Bronco wrestlers take first, third in league

LIBERTY – Two Broncos competed in the NE 2B League wrestling championships, with Brandon Davis taking first place at 126 pounds, and Gabe Smith finishing third at 220 pounds Friday, June 18.

Davis was in his sophomore year and Smith was a freshman.

"This is Gabe's first year wrestling," Head Coach Jason Hilzer said. "He turned out last year halfway through the year, so he only got four matches. So between the two years, he got one full season. He didn't wrestle as a little guy. Brandon wrestled last year, and has been wrestling for me since he was an 8th grader."

Hilzer said Davis's first match Friday was against a kid from Northwest Christian, whom Davis pinned in the first round.

"Then he wrestled in the finals against a kid from Selkirk, and Brandon won by pin in the third round," Hilzer said. "Gabe wrestled a kid from the Republic/Curlew team who has been wrestling a while. I think he's a senior. It was a good match, but Gabe got out of position, and the kid got him on his back and pinned him. Then he dropped down, and wrestled a kid from Liberty for third and fourth place."

Smith won that match by a pin in the first round.