Submitted by Jason Jensen
On Sunday, March 3, 2024, the Nebraska USA District 5 youth wrestling tournament was held in Fremont, NE. The top four placers in each weight class earned a chance to wrestle for a state championship on March 16-17, in Grand Island at the Heartland Event Center.
Ryker Jensen, 4th grade, Wakefield Elementary, competed for Wakefield Youth Wrestling in the 3rd-4th grade, 70 lbs. division, went 3-1 on the day, with a hard-fought district runner-up finish in the district finals match. Jensen returns to state competition after qualifying two years ago as a second grader and his season record going into state competition this year is 10-8. He was district runner-up in 2022, placed sixth last year.
Jensen wrestled in a bracket of 18 competitors and those results are as follows: Champ. Round 1 - Ryker Jensen (Wakefield) received a Bye, Champ. Round 2 - Ryker Jensen (Wakefield) won by tech fall over Knox Lyon (Blair Wrestling Club) (TF 18-0); Quarterfinal – Ryker Jensen (Wakefield) won by decision over Hudson Watkins (Ponca Spears) (Dec 6-2); Semifinal – Ryker Jensen (Wakefield) won by fall over Cade Egbarts (Arlington Eagles) (Fall 2:34); 1st Place Match - Ryker Silva (Fremont Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Ryker Jensen (Wakefield) (Maj 8-0).
Brock Hansen, 3rd grade, Wakefield Elementary, also competed at the district 5 tournament. Hansen wrestles for the Wayne Wrestling Club in the 3rd-4th grade, 90lbs weight class. Hansen wrestled in an eight-man bracket and came away with another district championship. Hansen won a district and state title last year in the 1st-2nd grade, 85 lbs. division and is in good position to do it again. His record going into state competition is 13-1 on the season.
Results as follows: Quarterfinal - Brock Hansen (Wayne Wrestling Club) won by fall over Breccon Bowman (Logan View) (Fall 0:27); Semifinal - Brock Hansen (Wayne Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Ryker Wegner (Arlington Eagles) (TF 17-0); 1st Place Match - Brock Hansen (Wayne Wrestling Club) won by decision over Caden Butler (Arlington Eagles) (Dec 13-7).