Bice Wins Gold, Other Highlights for Area Wrestlers

Columbus High’s Adrian Bice won a gold medal, helping the Discoverers to a third-place team finish in Class A at the state wrestling meet in Omaha.   Other highlights at CHI Health Center on Saturday included Aquinas Catholic winning the Class C boys team title.  Lakeview’s Lacy Lemburg earned a third-place medal in the first-ever girls tournament.  And Cameron Graham of Cross County/Osceola won a gold medal for the second straight year.  His win via pin in the first place match capped a 56-0 senior season and was his Class C record 213th career victory.

Bice pinned his first three opponents before winning a 4-3 decision in the championship match.  The CHS junior claimed his third straight medal and first gold medal at state.  Five of the nine other Discoverers boys who competed in Omaha collected medals.

The best individual finish among area boys wrestlers in Class B was recorded by Lakeview junior Landon Ternus, who won a bronze medal.  Likewise, the Vikings freshman Lemburg’s third-place finish was tops among all area girls.

Aquinas only had one gold-medal winner, as Chris Nickolite completed a 47-0 senior season and took gold for a second straight year.   But, the Monarchs outdistanced second-place and defending champion Central City in the team standings by 36.5 points.  The Bison had two wrestlers cap unbeaten seasons and repeat as state champs as seniors Drew Garfield and Cole Kunz each went 49-0.  David City had two grapplers standing atop the podium as Simon Schindler and Tre Daro ended their prep careers as Class C champions.

A trio of area wrestlers made it to a championship match in Class D.  However, Levi Belina of Howells-Dodge, his Jaguars teammate Jestin Bayer and Gunner Reimers of Palmer all settled for silver medals.