Nebraska's best high school wrestlers: Meet the state’s top boys heavyweights

The best wrestlers in Nebraska at 175 pounds and heavier are quite the sight to behold. Don’t let their size fool you — the best in the state have athleticism, speed and, of course, power. 

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 nate@scorebooklive.com. 

Wyatt Anderson, Amherst Senior, Heavyweight

Anderson was limited mostly to a role as an interested observer who had to wait his turn as a freshman. He had just nine matches his rookie campaign but showed it wouldn’t be long before he’d be making his own contributions for the Broncos. Those included 35 wins as a sophomore, 37 as a junior with a state medal and 39 more this past winter and another piece of state hardware. A year after he lost in the first round and had to win three in a row to make the medal round, Anderson made a run to the semifinals where he lost a close 4-1 decision to the eventual state champ. Although that was a disappointment, Anderson came back for two more wins and ended his high school career with a victory. His bronze from this year followed a sixth-place state medal last year.

Joe Andreasen, Lincoln Pius X Junior, 175 pounds

Andreasen began to show his potential for the state medal stand as a freshman when he went 27-8, made it state and came one win short of earning hardware. But as a sophomore, he missed more than two weeks of action and stumbled to back-to-back losses in the district tournament. Andreasen won his first match by pin but then lost 7-5 and 3-2 and saw his season come short of Omaha. Using that as motivation in the offseason, and in training once he was back in the wrestling room, Andreasen’s junior year included four tournament titles and six tournament title matches. It all came together in Omaha and ended with a dramatic 3-2 win earned on a takedown with 24 seconds left in the match.

Sam Andres, Lincoln Pius X Senior, 190 pounds

Andres is a three-time state medalist who is also a four-time state qualifier and two-time state semifinalist. He graduates with state medals that include two bronze medals and fifth place – meaning Andres ended each of his last three years with a win in his final match. He has dominated the series with state champ Adonis Bonar but drew the other side of the bracket last month and again lost in the semifinals. Andres was 4-0 against Bonar, maybe the only wrestler in Nebraska who can claim a perfect record against a state champ. He graduates not just with three medals but also 146 career wins.

Adonis Bonar, Creighton Prep Junior, 190 pounds

Bonar was barely above .500 his first season but used all that experience to capitalize on his first trip to state. Although he went to Omaha as a fourth-place district finisher, Bonar won three in a row to get to the medal round. The Junior Jay came back from a first-round loss and eventually took sixth place – not an easy thing for a freshman at 170 pounds. Bonar went up to 182 pounds as a sophomore, won 34 times, went back to state and was sixth again. This winter it all came together during a 44-5 campaign. Bonar pinned his first two opponents, won a 6-4 sudden victory then went to the top of the podium with another pinfall. His only losses were to foes from out of state and once to 42-1 Pius senior Sam Andres, the state bronze medalist. Bonar has a chance to be a back-to-back champ next year with 102 wins and three state medals already under his belt.

JT Brands, Oakland-Craig Senior, Heavyweight

Brands’ future is on the gridiron, but while wrestling isn’t his primary sport, he’s been more than just a dude who trains to stay in shape for football. The South Dakota recruit has won more than 100 combined matches in the past three years and ended each of the past two in Omaha. Brands won 45 matches prior to last year’s state tournament and put himself in position for a state title. It looked like another gold-medal match was in his future a few weeks ago until a loss in overtime sent Brands to the consolation side of the bracket. An injury eventually forced him to forfeit to a sixth-place medal.

Tycen Breckner, Doniphan-Trumbull Junior, Heavyweight

Breckner has had quite an interesting path to a state championship. Two years ago as a freshman, he wrestled at 170 pounds and came agonizingly close to state but lost in the district semifinal round. He went up to 195 as a sophomore and gradually picked up steam along the way. Breckner was mostly wrestling for third until he finally broke through and appeared in the Lou Platte 195-pound gold medal match. He lost that one but won his next two tournament title matches and went to Omaha as a district champ. This past year, he went up again, competed as an undersized heavyweight but won 38 times ahead of the state tournament. Breckner finished on top the state podium by beating two returning state medalists in his final two matches and secured Doniphan-Trumbull’s first individual state gold.

