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Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
SHS senior Tanner Wintholz proudly displays his third-place medal he earned Saturday at the Class B wrestling finals in Omaha. After losing in the opening round to eventual state champion Eric Engler, Wintholz was forced to win five bouts in a row in order to claim the medal, which, according to Raiders coach John Ganser, is a first in the program’s history.
OMAHA — Taking the toughest road, Sidney High School senior 195-pound wrestler Tanner Wintholz emerged Saturday morning with a third-place medal at the Class B state finals inside Omaha’s CenturyLink Center.
After losing 4-1 in the opening round to eventual Class B champion, Eric Engler of Beatrice, Wintholz needed to win five consecutive bouts in the wrestlebacks to earn his spot on the podium.
“He took the difficult route,” Red Raiders coach John Ganser said. “He came all the way back after losing to the state champion on a four-point move.”
According to Ganser, it’s the first time in SHS history a wrestler has won third place at state after losing his first-round bout.
Wintholz pinned Alliance’s Kyson Schnell on Friday night, then won his consolation semifinal bout Saturday morning by blanking Gus Husen of Syracuse, 6-0.
He followed that effort by pinning Nebraska City’s Keyes Nelson midway through the second period of the third-place bout (2:48).
“The thing that stood out all weekend from Tanner was his ability to re-shoot,” Ganser said. “The other kid would make a move and get a takedown, and Tanner would get out of it and become very aggressive and usually got the pin.”
Three of Wintholz’s wins came via the pin.
Wintholz’s medal caps a 24-4 season for the Chadron State College-bound Red Raider, who will play football.
Ganser also commented on the efforts of 132-pound sophomore Michael Muggli, who lost two consecutive bouts after winning his opener Thursday, and senior Scott Kelsey, who was eliminated in two rounds.
“Muggli won big and his losses were to the third- and fifth-place finishers,” Ganser said. “One of those losses was in overtime. He was right in the mix all along. As for Kelsey, it was Scott’s first trip to the state finals, but he still had 26 wins and an outstanding season.”
Ganser said the Raiders almost had a full busload making the trip to state, but several just got nipped in the wrestleback semifinals in the District two weekends back at SHS.
The Raiders coach said his team, while missing the likes of Wintholz and Kelsey, will build around Muggli and 152-pound Tanner Wernsman next season.
“They will be our two leaders,” Ganser said. “We have some other ability that we hope will improved before next season takes up.”
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