Coy Childers, Daylon Adams claim gold at Nebraska high school state wrestling

Photo Courtesy: Nebraska School Activities Association

OMAHA, Neb. — Area wrestlers brought home multiple medals Saturday from the Nebraska School Activities Association State Wrestling Championships at CHI Health Center, highlighted by two individual state champions and several runner-up finishes.

Scottsbluff senior Daylon Adams captured the Class B title at 285 pounds, finishing the season 45-4 and scoring 29 team points. Adams dominated his path to the finals with two technical falls and a pin before securing the championship with a third-period fall over Seward’s Aidan Summa in 3:12.

Alliance’s Coy Childers claimed the Class B 132-pound state title, finishing 38-1 and earning 25.5 team points. Childers opened with a technical fall and a pin, then won a 16-10 decision in the semifinals before defeating Ralston’s Brody Schmitt 10-6 in the championship match.

Sidney’s Cayson Boltjes finished as the Class B runner-up at 215 pounds for the second consecutive season. Boltjes (37-2) recorded two pins and a semifinal decision to reach the finals before falling 4-1 to Blair’s Blaise Baughman.

Gering’s Rece Knight also earned a runner-up medal in Class B at 175 pounds. Knight (43-5) advanced to the finals with a fall and two narrow victories, including a sudden victory semifinal, before dropping a 7-4 sudden victory decision to Omaha Skutt Catholic’s Nikolas Rotella. He scored 20 team points.

Mitchell’s Drey Gardner placed second in Class C at 126 pounds. Gardner (51-3) advanced with a fall, a decision and a major decision before falling 11-4 in the championship bout to Pierce’s Draydin Gossman. He contributed 21 team points.

Several area wrestlers earned third-place finishes. Scottsbluff’s Anthony Shifflett (44-4) placed third at 106 pounds, rebounding from a semifinal loss to win his final two matches, including a 10-1 major decision in the consolation final. Teammate Oscar Brown (46-5) also claimed third at 113 pounds with a 7-1 decision in the medal round.

Chadron’s Layne Davidson (42-16) placed third in Class C at 165 pounds, closing his tournament with two decision wins. Mitchell’s Gavin Cheek (52-4) secured third at 144 pounds with a pin in the consolation final.

Other medalists included Gering’s Frost Wallace, who placed fourth at 120 pounds, and Anthony Morales, who placed fifth at 138. Banner County’s Tate Olsen finished sixth at 113 in Class D, while Hemingford’s Owen Plog placed sixth at 285. Ogallala’s Diego Juarez also earned a sixth-place medal at 113 pounds in Class C.