The high school wrestling season is officially underway in Nebraska, so it’s time to look at the early favorites to win team titles in each class.

Nebraska has four classes — Classes A, B, C and D — with A being the big-school class, so we’ll start there.

Creighton Prep Adds Impact Transfers To Already Dominant Nucleus In Class A

Last season, Creighton Prep put together its best season in program history and closed things out with a dominant team title at the Class A state tournament — its first in school history. The Junior Jays scored 251 team points to win by an 81-point margin. 

Led by a school record four individual champions, Creighton Prep had seven wrestlers in the finals, and they could be even better this season.

Of Prep’s 13 state qualifiers from last year, 12 of them are returning — they lost only Adonis Bonar II, a two-time state champion who is now a freshman at Cal Baptist. The Junior Jays then brought in a pair of impact transfers in Zaiyahn Ornelas and Kaleb Griffith. 

A Nebraska signee and arguably the best wrestler in the state, Ornelas was a three-time undefeated state champion for Wilber-Clatonia in Class C.  He brings a 121-0 career record with him. A fourth-place finisher last year in Class B for Mount Michael Benedictine, Griffith comes in as a sophomore to wrestle at 157 pounds.

Despite returning most of its starting lineup, Creighton Prep will likely see a number of wrestlers moving up in weight class.

After winning a state title as a freshman at 106 pounds with a 50-1 record, the top sophomore in the state Cruzer Dominguez is moving up to 120 this year. Another returning state champion (at 113), Cole Caniglia will be at 126 to start his junior year. Then there’s Ornelas, who wrestled at 120 a year ago but will be up at 132 this year.

The top junior in the state, JT Smith returns as well after winning a state title this past February at 190. Smith was a 175-pound state finalist in 2024 as a freshman.

The Junior Jays also have state finalists Myles Sanchez (138), Kameron Green Jr. (126) and Roberto Macias-Sidzyik (285) in the lineup — Sanchez and Macias-Sidzyik will be at the same weight classes as last season, while Green is moving up to 144 for his sophomore year.

Rounding out Creighton Prep’s podium contenders, there’s returning placers Kieran Akerson (third at 132), Joe Novero (fourth at 165) and Bodi Knudsen (sixth at 150). Akerson is moving up to 150, Novero will be at 165 again, and Knudsen has moved up three weight classes to 175.

Creighton Prep starts its season on Friday at the Dan Gable Donnybrook, where they’ll face a number of top wrestlers from all over the Midwest, testing Nebraska’s best high school team early.

The Junior Jays will also be competing at tournaments like Ironman and The Clash while also taking on some top teams from both Iowa and Missouri — Don Bosco and Liberty.

Back On Top In Class B, Omaha Skutt Aims To Stay There

A dominant force for decades in Class B, Omaha Skutt has won two of the past three team state titles. The SkyHawks won 20 team titles in 21 years from 1998 through 2018.

Skutt was dominant last season as it scored 205 points at state, finishing 84.5 points ahead of second place. The SkyHawks were led by a pair of seniors in Cade Ziola and Cole Welte. Ziola was a three-time champion and is currently a freshman at Nebraska, while Welte won his first state title as a senior before heading to wrestle at Augustana.

“Cade and Cole were both amazing wrestlers and extremely dominant,” said Skutt coach Chas DeVetter. “We enjoyed having them and are excited for them as they pursue their college careers. They were also great leaders who brought a lot of toughness and energy.  As far as replacing points we don't really worry about that. It is a new season and everyone has a great opportunity this season, especially the young guys who have not competed in high school yet.”

Despite the losses of Ziola and Welte, the SkyHawks return a ton of talent — three-time state champion Tyler Harrill (an Air Force commit) at 165, two-time champ Ben Ziola (a North Carolina commit) at 150, and Riley Johnson (a South Dakota State commit) up at 190.

In addition, Skutt has returning state finalists Niko Rotella and Isaac Christo. Rotella is a Nebraska signee who is up from 157 to 175 this season, while Christo is up from 144 to 157. At 120, Gavin Ourada returns as well after placing third a year ago at 113.

