are planning to add a wrestling program next year, so he might revisit the situation then.
“I talked to the football coaches and they said they wouldn’t have a problem with me trying two sports,” Roehrich said. “I hope it works out.”
Seven area wrestlers will join Roehrich on the West squad. They include Trent Nekoliczak (125) of Greeley-Wolbach/Cedar Rapids, Logan Williams (125) of Central City, Alex Rostvet (141) of Adams Central, Brandon Starkey (149) of St. Paul, Nick Lonowski (157) of Adams Central and Darcy Huffman (174) of Burwell/Sargent.
Northwest’s Brian Sybrandts will be an assistant coach for the West.
On the East team, Allen will be a teammate of High Plains’ Tanner Kuhn (141).
NSWCA All-Star Classic
At Beatrice119—Mitch Randel, Beatrice.
EAST ROSTER
125—Robbie Johnson, Stanton; Westley Negley, Lincoln Christian.
133—Ben Reel, Norris; Austin Coufal, Howells.
141—Tanner Kuhn, High Plains; Jerry Rowden, Beatrice.
149—Jacob Manley, Syracuse; Kiefer Coatney, Auburn.
157—Riley Allen, Grand Island; Seth Kubik, Auburn.
165—Mark Fiala, Seward; Colby Legate, Neligh-Oakdale.
174—Chris Pokorny, David City; Nathan Kimball, Syracuse.
185—Nick Sims, Blair; Keith Chvatal, Wahoo Neumann.
197—Nathan Wragge, Plainview.
215—Paul Schlecht, Scribner-Snyder; Colton Harper, Arlington.
285—Matt Greve, Waverly; John Wonka, Wahoo Neumann.
Co-head coaches—Chad Fuller, Syracuse; Justin McDufee, Scribner-Snyder.
Assistant coaches—Michael Jernigan, Omaha Westside; Tyler Hodges, Oakland-Craig.
WEST ROSTER
119—Dusty Stodola, Schuyler; Sergio Lara, Holdrege.
125—Trent Nekoliczak, Greeley-Wolbach/Cedar Rapids; Logan Williams, Central City.
133—Porter Groves, Lincoln Northeast.
141—Caleb Hoyt, Ainsworth; Alex Rostvet, Adams Central.
149—Brandon Starkey, St. Paul; Paul Dolezal, Norfolk.
157—Nick Lonowski, Adams Central; Noah Dorcey, York.
165—Michael Klinginsmith, Kearney Catholic; Vincent Chancellor, Medicine Valley.
174—Darcy Huffman, Burwell/Sargent; Tracer Hudson, Morrill.
185—Morgan Denson, Millard South; Terry Laursen, O’Neill.
197—Brandon Uehling, Norfolk; D.J. Dubas, Lincoln Pius X
215—Ty Branz, York; Dillon Mortensen, Medicine Valley.
285—Kevin Roehrich, Grand Island Northwest; Zac Christo, Millard South.
Co-head coaches—Tony Brown, Norfolk; Craig Mauler, Sargent/Burwell.
Assistant coaches—Todd Hoyt, Anselmo-Merna; Brian Sybrandts, Grand Island Northwest.
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