Bobcat Wrestlers End First Season Strong
The first men’s and women’s wrestling seasons at Southeast Community College ended with strong showings at the National Junior College Athletic Association Championships March 1-2 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Bobcat women finished seventh out of 18 teams with 115 points, while the men finished 10th in the 55-team field with 75.5 points.
“The athletes on both teams performed well at nationals,” said Terry Pack, head wrestling coach. “They came in confident and prepared, and you could see that shine through. They bought into a dream and worked hard to fulfill it.”
The women had five wrestlers earn All-American honors. Eve Herlyn, from Kansas City, Missouri, became the program’s first national champion. She wrestled at 143 pounds. Herlyn defeated Snow’s Abigail Trayhorn 14-8 in the finals. Other wrestlers placing in the finals were Talia Lee (freshman, Webster Groves, Missouri) third place at 130 pounds; Kiara Boldridge (freshman, Independence, Missouri) third at 235 pounds; Nevaeh Leonard (freshman, Yankton, South Dakota) fourth at 143 pounds; and Jocelyn Ambriz (freshman, Broken Bow, Nebraska) fifth at 170 pounds.
“The women over exceeded the expectations of many, and our five All-Americans outperformed their seeds,” Pack said. “Eve had a pretty consistent year. She was hurt with back-to-back concussions, but she worked hard and was dedicated to getting to the top of the podium. She had an exceptional tournament.”
The Bobcat men had two All-Americans with Isaac White (freshman, Cozad, Nebraska) finishing as runner-up at 174 pounds and Jordon Oehme (freshman, Brandon, South Dakota) third at 133 pounds. Ely Olberding (freshman, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska) was sixth at 141 pounds.
“The men capped off a great year by finishing No. 10 in the country with a national finalist,” Pack said. “Isaac, like Eve, has been consistent all year. As a true freshman, he has become the silent leader on the team. He puts his head down, does the work required and is always eager to learn and get better.”
Pack is ready to build on this success next season. The men finished the season with a 13-4 dual record, while the women were 6-1. One of the season’s highlights for Pack was having the men finish No. 7 at the National Duals as the No. 22 seed. Going forward, it will be easier to recruit to the program because of a successful product on the mat and not just a dream, he said. The overwhelming support the wrestlers received from SCC and the Beatrice community will also help.
“We found a great fan base and huge support among staff and administrators,” said Pack. “Community and SCC support is the key to building a foundation and having a great product. We sold out our first two events, and that was a huge momentum-builder to have fans in the stands.”
Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu