The state of Nebraska has seen a number of outstanding performances to begin the season as we roll the calendar over to 2026.

This is certainly not a list of the top 10 wrestlers in the state, but here are 10 wrestlers who have impressed in the first month of the season — many of whom are still undefeated.

Khy’ree Thomas-Calloway (Omaha Bryan) – Junior, 113 pounds

Last season, Thomas-Calloway placed third at the Nebraska state tournament in Class A with a 48-1 record — his only loss coming in the state semifinal. He’s off to an equally hot start this season with a 17-0 record on the year with 15 wins via fall and another by technical fall. His only win by decision was when he handed Erik Prado of Johnson County Central his first loss of the season in the final of the Peru State Invite. Prado is 11-1 with all of his wins coming by pin or tech.

Thomas-Calloway earned his 100th career win at his first tournament of the season when he won the Fremont Invite, and he looks to be on a collision course with Columbus’ undefeated Carter Booze (16-0), who just won a title at the Council Bluffs Classic.

Creighten Lassen (Millard West) – Senior, 132 pounds

A three-time state placer in Class A, Lassen has been dominant this season. He’s 19-0 with all bonus-point wins (eight pins, nine techs, two major decisions). At the Council Bluffs Classic, Lassen sliced through a tough field for the individual title at 132 pounds. 

Last time out, Lassen went 5-0 with three pins and two techs at the Al Garrison Duals against a field of teams from Iowa. For a guy who has been solid throughout his career, Lassen seems to have hit another level in his senior season for the Wildcats as he looks to end his career on top of the podium.

Preston Wagner (Fremont) – Senior, 285 pounds

A Virginia signee, Wagner is a two-time state placer in Class A for the Tigers of Fremont. He was also a 16U double All-American at Fargo in 2024. Wagner went 25-3 last year and nearly knocked off undefeated four-time state champion Tyson Terry in the semifinal round at the state tournament, eventually losing the match 2-1. 

Wagner is 16-0 to start the year with 10 pins, three techs and a major. At the Council Bluffs Classic, he went 7-0 with five wins via pin. Last time out, Wagner picked up his biggest win of the year when he beat returning state finalist Roberto Macias-Sidzyik 7-3 in the final of the Tom Dineen Invite in what could be a preview of this season’s Class A state final at heavyweight.

Rudy Rodriguez (Grand Island) – Senior, 120 pounds

Grand Island is having a great year in Class A, and a lot of that success has been due to Rodriguez. He’s 18-1 with 11 wins via fall. A third-place finisher at the Council Bluffs Classic, Rodriguez fell in the semis to one of South Dakota’s best Brendon Oehme of Brandon Valley 4-1 in sudden victory.

At the Flatwater Fracas, a dual tournament, Rodriguez won all seven of his matches with big wins over Oscar Kriegler (5-0) and Jameson Small (10-5). Small made the CBC final for a Kearney team that won the team title there, but Rodriguez and Grand Island flipped the script when they beat the Bearcats 36-26 in the Fracas final.

A guy with a win over Lassen last season, Rodriguez has shown he’s good enough to end his career as a state champion.

Merrick Johnson (Beatrice) – Senior, 190 pounds

A two-time state finalist and 2025 state champion in Class B, Johnson is no stranger to winning, and he’s done a lot of it this season. He’s 14-0 with every win coming with bonus points — five pins and nine techs.

Johnson hasn’t given up a takedown this season. He outscored his opponents 62-1 in four matches at the York Invite earlier in the year and just scored 37 points without giving up a single one at the Plattteview Invite. 

After falling in the 190-pound state final as a sophomore, Johnson dropped to 175 as a junior and won his state title with a 51-1 record on the year. This season, he’s back up at 190 for his senior year – he’s the early favorite to win his second state crown.

Logan Svoboda (Aurora) – Junior, 132 pounds

Ever since entering the high school field, Svoboda has been a contender in Class B — he placed third at 120 as a freshman before making it to the 126-pound final as a sophomore with a 45-4 record on the year. His third-place finish as a freshman was Aurora’s highest in school history for a freshman.

Up at 132 pounds this year, Svoboda has been one of the best in the state. He’s 18-0 with 15 wins via fall. He recently pinned his way through the Platteview Invite, earning his 100th career victory along the way.

At the moment, it looks like a three-person race in Class B at 132 between Svoboda, Waverly’s Dominic Olson and Columbus Lakeview’s Jack Glendy, all of whom are undefeated.

Ace Schweitzer (Central City) – Sophomore, 106 pounds

As a freshman last season, Schweitzer made his mark by winning a Class B state title at 106 pounds with a 49-4 record on the year. This year, Central City is in Class C, and Schweitzer is the early favorite to find the top of the podium again, especially considering he placed third at Preseason Nationals this fall. 

On the year, Schweitzer is 14-0 with every win coming via fall despite facing a tough slate. He’s pinned two very impressive freshmen in Jaydyn Schommer of Aquinas Catholic and Kael Stusse of Battle Creek, handing them both their first and only career losses. 

Jace Martin (Wood River) – Senior, 126 pounds

One of the most credentialed wrestlers in the state who hasn’t won a state title, Martin is a two-time finalist in Class C. Last season, he went 44-4 at 113 pounds before falling in the state final.

This season, Martin is 17-0 with 14 bonus-point wins – he earned an important win at the Logan View Invite when he beat North Bend Central’s Philip Streff 9-2 in the final. Streff was also a Class C state finalist last season as a freshman at 106 pounds. 

Most recently, Martin went 4-0 at the Sutton Duals with three pins and a 15-0 win via tech.

Easton Weidner (Doniphan-Trumbull) – Freshman, 113 pounds

One of the top freshmen in the state this year, Weidner is undefeated with a 16-0 record – all of his wins have come with bonus points (11 pins, 4 techs and a major). 

Weidner announced himself this year at the Wood River Invite when he beat returning Class D state finalist Tristan Davis of Aquinas Catholic 11-2 by major. He then went on to dominate the field at the Flatwater Fracas, going 8-0 with seven pins and an 18-2 win via tech.

At this point, Weidner looks like a heavy favorite to win his first Class C state title.

Luke Harms (Weeping Water) – Senior, 165 pounds

A state placer last year in Class D, Harms has upped his game considerably to start his senior season – he’s a perfect 20-0 with 16 wins via fall. 

Last time out, Harms recorded five pins and a win via tech at the JCC Thunderbird Invite. He also pinned his way through the Bob Oliver Pin Invite on Dec. 13. 

Harms could be on a collision course this season with Central Valley’s also-undefeated William Pokorny at 165 in Class D.

Nebraska High School Premium Rankings

Check out the Nebraska High School Wrestling Premium Rankings, which are generated by using an athlete’s complete match history to predict a wrestler’s performance against others in their weight class by considering factors such as win-loss records, the quality of their victories (pins, technical falls, major decisions), the strength of their opponents and overall historical performance patterns. 

The data is updated every Monday, sourced from the Trackwrestling season results. Since each team is responsible for maintaining their season results, any data discrepancies for a wrestler should be addressed by contacting their coach to manage the information within the season. This includes the weight class assigned. Wrestlers are eligible to be ranked after competing in five matches at a single weight.