Tiger heavyweight Zimmerman runner-up at Crete

TEAM SCORING

Central City 181

Wilber-Clatonia 177

Syracuse 165.5

Adams Central 149

Ashland-Greenwood 143

Crete 123

Fairbury 115

Lincoln North Star 78

Seward 69.5

Waverly 56

Ralston 44

Tri County 39

Falls City 18

Thayer Central 16.5

Milford-Dorchester 11

Falls City High School senior heavyweight Jeremy Zimmerman finished runner-up to two-time Class B State Champion Matt Clark of Syracuse Saturday at the Crete Invitational. 

Zimmerman, who finished fifth in state in Class B a year ago, avenged a 2013 loss at the Crete Invite by defeating Class C sixth-ranked Blaine Paup of Central City, 1-0, in the semifinals. 

Zimmerman was then pinned by Clark, who had to cut 20 pounds after football season to make the 285-pound limit, in 1:00, as the Syracuse big man — a Nebraska football recruit — closed in on the state record of 47 consecutive pin victories. Clark entered the season riding a streak of 38 consecutive pins, dating back to 2013. The record was set by Mike Shoff of Cambridge in 2012.

The 6-foot-5 Clark is currently the sixth-ranked heavyweight in the nation by Intermat and No. 1 in Nebraska’s Class B. He was 49-0 a year ago, 46-2 as a junior and 31-14 his freshman year. 

Zimmerman, 41-11 as a junior, remains unrated at 5-2 on the young 2014-15 season. He also finished second at the season-opening Raider Classic Invite Dec. 6 at Wamego, KS. He captured four pin wins – three in the first period – before falling in the title match to Wamego’s Kasey Fehy with just nine seconds remaining in the match. 

ACT testing prevented most of the Tigers from competing at Crete, as Zimmerman and Blake Black (160) were the only wrestlers competing for FC High. Black was defeated by Ralston

At Wamego, Dalton Kennel placed fourth at 220, and Nathan Richey (113), Parker Thompson (126), Brett Black (145), Justin Ernst (152), Blake Black (160), Carter Hunzeker (182) and Brandon Banks (195) all scored points for the Tiger varsity.  

The majority of the Tiger wrestlers competed in the JV invite at Nebraska City on Dec. 9, and the JV invite at Syracuse Friday, Dec. 12. Deven Nycum and Kennel walked away from both with medals. 

At Syracuse, Richey was fourth at 113; Thompson was third at 126B; Nycum was sixth at 138;  Geoffrey Zimmerman was third at 152A; Dylan Sutton placed fifth at 160A; Tommy Palm finished sixth at 195/220; Brandon Bank was fifth at 195/220; and Kennel was second at 195/220. 

The Tigers compete once more before Christmas, traveling to the Auburn Invitational Saturday. The team’s lone home appearance will be Jan. 15 with a triangular against Maryville, MO, and Sabetha, KS.