Five area wrestlers qualified for next week's state wrestling tournament after surviving competition in district action over the weekend.
Wayne High will send two wrestlers after competing in the B-1 District meet at Bennington. Garrett Schultz (120) and Ashton Munsell (145) both earned runner-up honors in their respective weight brackets and will represent the Blue Devils, along with Jaycee Bruns, who qualified for state in girls district action last week.
Quad County Northeast will send two wrestlers with Ajay Gubbles (195) and Kolby Casey (220). Gubbels was the runner-up in his bracket in the C-2 District at Norfolk Catholic, while Casey was a district champion and will be going to state for the fourth time in his career.
Winside's long tradition of sending wrestlers to the state tournament continues, as senior Mason Topp won the 195-pound title at the D-1 District at Pender. The Wildcats have had at least one state medalist every year since 1970, and Topp has a chance to continue that string next week. He will be joined in girls competition by sophomore Emily Jaeger.
Competition begins on Thursday at the CHI Center in Omaha. Class A and D first-round and quarterfinal action begins at 9:30 a.m., with Class B, Class C and girls first-round and quarterfinals starting at 3 p.m. The tournament runs through the championship finals on Saturday.