Josiah Brezina, Aquinas Catholic Senior, Heavyweight

Brezina closes his Monarch career with two state medals, the most recent a runner-up in this year’s Class D title match. He won 37 out of 40 last year and was a fourth-place finisher. Although he was denied a state championship, Brezina has been a regular contributor in what might be considered Aquinas’ golden era. The Monarchs have won three straight state trophies and three straight state dual trophies.

Brett Bridger, Fullerton Senior, 190 pounds

Bridger has been a winner every year of his career. Yet it wasn’t until last month that he tasted his ultimate victory. The Fullerton senior won 35 matches as a freshman, lost in the state semifinals and ultimately earned sixth place. He was up to 38 victories as a sophomore but this time suffered defeat in the state quarterfinals. His response was four wins in a row and third place. Injuries limited Bridger to 27 matches as a junior, 24 wins and, in his second try, a win in the semis.

Max Denson, Broken Bow Senior, 190 pounds

Denson ends his career with three state medals, the most recent of which was a state runner-up performance at Class C 190 pounds. The Broken Bow senior was a back-to-back fifth-place state medalist who also racked up an eye-popping 172 wins in his four-year career. And Denson was good from the beginning, winning 35 matches as a freshman and qualifying for state at 170 pounds – something that’s almost unheard of at light heavyweight. He went on to pile up 48 wins as a sophomore, 40 as a junior and 49 in his final season. Denson lost in his first two trips to the state semifinals, got over the hump this year, but was prevented from winning a title by a previous gold-medal runner-up. Regardless, his three state medals and career win total show he was one of the best.

Seth Erickson, York Senior, 190 pounds

Erickson has just one state medal to his name but has won 40 matches each of the past two years. Both seasons were an identical 40-3 though with very different endings. A year ago he was 6-0 in tournament title matches before dropping the district tournament championship match. In Omaha as a district runner-up, he suffered a loss in the quarterfinals, won two in a row but was beaten in the heartbreak round. This winter, Erickson was the district champ and 5-0 in tournament title matches. Unfortunately, at 190 pounds in Class B he ran into nationally-ranked Cade Ziola. Erickson closed his career with 149 career wins to go with his state silver medal.

Jeremy Felix, Alma Junior, 190 pounds

Felix is now a two-time state medalist following a fifth-place medal in Omaha last month. The Alma junior has 115 wins and was fourth as a sophomore but won his final match as a junior and took fifth. Felix has won 11 tournaments in three years and wrestled in 19 tournament title matches.

Elijah Fjell, Shelby-Rising City Sophomore, 215 pounds

Fjell is on pace to become a four-time state medalist. His varsity career already has 71 wins and seven tournament titles. He gave us a preview of his potential as a freshman when he wrestled in 10 title matches and won four times. This winter it was eight title matches and three wins. That makes him 7-11 going for the gold. Granted, it’s a losing record overall, but two years of experience in those moments should make him a champ more often than not in the next two seasons. Fjell has wrestled in the state semis each of the past two years and has a fifth-place medal to go with bronze.

Chase Gracey, Mullen Senior, 175 pounds

From 34 wins to 39 then 34 and a state medal, Gracey’s star has been rising since he wrestled for a title in his first varsity tournament. It hit its peak this year when he went 33-2 before state then wrapped it up very nicely not only with a championship but revenge along the way. Maddox Jones of Sumner-Eddyville Miller beat Gracey 7-4 in the championship of the South Loup Invite on Jan. 19. The next day at Neligh-Oakdale, Gracey lost a second straight gold medal match 9-4 to Wyatt Urkoski. Once Gracey came to Omaha, both Jones and Urkoski stood in his way. Gracey took down Jones in the semifinals 6-3 then led Urkoski 5-0 before winning 8-4. His title win ended Urkoski’s 53-0 season.

Markey Hinrichs, Fillmore Central Senior, Heavyweight

Hinrichs will go down as one of the best ever at Fillmore Central despite coming just short of state gold. The Panther senior already had 100 career wins before his final varsity season began then added to it with 46 more and collected his second state medal. This past year was his best. Hinrichs won his first 24 matches and was the champ at seven tournaments. His only losses were to a state qualifier from Auburn, the Class D champion and in the Class C title match.

