Nebraska's best high school wrestlers: Meet the state's top lightweights

State medals appearances in the state title match, gold medals and multiple-time gold medalists make up SBLive’s list of the best lightweight wrestlers in Nebraska (106-132 pounds). 

The list is in alphabetical order and includes, in most cases, comments from the player’s coach. If you feel that we’ve overlooked someone, email us at nate@scorebooklive.com. 

Ross Bratetic – Omaha Bryan, Senior 132 pounds 

Wrestlers who find a way to pile up 50 wins before the state tournament are a rare breed. Bratetic is one of those, capturing exactly 50 with five tournament titles before suffering a loss in the district title match. It was just his second loss of the season following a defeat in the semifinals of the first tournament of the year. In between, he won 47 in a row and earned six tournament gold medals.

“Ross is the standard. He is the epitome of Bryan Wrestling,” coach Jason Susnjar said. “He has made himself great. It didn't always come easy, but he earned it.”

Cole Caniglia – Creighton Prep, Freshman, 106 pounds

Caniglia has been nearly perfect this year, losing just twice in 42 matches before going to state as a district champion. And while he’s suffered two losses, neither of the losses were to wrestlers from Nebraska. That doesn’t bode well for his competitors in Omaha. Caniglia has the chance to begin building his legacy as a multiple-time state champion if he can continue an already spectacular start.

“Cole is also off to a great start academically with a GPA above 3.5,” Prep coach Andrew Fisher said. “He is already leading the team by example and has a great attitude and effort in practice.”

Cadyn Cole – Bennington, Senior, 113 pounds

Coyle started his career with a trip to state, wrestled for a title in 2022 then won the Class B 113-pound championship as a junior. He went through his senior year 41-3 before Omaha, won five tournaments and was only forced into four six-minute matches.

Brenyn Delano – Columbus, Senior

Delano is looking to finish off his career with a title to go with 150 career wins and a Columbus-record 501 career takedowns. He’s already a four-time state qualifier and three-time state medalist.

“His success is not really a surprise. He is a full-time wrestler who trains year round,” Discoverers coach Adam Keiswetter said. “He has put in an incredible amount of work to get where he is, and he is on track to head into Omaha fully prepared to win his fourth state medal and hopefully it's a gold one. He’s just an overall great kid who carries himself with respect and confidence.”

Grady Dempcy – Sutherland, Sophomore, 113 pounds

Dempcy had quite the start to his varsity career, winning 37 of 42 matches and three in Omaha before suffering a tough 3-2 loss in the Class D 106-pound title match. He scored a reversal with nine seconds left in the match but couldn’t get a turn and took a loss against a 42-3 wrestler who was also a senior. This year, Dempcy is the experienced guy looking to finish off a season with gold. Dempcy went to state 38-3 and six tournament championships.

Ethan Elliott – Hershey, Junior, 132 pounds

Elliott is trending toward winning a state title. As a freshman, he made the semifinals, suffered a 7-2 loss but came back for third with two more wins. The next year, he won a major in the semis but lost 4-2 in the final. In his third try at state, Elliott will be in Omaha at 31-1 and coming off his only loss of the season. Each of the past two years, his only loss at state has been Crofton/Bloomfield’s Robbie Fisher.

Robbie Fisher – Crofton/Bloomfield, 126 pounds

Fisher is aiming to be a three-time state championship this season and, interestingly enough, complete another title run with just one loss on his record. The Crofton/Bloomfield senior lost his third match of the year as a sophomore to an eventual state runner-up and won the rest. As a junior, he lost his seventh match of the year then won the rest. That opponent was a Class A runner-up. This year, it wasn’t until late January that he suffered a loss, and that opponent is also expected to contend for a state title after winning his district championship. Fisher has over 130 wins in the last three seasons.

Braxton Hammond – Southern Valley, Senior, 120 pounds

Hammond was fueled by a heartbreak-round loss in the district tournament as a freshman and used the motivation to come back as a sophomore, go 40-7 and win a Class D 106-pound championship. He’s facing a similar situation as a senior. Hammond lost in the semifinals last winter, came back for a bronze medal and then went to Omaha this year with a 46-2 record and as a district champion.

Chance Houser – Scottsbluff, Senior, 126 pounds

Houser is seeking his third straight state title match in Omaha after dropping the last two gold medals. He came back from a 2022 championship match loss with an abbreviated season but an 18-2 mark then a major decision and two close wins before dropping the 120-pound title 9-0 at state. Another bounce back season made Houser 30-3 this year three tournament titles.

