Nevada youth wrestlers advance to state tourney

submitted photos Twin brothers Ryan and Ronnie Herda qualified for the USA state championships with their performances in the regional tournament on Saturday. Both Ryan (upper photo, in top position) and Ronnie (lower photo, turning opponent for potential pin) qualified in the 14-year-old, 165-pound class. Ronnie placed first; Ryan second. The twins' regional finishes were the exact opposite of their district finishes a week earlier. In districts, Ryan placed first, Ronnie second.

The Nevada Youth Wrestling Club qualified eight wrestlers for the USA state tournament on March 27-28 at the Hearnes Center on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo.

Among the 17 NYWC participants in the regional tournament at Ozark, Mo., on Saturday, five others placed in the top six. The top four in each division advanced to the championships.

State qualifiers and places:

1st -- Spenser Daniels and Ronnie Herda.

2nd -- Ryan Herda and Jordan Hagerman.

3rd -- Jerrod Alexander.

4th -- Slade Stiles, Tommy Hagerman and Mason Heard.

Other Nevada placers:

5th -- Tanner Charles, Sam Ellifrits, Kieran Cain and Nash Smith.

6th -- Todd Brier.