South Loup Wrestling Young squad sends two wrestlers

The 2020-2021 wrestling season was hands down one of the more difficult years for every team in the area with the Covid Restrictions and limited crowds. Through all these challenges the South Loup Wrestling team continued to get better throughout the year.

Not being able to fill every weight class at meets, made it difficult to be competitive at most meets for the Bobcats. Despite those issues, the South Loup Wrestlers grew individually.

This was most exemplified with wrestlers like Clay Witthuhn who improved tremendously after moving up to 220 pounds from 195 pounds, and wrestlers like Lila Bloomer who became the first Nebraska State Girls

Wrestling Championship medalist for the Bobcats.

South Loup ended up getting two wrestlers to State in Rio Remund and Logan Peterson. This was the same number that got to state the previous season.

At the 2021 State Wrestling Championships, the Bobcats had a mixed performance.

Remund who was a freshman this year got some valuable experience at State. He did not win either of his matches, but he fought hard in both bouts.

“I was very happy with the way Rio wrestled,” South Loup Coach Todd Phelps. “Rio is an extremely hard worker. He improved every time he stepped on the mat.”

Peterson was the lone returning qualifier for the Bobcats at this year’s State Tournament. He put himself in a position to medal by reaching the heartbreak round at 113 pounds for Class D. He ended up falling by a 3-1 decision to Owen Vondra of Elkhorn Valley.

Logan not placing was disappointing but not because I was disappointed in him,” Phelps said. “I was more disappointed to know how hard Logan worked all year and he came away one match short.”

According to Phelps, the most encouraging thing is the fact that he had younger wrestlers who got better every week. He also has some up-and-coming wrestlers who will add a lot to the program.

“The most positive thing is that as a team we got better every week,” Phelps said. “I have several young wrestlers who will continue to get bet

Callaway Courier The 2020-2021 South Loup Wrestling Team from Bottom Row Left are: Student Manager Sharon Jones, Dawson Doggett, Lila Bloomer, Logan Peterson, and Student Manager Devin Peterson; Back Row: Carson Mason, Colby Streit, Talon Crago, Rio Remund,Clay Witthuhn, and Studnent Manager Macy Ryneareson. Not pictured: Dylan Handley.