“We have a team full of leaders — a lot of mature hardworking guys,” DeVetter said. “These seasoned vets have had a lot of success and know what it takes to keep getting better on a daily basis.“

Skutt will put out one of the toughest teams in the state regardless of class, especially at their middle weights where they have five guys from 150 through 190 who combine for seven state titles and 10 total finals appearances. Four of the five are DI commits.

With all that firepower, Skutt is the obvious favorite to win another team title, but the SkyHawks also have some freshmen coming in who could make some noise if they can make the lineup, especially at the lighter weights — Colton Strange at 106 (a youth state finalist), Levi DeVetter at 113 (third at youth state), Chase Urbanec at 126 (third) and Crew Carlson at 138 (finalist) to name a few.

“We also have a very good group of younger guys that work hard and love to wrestle,” coach DeVetter said. “They are definitely learning a lot about our team and culture as well as adding to it.”

Can Cedar Catholic Win Its First Class C State Title?

The Trojans of Cedar Catholic placed third last year in Class C, just 11.5 points behind champions Battle Creek and 10.5 behind runner-up Minden.

Going into this season though, Cedar Catholic is arguably the favorite after both Battle Creek and Minden graduated a pair of state champions each. 

On the other hand, the Trojans bring back a team that’s led by two returning state champs and two more who made the state final. A trio of Hochstein brothers are the backbone of this team with senior Brady going 48-1 last year at 175 with his only loss in the state final. Both juniors, Bodie won a title at 138 and Easton won at 144 with a perfect 51-0 record.

Easton has competed a lot over the offseason in all three styles, while Bodie has been recovering from a torn meniscus that he suffered last season. 

“That ability to branch out and see all different styles and wrestle people from all over the country really helps put tools into (Easton’s) toolbelt going forward,” said Cedar Catholic coach Justin Bartling. “Bodie Hochstein was injured last season and competed all year with a torn meniscus and spent his offseason healing and getting stronger. He also went along with Easton to those events and learned from the sideline.”

In addition to those three, Cedar Catholic also has senior Maverick Heine who made the final at 126 this past season. 

“Maverick, Brady, Bodie and Easton may be four of the most competitive athletes I have ever coached. They have a unique way to turn every drill or live match into a state finals type competition,” Bartling said. “They do a great job in the room making sure that every little detail matters and they get the rest of the team to get after every drill and every opportunity. They lead by example and they do a great job of working with everyone in the room.”

As for where these guys may wrestle this season, Bartling said Heine will be at 132, while Bodie will be up at 150. Easton moves up to 157, and Brady will go 165, although it’s possible that Brady and Easton switch. Regardless, that’s three straight weight classes against a Hochstein brother if you’re a dual opponent.

Three more wrestlers that Cedar Catholic is looking for points from as they push for their first team title in program history are Hunter Kuchta, Brody Kleinschmit and Keyan Wickre. Both Kuchta and Kleinschmit lost in the heartbreak round at districts last year, while Wickre is a freshman that Bartling likes at 126 pounds.

Burwell Returns Everyone From 2025 Class D Title Team

A really young team a year ago, Burwell won its first state title in seven years anyway. The Longhorns had two state champions and have returned five podium finishers from last year’s team.

“Our team really showed up on those days to wrestle, and to do it with a young team was very satisfying from the coaches' perspective, but it built a tremendous amount of confidence in our team,” said Burwell coach Luke Gideon.

Burwell’s two individual champs were Brody Jensen (113 pounds) and Drew Dawe (132). Both are now juniors with Jensen a two-time state champ sporting a 92-4 career record. Jensen will be at either 126 or 132 this year, while Dawe is at 138. 

“Brody wrestled most of the offseason and had an excellent tournament at Fargo,” Gideon said. “Drew Dawe is coming off a great football season.”

Also finding the podium for Burwell were Trentin Brown (third at 165), Cale Buss (third at 190) and Austin Mayfield (fourth at 138). Brown had knee surgery after the state tournament and has spent the offseason recovering. 

Gideon pointed to a number of young wrestlers who fell short of qualifying last year whom he expects to elevate themselves as the team hunts for back-to-back titles, as well as guys like Ora Chaffin at 120 and Cort Buss at 150 who both won matches at the state tournament last year but fell short of placing.