Wrestlers qualify for national duals

Four members of the Sidney Wrestling Federation have earned a place in the Heartland USA Elementary National Folk Style Duals this weekend.

Cash Arensdorf, Chance Houser, Austin Munier and Brady Robb all qualified for the elementary school duals which are scheduled to take place this weekend at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Additionally, federation coach Steven Vach was selected as one of the coaches to serve at duals and will lead a team which includes Munier and Houser. Robb and Arensdorf will compete on another team.

"I'll be coaching a group with a lot of Western Nebraska kids including some from Gering and Scottsbluff and some from North Platte, too," said Vach.

The Sidney foursome earned their place at duals by virtue of their placing at the state championships at Grand Island three weeks ago. The wrestlers will be divided into teams based on where they finished at state. The first team includes state champions and the second team state runner-ups. At state, wrestlers could challenge higher finishers, and take their place on a higher team.

Hauser (55-pound class for 3rd- and 4th-graders) and Robb (112, 5th- and 6th-graders) will be competing on the first team. Arensdorf (130, 5th-6th) and Munier (65, 5th-6th) will be on the third team.

"Chance actually got second after winning the state tournament," Vach explained. "He got knocked down after being challenged by another wrestler. Munier ended up third, and the great thing about that is he took down a state champion and he's just a fifth grader."