Broncos Go 1-1 at GPAC Duals in Seward

(Seward, NE) – The Hastings men's wrestling team competed at the first of two GPAC Duals this year, traveling to Seward to take on Waldorf and Dakota Wesleyan. Hastings came back to defeat Waldorf 28-19 and lost 25-22 to Dakota Wesleyan on Tuesday afternoon.

Against Waldorf, sophomore Creel Weber won on a 16-6 major decision at 125, then sophomore Justin Rodriguez won his match at 133, thanks to a 18-4 major decision to put the Broncos up 8-0 early.

Waldorf won at 141 on a major decision, then they pinned Hastings at 149 and 157. Sophomore Nicholas Freeland lost a very close match at 165 – a 5-4 decision – putting the Warriors up 19-8 with four matches left.

Freshman Esteban Sedano won a tight match at 157 on a 7-4 decision, bringing Hastings to within eight on the team score and snapping the Warriors' four-match win streak. Next up was sophomore Trevor Leon, who won on a 19-3 technical fall at the 6:06 mark. 

Junior Matheson Rodriguez and freshman Koen Mattern picked up wins at 197 and 285 via forfeit, giving Hastings the 28-19 come-from-behind win.

In their second dual of the day, Hastings again started out strong against Dakota Wesleyan. Weber defeated his opponent by a 6-1 decision at 125. Sophomore Logan Hackman wrestled at 133 and won 8-0 for a major decision to put Hastings up 7-0.

The Tigers pinned the Broncos at 141, 149, and 157 all within about the first minute of each match, then Freeland had another very competitive match at 165 – losing in a 4-1 sudden victory – giving the Tigers a 21-7 lead with six of ten matches completed.

Sedano responded with a pin at the 1:15 mark of the first period to get the six team points at 174, then Leon won his match via forfeit at 184, cutting the lead to 21-19. 

Dakota Wesleyan managed a 14-4 major decision win at 197, then Mattern battled through his match at 285 to earn the 9-3 decision, but the Tigers hung on to win the dual 25-22.

Up next, Hastings will compete at the Doane Open on Saturday, Dec. 7 in Crete, NE.