Justyce Hostetler, Grand Island Senior, 215 pounds

Hostetler was one of just three returning medalists for Class A at 215 pounds. The Grand Island senior went 1-2 in Omaha as a sophomore, capping off a 30-12 season. Hostetler lost several times in tournament semis as a junior, still managed to win three golds including at districts and set himself up for a path to the championship at state. He dominated his half of the bracket, pinned two opponents and had a technical fall on another. Millard South’s Caeden Olin denied him a title by major decision. Three more tournament titles and another district championship sent Hostetler back to state in a similar situation. He closed his career with another runner-up to Olin and 128 total victories.

Cooper Johnson, Lincoln Southeast Senior, Heavyweight

Johnson has the unfortunate timing of wrestling as a Class A heavyweight during the Tyson Terry era. Although Johnson has put together 101 wins over the past three seasons, he’s run into Terry in each of the past two championship matches. Regardless, he’s come a long way from being 7-14 in his freshman year. Johnson was 41-4 this season and suffered his only losses to a Kansas runner-up, the Class A fifth-place state medalist and Terry.

Riley Johnson, Skutt Catholic Sophomore, 175 pounds

Johnson’s future looked bright as a freshman when he went 35-6 and earned his way into the Class B 160-pound title match. That future didn’t take long to arrive. This past winter in his second varsity season, Johnson went 39-4 and won his final 32 matches on his way to a 165-pound state title. Three of Johnson’s losses came at the Ironman Tournament in Ohio to wrestlers from other states. He also suffered a setback to an opponent from South Dakota during a dual. But against Nebraska foes he was unbeaten. Johnson came back to state and again dominated his way to Saturday afternoon, pinning four opponents before doing the same for a gold medal.

Maddox Jones, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Junior, 175 pounds

Jones has won 30 or matches every year of his career. He’s been especially good the last two years, winning 35 times as a sophomore and 44 this past year as a junior. Those victories also include sixth and fourth-place state medals. Next year in his final varsity season he’ll look forward to a third straight trip to the state semifinals and finally getting over that hump. He came closest last month when he lost a 6-3 match to the eventual state champ.

Drew Knoerzer, Hi-Line Senior, Heavyweight

Few could have predicted the way Knoerzer finished a quality career based on the way it started. The Hi-Line senior wrestled just 15 matches in his rookie year and lost more than he won. He turned that difference around the next season but was injured in mid-January and lost his shot at competing for state. Back at 100%, he wrestled in seven tournament title matches, earned his way to state and made a run to the semifinal round before settling for fifth. That experience and adversity served him well when he was back at state in February and lost a tough 2-1 quarterfinal match to the eventual runner-up. Two wins, another close 2-0 decision, put him back in the medal round and ended with Knoerzer winning his final match for fifth place.

Drew Moser, Waverly Senior, 190 pounds

A loss to a 36-1 Kansas state champion a year ago is the only blemish on Moser’s record the past two seasons. Last month he won the Class B 190-pound title with a quick 31-second pin that gave him his second gold medal in a row and made him the fourth repeat champion in Waverly history. Moser was 46-0 his senior year and 44-1 as a junior. In total, his career includes 168 victories and three state medals.

Trent Moudry, Bishop Neumann Senior, 190 pounds

Moudry just missed out on becoming Neumann’s first-time double champion but has put together one of the best Cavalier careers nonetheless. He came just short of back-to-back titles due to a 10-8 decision in last year’s Class C 195-pound gold-medal match. Moudry was 39-2 a year ago and won five tournaments. This winter, he was nearly perfect except for a loss to the Class A bronze medalist back in mid-December. He won everything else and finished off his final season in high school by going 41-1 and scoring a dramatic takedown with 17 seconds remaining in the championship match. Moudry’s career concludes with three state medals, 134 wins and just 17 losses. He’s only been beaten four times in the last three years.

Caeden Olin, Millard South Senior, 215 pounds

The Patriots have a lot of guys who make a big difference in the lineup. Teams don’t win multiple championships without a strong lineup. One of the most influential in Millard South’s collective success is Olin. The senior completes his varsity career enjoying another state team title, state team dual title and a second straight individual championship. Olin has been in three straight gold-medal matches and won 132 total matches while ending each of his past three years on Saturday afternoon in Omaha. And he wasn’t exactly a slouch as a freshman. Olin qualified for state and finished off a 24-9 year. That gives him 156 total career wins.