“Chance is a competitor at all things and refuses to lose or give when the going gets tough,” Scottsbluff coach Dustin Stodola said. “He has been perfecting his wrestling skills from a young age and continues to be a student of the game trying to improve in all aspects of the sport. He constantly asks questions about different situations he has been in throughout the season, so if it arises again he is mentally and physically prepared to win the situation.

Hudson Loges – Blair, Junior, 106 pounds

Loges was the 106-pound Class B champion last year and a 2022 third-place medalist who is nationally ranked. Unfortunately, his junior year was cut short by injury. He’ll be back next year looking to become a multi-time champ.

Scottie Meier Jr. – Lincoln East, Junior, 132 pounds

Meier was a victim of the dreaded heartbreak round loss at state as a freshman and came up one match short of the medal round. Yet, while it was disappointing, it looks like a dream deferred more than denied.

Meier went on to win 46 matches last year as a sophomore and was the Class A fourth-place medalist. He then took the frustration from losing in the semifinals and turned it into 47 wins this winter.

“Scottie is probably one of the better scramblers that I have coached,” East coach Keenan McCurdy said. “He puts a ton of mat time in during the off-season and it pays off because he has such an incredible feel for the sport. He is really tough on top and nearly impossible to ride.”

Kiernan Mink – Millard South, Freshman, 120 pounds

Mink has arrived on the varsity wrestling scene in dominant fashion, notching 31 wins before the state tournament. He won the district title at 120 pounds for his third tournament title of the season. That doesn’t sound like many, but he won the prestigious Council Bluffs Wrestling Classic in December against national opponents and has also wrestled on the national stage in Kansas City and Wisconsin.

Mink grew up around greatness and has been looking forward to the opportunity to make his own legacy. His older brother Korbin was a four-time state champion at Skutt Catholic.

Kiernan is a quarter of the way there as the reigning Class A champion at 106 pounds.

“What makes Kiernan special is his work ethic on and off the mats. He carries just over a 3.6 GPA throughout his time at Millard South, and he was a state champion as a freshman,” Millard South coach Nate Olson said. “Kiernan doesn't back down from a challenge, and he loves tough wrestling.”

Mohamed Mohamed – Omaha Bryan, Junior, 106 pounds

Mohamed has come quite a way despite getting a late start in the sport. He spent all of his freshman year on junior varsity and put together a mark of 17-6. When Mohamed had his first shot at varsity last season, he won 32 matches but lost in the heartbreak round of the district tournament and came up short of state. With that disappointment providing motivation, Mohamed went to state 48-4, a district champion and one of the favorites at 106 pounds.

“Mohamed started in ninth grade and has just really just been a constant workhorse in the room,” coach Jason Susnjar said.

Daylen Naylor – Lexington, Junior, 126 pounds

The last thing the rest of the field wanted was a motivated Daylen Naylor when he arrived at the state tournament. But that’s what the rest of the Class B 126-pound bracket had to deal with following a loss for Naylor in the district title. Before that, the Lexington junior was 32-3 with four tournament golds and seven tournament title matches. This season is his third trip to state. He was a runner-up a year ago.

Mason Nitz – Elkhorn Valley, Junior, 132 pounds

Nitz was on the edge of the promised land last year when he reached the Class D state semifinals in his second trip to Omaha. A penalty point in the final seconds of the match prevented him from moving on and wrestling for a title. Rather than mope, Nitz moved on and pinned his next two opponents for third. He’ll be back at state this year looking for more following a 35-4 season, a district title and six tournament gold medals.

Zaiyahn Ornelas – Wilber-Clatonia, Sophomore, 113 pounds

A wrestler’s record doesn’t always tell the story. Depending on the schedule, and the competition that schedule creates, some wrestlers enjoy the benefit of an inflated number that doesn’t tell the whole story. That’s not the case for Ornelas.

Although Wilber-Clatonia is a Class C school that rarely locks horns with teams from the Metro, Ornelas has a record built on quantity and quality. He heads to state as the 113-pound district champion and has a 22-0 record that includes a win over another wrestler on this list (Abdi Unle) who already has 50 wins. Plus, he’s a defending state champ, has yet to lose a high school match and has a decorated youth career that has proven itself to be anything but a fluke in varsity competition.

“Z is an outstanding athlete. He puts in a ton of time in the offseason. He has won several out-of-season tournaments including Northern Plains, Southern Plains and more,” Wilber-Clatonia coach James Bates said. “He has been an All-American at Fargo and several other national meets. He has also been invited to participate in the Future Olympian Program.”

