By Dave Vrbas

The Wauneta Breeze

The second year of combined wrestling between Hitchcock County and Wauneta-Palisade will officially get underway today (Thursday) with a home meet in Culbertson.

A new coach joins the program this year, replacing former coach Rich Wilson. Jeff Schwarz, a music instructor from HC, will lead the program on the mats this year, helped out by assistants Jesse West of Wauneta and John Rundel of Trenton.

West, a former state champion wrestler from WP, said he looks forward to seeing what the 11-member program can do this season — especially since they’re so diverse in their weights, a plus during tourneys.

Of the wrestlers on the roster, he has high expectations set for Adam Simpson and would like to see him become the second-ever state champion from his alma mater. Simpson, a WP senior, finished fifth in the 189-pound weight class last season at the Class C state meet in Omaha, capping a 30-7 season. Since then, he’s worked on bulking up and will be wrestling this year in the 215-pound class.

Looking at the field in that weight class this season gives West reason to believe Simpson could bring home a state championship. “Everybody at state last year graduated or is in 189 this year,” West explained. “This should be his year.”

Another WP standout, Marcos Ramirez, was injured right before district competition last year during his sophomore year, and West said he believes he could have done some damage at the state meet had he made it. “He had a chance to make it and do well,” West said. “So we’re expecting good things from him this season. He should have a good year.” Ramirez will wrestle at 112 pounds this season after going 25-11 last season.

James Rundel of HC joins the list of five returning after earning letters last season. A senior, Rundel went 18-11 last season and will be bumped up a weight class to 135 pounds this season.

Alex Pollmann of HC is another returning letterer for the combined program. Last season, Pollmann went 18-16 during his freshman season, continually getting stronger and competing at a higher level. Still competing in the heavyweight division this year, Pollmann has been working on putting on more muscle weight for the upcoming season.

“Alex was a light heavyweight last year and still had an outstanding year,” West explained. “He should compete well this season.”

Austin Oberg of HC is slated to wrestle in the heavyweight division this year, but West and Schwarz are working with him to get down into the 215 pound division where he might pick up some more wins.

Keagan Haarberg moved to town and joined the team after wrestling with the McCook JV squad last season. The WP sophomore will be in the 189-pound weight class and should compete well despite being young for that class, according to West.

The team is also joined by a crew of high school wrestling newbies who bring some mat experience.

Carlos Ramirez, a WP junior, will be wrestling at 140 pound this season, and West is looking forward to seeing what he can do. “This is his first year wrestling in high school, but he’s a strong kid and a fast learner.”

Kaleb Straub joins the team after moving to Wauneta from Wyoming. “Kaleb has done a lot of youth wrestling in Wyoming and is looking pretty good right now,” West explained. “The kid knows his stuff.”

Two WP freshmen join the team after seeing junior high mat time — David Acosta and Dawn Pinkal, the combined team’s first female.

Of Acosta, West said he will wrestle at 145 pounds and is “getting the hang of things.” Pinkal will wrestle at either 119 or 125 pounds. “She’s doing pretty good so far,” West said.

Home meet today

Wauneta-Palisade will be joined by six other teams today at their home invite: Maxwell, North Platte St. Pat’s, Medicine Valley, Sutherland, Perkins County and Dundy County-Stratton. Action begins at noon MT/1 p.m. CT.

HC/WP wrestlers then head to Alma for an invite Saturday. Action begins at 9 a.m. MT/10 a.m. CT.