Have you Heard? Two in finals

Sunday, February 18, 2007
Jennifer Hancock/Herald-Tribune Nevada's Josh Palmer tries to get the upper hand against an opponent during the state tournament Thursday at Mizzou Arena. Palmer had two teammates wrestling for state titles Saturday in Columbia.

Herald-Tribune

Two Nevada Tiger wrestlers won semifinal matches at the Class 2 state tournament Friday, advancing to Saturday's championship round.

Juniors Mason Heard and Spenser Daniels both earned decisions in their semifinal bouts, while a third Tiger -- fellow junior Ryan Herda -- has clinched at least a medal.

Heard beat Logan Pulse of Richmond in the 112-pound class Friday to advance to the championship. He won a 6-5 decision.

Heard faced Nick Clemens of Odessa for the title Saturday.

Daniels continued his spectacular season with a 9-3 victory of Clayton Olsson of Warren County in the 189-pound semis Friday.

That sets up a titan-like matchup in the championship round as Daniels, 36-1 this season, faced Jesse Alter of Kirksville Saturday. Alter was 44-1 going into the match. Alter finished second in the state at 171 pounds in 2006.

Herda fell just short in his championship bid, losing 7-5 in overtime to Steele Shippy of Odessa at 215 pounds. Shippy advanced to the championship match while Herda faced Riley Glasgow of Oak Grove in the wrestle back bracket. The winner of that match advanced to the third-place round, while the loser wrestled for fifth.

The remainder of the Tiger grapplers were eliminated Friday.

At 140 pounds, Josh Palmer lost to C.J. Robinson of Excelsior Springs in wrestlebacks, 7-3.

Matt Kennedy was pinned in the third round by Travis Green of Carl Junction in the 145-pound wrestlebacks.

Cole Bond, one win from a medal, lost a 3-2 decision to Brian Bergstrom of Marshall in the 152-pound wrestleback bracket.

Jerrod Alexander lost a 9-5 decision to Brian Combs of MICDS in the 285-pound wrestlebacks.

In the team competition, Nevada was in seventh place with 62 points through Friday night's semifinal round. Platte County was running away with the team title with 122 points. Clinton, who Nevada edged to win their district title, was in sixth, one point ahead of the Tigers.

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