Brody Pitner – North Platte, Junior, 106 pounds

Pitner reached state his first two seasons and has taken an extra step each time, progressing toward what could be a medal this year. As a freshman, he made it to Omaha, won his first match but then lost two in a row. In his sophomore year, Pitner lost in the quarterfinals, bounced back with a win but then lost in the heartbreak round.

Now a junior, Pitner will go back to Omaha as a district runner-up with a record of 35-4.

“Brody has been involved with wrestling for a long time and is very technically sound,” North Platte coach Dale Hall said. “He has made it to the state tournament the past couple of years at 106 but was always light for the weight class. This year, Brody is having to drop a little weight and has a lot more confidence when he steps on the mat. I believe he has gained more confidence by being very active in the offseason and the success he has had throughout this year.”

Rudy Rodriguez – Grand Island, Sophomore, 113 pounds

Rodriguez didn’t make the varsity lineup as a freshman. A year later, he’s had a season with a win at the Kearney Invite, fourth at the Council Bluffs Classic and 29 wins before qualifying for state. He has two wins over another guy on this list, Lincoln East junior Leland Sindel.

“Rudy is a tremendous worker. He is tough, gritty and loves to compete,” Grand Island coach Joe Morrison said. “Rudy has made big strides since he started wrestling in middle school. He has great balance and mat-sense. He continues to improve, and we are excited about where he will take his wrestling career.”

Presden Sanchez – Creigton Prep, Senior 120 pounds

Last year’s Class A 113-pound champ hasn’t had the easiest of roads to try and make it two in a row. He’s battled injuries throughout the season that kept him off the mat until January and limited his match total to just 16. But while he’s dealt with physical diversity, Sanchez has yet to be beaten. He dominated at the district tournament and took a 16-0 record to Omaha after winning the 120-pound bracket. His season also included winning the metro tournament and just five matches out of the 16 that went a full six minutes.

Sanchez is a Maryland wrestling commit who won 40 matches last year during a fully healthy season that ended with the state title.

“He is also a great student with a GPA over 4.0 and he’s a member of my AP Calculus A/B course,” Prep coach Andrew Fisher said. “He is one of the captains of the team and works his tail off in the wrestling room.”

Sebastian Sauceda – Shelton, Senior, 113 pounds

Sauceda dropped an 8-4 decision in the 2022 state semifinals and hasn’t lost since. The Shelton senior is a back-to-back champion potentially on his way to becoming a three-in-a-row champion who could end his varsity career with 71 wins in a row. He has yet to lose as a senior and went to Omaha 29-0 after going 36-0 as a junior.

Joshua Shaner – Lincoln East, Senior, 126 pounds

Shaner has struggled through an injury and the pain plus the treatment routine that comes with it during a tumultuous senior year. But while it hasn’t always been easy, he went to state with wins in all 23 of his matches working for another shot at a state title.

Shaner was the 126-pound Class A runner-up as a junior and is a four-time state qualifier.

“Josh is an incredibly explosive wrestler. He utilizes his speed and strength to his advantage, but he also loves learning and perfecting wrestling technique,” Spartans coach Keenan McCurdy said. “He has had to battle through a difficult shoulder injury this season, and he has shown his mental toughness in doing so. Josh is a very thoughtful person, which helps him analyze his strengths and weaknesses and work on them.”

Braxton Siebrandt – Wisner-Pilger, Senior, 132 pounds

Siebrandt won’t turn back when adversity rears its ugly head. The Wisner-Pilger senior tore the UCL in his elbow just before the district tournament as a sophomore and lost his goal to be a four-time state champion. Rather than pout, he came back the last year and made a run to the title match. Again, it wasn’t to be. Siebrandt fell behind 4-0 and lost 4-3. Still determined to stand atop the podium, Siebrandt made it happen as a junior when he won 126 pounds with a 43-2 record. He’s 45-1 ahead of the state tournament and has just the one loss against another wrestler on this list – Mason Nitz of Elkhorn Valley.

“He has been on the same mission this year - defend his state title, and he has put himself in a position to do exactly that,” Wisner-Pilger coach Craig Dennis said. “We are going to take it match by match down in Omaha and not focus on the end result until the time arrives. He is going to be greatly missed by our program, but we are darn proud of what he has accomplished and everything he has done for Wisner-Pilger Wrestling.”

Leland Sindel – Lincoln East, Sophomore, 113 pounds

Sindel has been a regular point-scorer for the Spartans each of the past two years after putting in the work mostly on junior varsity his freshman season. Although he had to wait his turn, Sindel went 29-3 while preparing to seize a varsity spot then took advantage when he was a regular in the lineup.