Tony Palmer, South Sioux City Junior, 215 pounds

Two consecutive losses in the semifinals left Palmer desperate to get over the hump in 2024. The South Sioux junior made his way back to the penultimate round of the state tournament with 47 wins and just two losses – neither of which were to wrestlers from Nebraska. This time he had no trouble winning on Friday night, pinning his semifinal foe ahead of a dramatic 1-0 championship victory. He put the win together by riding out the opponent in the second period, scoring an escape 18 seconds into the third and holding off any offense for the final 1:42 of the third. Palmer has 124 wins with one more year to go and has the chance to be a four-time state medalist.

Orion Parker, Plattsmouth Senior, Heavyweight

The Orion Constellation was named for a hunter in Greek mythology. Plattsmouth’s heavyweight who shares the same namesake has been hunting a state championship ever since he exploded onto the scene by winning the 2022 Council Bluffs Wrestling Classic. Prior to that result about 16 months ago, Parker was a late starter to the sport of wrestling who had to work and wait his turn. He only wrestled 12 matches as a sophomore, won eight, but all of those except for one were JV matches. Then, a relative unknown among some of the best regional wrestlers who made the trip to Council Bluffs, he came back from a 1-2 start in the preliminary round and won four in a row for gold. A year later, he closed his final high school career 39-2 and with a Class B title. His only losses this past season were to Class A unbeaten champ Tyson Terry and a state champion from South Dakota.

Luke Pawloski, Pleasanton Junior, 215 pounds

Perhaps the third time will be the charm for Pawloski. The Pleasanton junior is coming off another loss in a state title match. He was 44-4 as a sophomore and suffered a tough 5-3 defeat in the Class D 220-pound gold medal match. Pawloski came back for more in 2024 and took a 32-2 mark to state where he suffered another tough championship loss by two points, 4-2. His sophomore year ended with a 4-0 defeat in the state heartbreak round. Regardless, has 105 wins over the last three years and has one more shot at gold.

Juan Perez, Perkins County Senior, Heavyweight

Perez is an example of a hard-working guy who put the time in and reaped the rewards. His hard work made him competitive early in his career. In the last two years, that continued effort ended with a state medal. Perez won 36 matches as a junior, took gold at seven tournaments and was at state for the second consecutive year. This winter, he notched 29 victories and was fourth.

Jaret Peterson, Chase County Senior, 215 pounds

Peterson is a three-time state medalist who improved every year from the time he lost in the state heartbreak round as a freshman up to closing his high school career a few weeks ago with a state title. Peterson has gone 138-6 over the past three seasons and come home from Omaha with a bronze, a silver and a gold. His 215-pound title was a rematch with Broken Bow’s Cal Wells from a year ago when he tasted a 3-2 defeat. Peterson dealt out some payback in a 2-1 tiebreaker win by riding Wells out for 30 seconds. Over the past two years, those two have met six times. Peterson’s win at this year’s state tournament gave him the 4-2 career edge.

Zachary Pittman, Grand Island Senior, Heavyweight

Pittman became the Islanders' starting heavyweight as a sophomore and produced season records of 30-11, 31-9 and 42-5. The last two culminated with state medals. He won his first two state matches as a junior before going down in the semifinals. A loss in the quarterfinals last month forced him into back-to-back elimination matches, but Pittman responded with pins in both and made it to the medal round for the second year in a row. This time he won twice and picked up a bronze medal. After suffering a 9-7 sudden victory defeat to the eventual state runner-up, Pittman finished his career by winning four in a row by pinfall.

Wyatt Reichenberg, Banner County Senior, 190 pounds

Reichenberg was the only member of the roster when he was a freshman. He lost more than he won by a few matches but suffered a pin in the heartbreak round of the district tournament and came up short of getting to state in his first season. Reichenberg won 11 more matches as a sophomore went to state and went 1-2. More work and more experience meant a 31-7 record as a junior and fourth at state. It all came together this past year when he went 32-10 and made a run to the Class D state title match. Reichenberg graduates with 110 wins and two state medals.

