Milford sent five wrestlers to the state tournament Feb. 16-18 with high hopes and brought home two medals, though not the colors the Eagles were striving for.
“We didn’t get everything we wanted,” Coach Joe Schluckebier said. “There were a lot of lessons learned.”
As a team, the Eagles were 19th in Class C and finished ahead of teams that beat them this season, Schluckebier said.
Hunter Oborny finished his season with a bronze medal in Class C at 195 pounds. The junior was upset in the quarterfinals by Cael Peters of Mitchell but won his next four matches to finish third.
“It takes a lot to get your stuff together and come back,” Schluckebier said. “People don’t understand how tough a tournament it is. It was remarkable.”
He said Oborny was mentally prepared but technically the match against Peters didn’t go how he wanted.
In looking at the medal stand, Schluckebier said, Oborny had beaten the state champion at a tournament in Gibbon.
Oborny finished the season 47-4 and has 139 career wins and over 100 career pins.
Cooper Rea earned fifth place at 120 pounds, wrestling a great tournament, Schluckebier said. After being pinned in the quarterfinals, Rea came back to go 3-1 in the consolation rounds and wrestled three straight overtime matches, including the match for fifth place against Cole Spahr of Tri County.
“We didn’t know how it would go,” Schluckebier said. “It went to overtime, and Cooper got the takedown.”
With three consecutive overtime matches, Schluckebier said, the sophomore was exhausted.
“He is a tough kid. We rely on grit and toughness,” he said.
Rea finished the season 32-8.
Quinn Zegers finished one match out of the medals at 106 pounds. He was 2-2 for the tournament with a pin.
“It really matters how you draw into the tournament,” Schluckebier said.
Zegers had a tough draw with eventual state champion Zaiyahn Ornelas of Wilber-Clatonia in the second round. He came back with a win in the consolation quarterfinals to advance to the Friday night session.
“To make it to Friday night as a freshman, that’s where we want to be,” Schluckebier said.
Zegers finished the year 37-16, a record that puts him among the top five in Milford history, the coach said.
Hunter Dickinson (138) and Sean Stanton (132) each won a match for the Eagles, both wins coming in the first round of consolation matches.
Stanton, a freshman this season, finished with a 33-12 record.
“He beat a lot of juniors and seniors, just came up a little short,” Schluckebier said. “This tournament was pretty motivating for him. He’s a naturally talented kid. He could make a big jump.”
Dickinson finished with a 35-16 record for the season. Considered he only started wrestling in junior high, Schluckebier said, he has done well.
“He is a hard worker. The sport fits him well,” Schluckebier said. “He knows what’s possible and wants to be part of it.”
Overall, the coach was pleased with how the wrestlers competed. All five should be back next season, with the addition of two-time state qualifier Conner Kohout, who missed this year with an injury.
“Two medals with five wrestlers – that’s a solid year for our program,” Schluckebier said.