As a sophomore, he made it all the way to state and all the way to the semifinal round before suffering a 7-1 loss to Abdi Unle, another member of this list. This winter he sat at 24-6 as he headed to state. Although he’s one of the best, he might have also been one of the most motivated guys in Omaha. Sindel had yet to win a tournament prior to going to Omaha. Of his six losses, only three came to Nebraska wrestlers, one of whom is a back-to-back state champ.

“Leland is super slick on his feet, he likes to utilize elbow pulls and timing to disappear on his opponents,” East coach Keenan McCurdy said. “Leland is a very sharp student; he gets good grades and brings that same diligence to the practice room as he is an excellent technician.”

Cree Soe – Omaha Bryan, Senior, 126 pounds

Soe looks to peak at the right time and win his first state title after taking third place last year at 120 pounds. He won 35 matches as a sophomore and made it onto the state tournament bracket then won 49 times last year but was stopped in the semifinals by the eventual state runner-up in a close 8-7 defeat. Soe put together 46 wins this season before dropping an 8-4 decision in the district final and heading to downtown Omaha as a two-seed.

“Cree is a freak. He does what we call ‘Cree Soe things,’” Bryan coach Jason Susnjar said. He just has a unique way of doing things, but they work for Cree Soe.”

Ryan Stusse Jr. – Battle Creek, Junior, 120 pounds

Stusse has been set up for success for a long time and is starting to put that preparation into practice. His father is the former head coach at Pierce and the head club coach for Battle Creek for the past decade.

He’s taken that training and has either been in the state title match or one win away each of the past two years. He will wrestle in Omaha with a 38-4 record and looking to finally reach the summit for a 120-pound Class C state championship. His story in his junior year includes a championship at Logan View, a conference title and a district title. Since dropping the title match of the Norm Mandstedt Invite in early January, Stusse has won 18 in a row.

“Ryan is a great leader on our team; the kid is just tough as nails,” Battle Creek coach Cody Wintz said. “He was second as a freshman, third last year and has a goal of being a state champion this year.”

Khy’ree Thomas-Calloway – Omaha Bryan, Freshman, 113 pounds

Thomas-Calloway hasn’t hesitated to begin carving out a path for his future. The Bryan freshman went to state with 46 wins and had already wrestled 57 matches by the time he arrived in Omaha.

Mathematically, that obviously means 11 losses - a fairly high total compared to others on this list. But while there have been some uneven moments, the potential is obvious. He wouldn’t have won nearly 50 matches without a solid foundation to build on.

Thomas-Calloway’s 46 wins included three tournament titles and a district runner-up.

“Khy'ree had a phenomenal youth career and has really started to hone in on his craft,” Bears coach Jason Susnjar said. “He is wrestling up a weight and still is putting up huge numbers.”

Abdi Unle – Omaha Bryan, Sophomore, 113 pounds

Unle is one of several Bryan wrestlers that have made the Bears one of the storylines of the season. The Bryan junior went to Omaha with 50 wins already on his ledger, a district title and gold medals at four other tournaments. He had 44 wins a year ago when he made a run to the Class A 106-pound title match and came up short 13-8. As a freshman, he qualified for state, lost in the first round but then won three in a row to make the medal round.

“Abdi started in seventh grade, and wrestling is life for him,” Bryan coach Jason Susnjar said. “He is always watching (Flowrestling.com) or different videos to be the best he can be.”

Cole Welte – Skutt Catholic, Junior, 113 pounds

Welte had his first taste of the big stage last year when he made a run to the Class B state title match at 106 pounds. He came up short 5-0, but there was no shame in losing to a nationally ranked competitor. He’s come back for his junior year with wins in 28 of 32 matches before the state tournament. Welte won four tournaments before state and, other than Cadyn Coyle of Bennington has only been defeated by two out-of-state opponents.

Ayden Wintz – Battle Creek, Junior, 113 pounds

Much like his teammate Ryan Stusse, Wintz is a coach’s kid who has been around the sport since the time he could walk. Ayden’s father, Cody, leads the Battle Creek program. His experience and 24/7 exposure to wrestling have paid off in the form of two state medals and last year’s Class C 113-pound state championship. He has the chance to be a three-time champ starting with first becoming a back-to-back this winter. Wintz takes a 39-1 record to Omaha and has won 36 in a row.

“Both he and Stusse have been around the same weight their whole careers so they have benefitted from being practice partners through little kids wrestling and in high school,” Battle Creek coach and proud papa Cody said. “Ayden is an explosive athlete with exceptional balance and hips.”

--Nathan Charles | @SBLiveNeb