The time has come for the best of the best to take the mat inside the CHI Health Center in Omaha. The sold out crowd will be in for a treat as 18 times the mats will be set with wrestlers striving for greatness. Among them will be five wrestlers with Merrick County ties. 

The Class D 126 final will bring us two of them as senior Lance Russell (40-4) of High Plains will go to battle against freshman Uriel Guzman of Palmer. Guzman is making his tournament and finals debut while Russell is no stranger to the tournament, but he too will be making his finals debut. Lance has battled injuries during his career and has yet been able to fully showcase his abilities on the mat until this season. Both will be first time state medalist and this should be a good battle. A matchup earlier in the season resulted in a 7-4 decision going the way of Lance Russell.

At 144 pounds Central City will see their first finalist take the mat as Tristan Burbach looks to secure his second state championship. It will be another chance for Will Sprenger of Valentine to look for an upset and improve upon his two previous runner-up finishes at state. Burbach can cement his legacy as he looks to wrap up his career with his second title and a 94 match winning streak dating back to his runner-up finish in his sophomore season.

Central City will have one weight class off and then will be back to the mat as Bryce Kunz looks for his third straight match with heroics. Kunz has been the star of the show here in Omaha securing a double overtime and overtime victory in dramatic fashion. The junior will need to find some more of that “Kunz Magic” as he has a tough hill to climb in the form of junior Quinn Bailey of Chadron. Bailey was the Class B 152 pound champion last year and also has a Class B fifth place finish to his credit. Kunz has a way of out conditioning his opponent and using his speed and quick hips to gain an advantage. With Bailey the two are on an even playing field. While Kunz spends his fall playing on the offensive and defensive lines for the Bison, Bailey is a talented running back and linebacker for Chadron. Both have superior athletic ability and Kunz will need to show that heart and drive that we know and love.

The final area finalist is Wyatt Urkoski of High Plains who is searching for his first state championship to close out a phenomenal career for the Storm. Urkoski was defeated in the finals last year and he has been perfect since sitting 53-0 on the season. He will square off with Chace Gracey of Mullen, a fellow senior with a 36-2 season mark. It will be no easy task for Urkoski, but there is no doubt he is going to lay it all on the mat. 

High Plains has been flirting with a potential team runner-up finish. Currently they find themselves locked in a battle with Southerland, Shelby-Rising City and Plainview who will also all  have a pair of wrestlers in the finals. It should be an interesting race and one that could come down to if Russell and Urkoski can secure the win, but also score bonus points.

The action will get underway at 3pm and will be broadcast on television and streaming via Nebraska Public Media, formerly NET. We are wishing all of our area finalists the best as we prepare for one of the best nights in all of Nebraska athletics, the 2024 NSAA State Wrestling Finals.