Sawyer Schilke, Kearney Junior, 215 pounds

Schilke is an all-state edge/defensive end who has an offer to play football at Northern Iowa. Whether on the gridiron or on the mat, he’s a load. Schilke has one more year remaining of varsity wrestling and will take two state medals into his senior year. Yet, even with those impressive accomplishments, his wrestling ability remains somewhat untapped. Injuries meant a late start to his freshman year and just 20 total matches. He won 12, went to state as a district third-place finisher and went 3-2 on his way to sixth place. Schilke missed all of his sophomore year then came back this year and went 31-6. Schilke advanced to the semifinals for the first time and looks to get back there again next year with a chance at gold.

JT Smith, Creighton Prep Freshman, 175 pounds

Smith is the only freshman on this list and for good reason. The Prep newcomer made the state final as a rookie, not an easy thing to accomplish at 175 pounds. But Smith was ready from the get-go. After dropping his first varsity match in a dual against Millard West, he won the next nine in a row, won the title at the Kearney Invite and went on to wrestle in for gold four more times. Smith won his first district tournament then won a bunch of close matches in downtown Omaha. He scored a 3-1 win in the first round, went to overtime and completed a shot for a 3-1 sudden victory in the quarterfinals then made his first state gold-medal match by ultimate tie breaker. His championship hopes came to an end when Joe Andreasen of Pius, listed above, turned the tables on Smith and was the winner in yet another close one. Although Smith wasn’t able to become a freshman state champ it looks like he’ll be a regular gold-medal contender for years to come.

Calib Svoboda, Aquinas Catholic Junior, 215 pounds

Svoboda’s Track Wrestling profile has results that go back all the way to 2015. He’s been a consistent winner over that near decade of competition and finally reached his crowning achievement just a few weeks ago. Svoboda was within one win of the state title match last year but had to settle for fourth place after losing in the semis 8-3 then dropping the third-place match by pinfall. Other than two medical forfeits at Wahoo in mid-December, Svoboda’s only regular-season losses before this year’s state tournament were to a state runner-up and a fifth-place medalist. He was almost untouchable in Omaha, winning three times by pin before a 4-2 decision for gold. His championship was one of three Aquinas golds and four title winners that made the Monarchs champs for a third year in a row.

Tyson Terry, Omaha North Junior, Heavyweight

Simply put, Terry might be the most dominant pound-for-pound wrestler currently in the state of Nebraska. Last month he became a three-time state champion by putting together another unbeaten season. The record and the results say one thing, but seeing him in person is something completely different. The way Terry pushes his opponents around, sets the tone and dictates how the match is wrestled is truly a work of art. He’s a Nebraska football recruit who is 130-0 in three years and looks like the next legendary four-time gold medalist.

Chase Thomas, Neligh-Oakdale, 190 pounds

Thomas won 26 matches as a freshman and won the final regular-season tournament on the schedule but tasted defeat at districts 3-2. He used that disappointment to fuel a 40-win sophomore year, come back from a quarterfinal state loss and take sixth. Thomas won four more matches this winter and again bounced back from a state quarterfinal loss with another sixth-place medal.

Brek Thompson, Battle Creek Junior, 175 pounds

Thompson might not have been on this list before the season. The Battle Creek junior was just 13-15 as a freshman, won twice as many matches as a sophomore and made it to state but was just 1-2 in Omaha. There was some obvious improvement but being counted among the best seemed at least a year away. Thompson then won 26 of his first 28 matches and made it all the way to the Norm Mandstedt title match. Six weeks later he quickly emerged as one of the favorites in Class C and lived up to that status by winning a championship and scoring 25 team points as part of a Braves first-ever team state title.

Tayte Thornton, Anselmo-Merna Senior, 215 pounds

Thornton struggled to find success as a freshman, losing just about two-thirds of his matches including six in a row to end the season. Those hard lessons propelled him to 16 wins and one at the state tournament as a sophomore. Everything came together during his last two years. Thornton won 40 matches last year, dropped his first state tournament match but then won three in a row to get to the medal round and earn sixth. He finished fifth this year after coming back from a loss in the state quarterfinals.

