OMAHA, Neb. - Sidney’s Patrick McCartney (190 pounds) and Cayson Boltjes (215 pounds) both punched their tickets to the state championship matches at the Nebraska School Activities Association State Wrestling Tournament at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Friday. 

McCartney’s path to the finals included a sudden victory win over Blaise Baughman of Blair, securing a 4-1 decision. Boltjes defeated Malachi Davis of Lincoln Christian 12-8 to move on to the championship round. Their teammate, Zech Roggasch (165 pounds), secured a medal, battling through the consolation rounds with a pair of key victories to advance to the final day.

Alliance’s Coy Childers (113 pounds) advanced to the championship match, cruising through his semifinal bout with a 13-1 major decision over Scottsbluff’s Oscar Brown. Wyatt Stabnow (106 pounds) secured a podium finish as well, reaching the semifinals before falling to Central City’s Ace Schweitzer.

Several wrestlers from Gering and Scottsbluff also reached the medal rounds. Frost Wallace (113 pounds), Isaiah Murillo (144 pounds) and Rece Knight (175 pounds) of Gering will earn a medal, finishing in the consolation bracket. Scottsbluff’s Anthony Shifflett (106 pounds), Daylon Adams (285 pounds) and Oscar Brown (113 pounds) will wrestle in the medal rounds Saturday.  

Elsewhere, Kimball’s Cameron McGinnis (138 pounds), Minatare’s Tripton Stec (126 pounds) and Ogallala’s Diego Juarez (106 pounds) each picked up key wins in the consolation rounds, but were ultimately eliminated short of the medal matches.

Garden County’s Jase Roberson (157 pounds) also secured a consolation round victory before being knocked out of the tournament.

South Platte’s Drake Arensdorf (138 pounds) battled through the consolation rounds and will wrestle for a podium spot on Saturday.

The NSAA State Wrestling Championships conclude Saturday, with championship matches and final medal placements on the line.