Perkins County wrestlers bring home team title from Hemingford

By Emmalee Parsley Stevens

Grant Tribune Sentinel

The Perkins County boys wrestling team opened their season in dominant fashion on Dec. 4, capturing first place as a team and earning a slate of top individual finishes at the Hemingford meet.

Leading the charge were three individual champions. Leighton Fryzek (120 lbs) wrestled his way to the top of the podium with a strong, composed performance throughout the day. At 190 lbs, Preston Schwanebeck powered through the bracket to earn gold, while Ernie Perez (215 lbs) capped off the Plainsmen’s effort with a commanding run to first place.

Perkins County also saw several strong medal performances. Carson Green (132 lbs) and Ryan Long (157 lbs) each claimed second place, showcasing grit in competitive brackets. Micah Hatcher (150 lbs) and Dylan Bruce (175 lbs) earned third place, putting important points on the board for the team.

The 175-pound class featured two Plainsmen, with Tyson Schwanebeck finishing fourth, adding depth and toughness to the lineup. Grayson Baumgartner (144 lbs) rounded out the results with a fifth-place finish.

With consistent performances from top to bottom, the Plainsmen secured enough points to bring home the team championship, marking a strong start to their winter campaign.

The team continued their busy week by competing again at the Perkins County High School Invite on Saturday, Dec. 6, gaining more mat time and experience early in the season.

Perkins County will return to action on Friday, Dec. 13, when they travel to compete at the Anselmo-Merna Invite, looking to carry their momentum into another strong showing.