Frankie Trevino, Scottsbluff Senior, 190 pounds

Trevino was dealing with a lingering injury to start the season and didn’t step on the mat for competition until Jan. 18. It was a frustrating way to start and try to follow up a 48-4 season from the year before. He might not have been exactly 100% but Trevino put it together at the right time, won the district title and made a run to the Class B state title match. It was a loss and a disappointing end, but overall, Trevino has been one of the better wrestlers in the state over the past four seasons, winning 116 matches and two state medals.

Jackson Turner, Fillmore Central Senior, 190 pounds

Turner is one of only a handful of wrestlers who can say he ended half of his varsity seasons with a win. Neither were gold, but oftentimes it’s the guy who takes third who proves to be the toughest. Turner has shown that the last two years in Omaha, each time recovering from a disappointing semifinal loss with two more wins. He was agonizingly close as a junior, losing 5-4. His comeback included winning in consolation semifinals against a foe who beat him earlier in the year. Turner did that again last month, coming back from a semis defeat for third and a bronze medal win over an opponent who handed him defeat two weeks earlier.

Wyatt Urkoski, High Plains Senior, 175 pounds

Urkoski ends his high school career no doubt disappointed but worthy of being considered among the best. The High Plains senior had an unbeaten season going and made it into his second straight state title match looking to become the fifth state champ in program history. Unfortunately, he lost an 8-4 decision and dropped to 53-1. He was 41-8 as a junior, won his state opener 8-1 and pinned two more opponents before dropping an 11-2 decision in the final. Urkoski’s career also includes a state fourth-place medal and 161 total wins.

Mason Villwok, Elkhorn Senior, 215 pounds

Villwok was heartbreakingly close to being a back-to-back state champ but still completed his varsity career as a three-time state medalist. The Elkhorn senior won 195 pounds last year and was an 182-pound bronze medalist as a sophomore. He was close as close can be in this year’s 215-pound Class B title match, losing 1-0. Although it was a bitter end, Villwok won 42 matches this year, 46 to go with just one defeat as a junior and totaled 178 career wins.

Collin Vrbka, Shelby-Rising City Junior, Heavyweight

Vrbka had a taste of the big stage last year when he won twice at state but lost in the heartbreak round and came up short of a medal. Even still, he won 44 matches as a sophomore and looked poised for a big second half to his career. That second half culminated last month with a Class D heavyweight state title and a 48-2 record. His only losses were to wrestlers who went on to win state bronze medals. Vrbka became the first Husky to win a state gold medal in school history.

Coy Vrbka, Shelby-Rising City Sophomore, 190 pounds

Vrbka is part of a Shelby-Rising City program that made waves at state, finishing in second with four medalists, two in state title matches and two others that came back from losses for bronze. With two years of varsity left for Vrbka, it looks like the Huskies are in good hands for more chances at a state team title. He was 38-13 last year, wrestled in the state semifinals but ultimately settled for fifth. He won 46 times this year, made it to the semis again but again couldn’t quite get over the hump. Vrbka added a third-place medal to his list of achievements and takes those two pieces of hardware plus 84 wins into the second half of his career.

Cal Wells, Broken Bow Junior, 215 pounds

Wells has a resume few can match. He’ll come into next season as a state champ and a state runner-up looking to make it three straight state gold-medal matches. Wells was 47-3 last year and won the Class C title by holding off Chase County’s Jaret Peterson for more than a minute and a half while leading 3-2. Those two met again for the title last month and this time it was Peterson with a tiebreaker win that denied Wells back-to-back championships. Unfortunately, Peterson’s graduation means there won’t be a part three next February. Until then, Wells, at 131 career wins with one more year to go, looks like the clear favorite.

Cade Ziola, Skutt Catholic Junior, 190 pounds

Ziola appears at the bottom of this list and many others due simply to alphabetization. In terms of his quality as a wrestler, he’s on top of nearly every other list. The Skutt Catholic junior is nationally ranked and became the first Nebraska wrestler to win a gold at the Ironman Wrestling Tournament in Ohio before this past season. He dominated his junior year with 45 losses, no defeats and his second straight state title. Ziola is 102-6 in his high school career and looks unbeatable.

--Nathan Charles | @SBLiveNeb