The Top 10 Nebraska High School Wrestlers
The Top 10 Nebraska High School Wrestlers
Take a look at the accomplishments of the top 10 Nebraska high school wrestlers through the first half of the season.
Now that we’re into the second half of the wrestling season, let’s take a look at who makes up the Nebraska high school Big Board — the top 10 wrestlers in the state regardless of class or weight.
These 10 wrestlers hold a total of 17 state titles and have won individual titles at some big tournaments this season, like the Cheesehead and the Council Bluffs Classic. Seven of them have already committed or signed to wrestle in Division I, including two future Nebraska Huskers.
Some of these ten were obvious choices, but there were a lot of names in consideration for the final few spots.
A two-time state champion in Nebraska’s Class A — the state’s largest class — Petersen is a senior and a Nebraska signee. The top 157-pounder in the state, Petersen is ranked #14 nationally at 150 pounds.
He’s currently 30-0 on the year with 24 wins via fall. This past weekend, Petersen won an individual title at the Norm Manstedt Invite, surpassing 150 career wins. He now has 111 sticks in his career.
Petersen went 51-1 as a junior on the way to his 150-pound state title after winning at 138 as a sophomore, knocking off two-time champion Miles Anderson of Millard South in the state final.
A Fargo All-American in 2025 in Greco-Roman, Petersen also placed sixth at Super 32 this fall after making it to the semifinal round. A two-time Fall Brawl champion as well, Petersen is a heavy favorite to win a third state title before heading to Lincoln.
2. Kiernan Meink (Millard South)
A two-time state champion in Class A, Meink seems to have hit another level up at 138 pounds for his senior season. Meink signed with SIUE this fall.
As a freshman, Meink won a state title at 106 pounds. As a sophomore he finished third at 120 pounds and got back on top of the podium as a junior at 126 with a 44-3 record.
This season, Meink is 26-1 with his only loss a 3-2 decision to Brody Kell of North Point, Mo. at the KC Stampede. Before that, Meink won a title at the Council Bluffs Classic by sticking all seven of his opponents.
Last time out, Meink won an individual title at the Cheesehead in Wisconsin. In the final, he beat Iowa’s top 138-pounder, Nico DeSalvo of Southeast Polk, by 12-8 decision. DeSalvo is a two-time Iowa state champion and an Arizona State commit.
3. Zaiyahn Ornelas (Creighton Prep)
A three-time undefeated state champion in Class C for Wilber-Clatonia, Ornelas took his 121-0 career record to Creighton Prep of Class A for his senior season. He also signed on to wrestle at Nebraska next season.
A three-time All-American at Fargo — including a 16U finals run in Greco in 2024 — Ornelas has also placed at the U17 US Open and the 2024 U17 World Team Trials. Just before the start of this season, Ornelas won an individual title at Fall Brawl.
Ornelas missed the first half of the season with an injury and returned last week, winning dual matches against Norfolk and Omaha Skutt via fall and technical fall. On Tuesday night, Ornelas faced off against Hayden Schwab of Don Bosco in a dual triangular against Don Bosco and Dowling Catholic of Iowa. The oldest son of Northern Iowa coach Doug Schwab, Hayden Schwab earned a 2-0 decision over Ornelas, handing him his first career high school loss. Ornelas rebounded with a 19-3 tech against Dowling Catholic’s Josh Bergkamp.
Despite the loss against #15 Hayden Schwab, Ornelas is one of Nebraska’s top talents and will be a favorite to win a fourth individual state title.
4. Cruzer Dominguez (Creighton Prep)
As a freshman last season, Dominguez won a state title at 106 pounds in Class A with a 29-4 record on the year. This season, he’s currently 25-5 on the year at 120 pounds with all five losses coming against out-of-state wrestlers – he has yet to lose a high school match to a Nebraska wrestler.
Dominguez started this season by placing fourth at the Dan Gable Donnybrook before going 4-2 at Ironman, falling in the blood round 8-4 to #9 Alex Rozas, a Virginia Tech signee. Since then, Dominguez bonused his way through the KC Stampede and has recorded only pins and techs against in-state competition.
On Tuesday night against Don Bosco, Dominguez beat Hendrix Schwab 6-3. In the next match, Dominguez suffered an upset loss against Dowling Catholic’s Kayden Eller via fall. Dominguez was in deep on an early double-leg when he got chest-wrapped over to his back for the fall loss 20 seconds in.
In 2024, Dominguez was a double All-American in the 16U division at Fargo and a PNL Freestyle champion – he beat Hayden Schwab 14-5 in that final. This past offseason, Dominguez placed seventh at Fargo in the Junior division in freestyle and won a title at Preseason Nationals.
The younger brother of Nebraska high school legend and current Husker Cade Ziola, Ben Ziola is already a two-time state champion in Class B. After winning at 106 as a freshman and 126 as a sophomore, Ben Ziola is up at 150 for his junior season.
A North Carolina commit, Ben Ziola is 17-5 on the year after finishing fourth at the Gardner Edgerton Invite and going 1-2 at Ironman. He has since rebounded with an impressive performance at the Reno Tournament of Champions, where he made it to the 150-pound final, falling to #5 Michael Romero of St. John Bosco via fall.
Against in-state competition this season, Ben Ziola is 8-0 with wins over the three best 150-pounders in Class A – 9-4 over Brady Danze of Millard South, 8-3 over Kieran Akerson of Creighton Prep, and 7-3 over Carter Eisenmann of Columbus.
A Virginia signee, Wagner is looking for his first state title this season after an impressive Super 32 run. Wagner is ranked #10 nationally at heavyweight.
Wagner went 5-1 at Super 32 with his only loss an 8-3 decision to #9 Kameron Hazelett of Lowell in Indiana. Wagner beat #15 Isaiah Taylor of AIM Academy 5-4 in the third-place match.
At the Class A state tournament last season, Wagner came as close as anyone to beating eventual four-time undefeated state champion Tyson Terry. Wagner took Terry to tiebreakers before eventually dropping the match 2-1. Wagner went on to place fifth for his second podium finish at the state tournament.
In Fargo in 2024 was where Wagner really put his name on the map when he placed third in Greco and fourth in freestyle in the 16U division at heavyweight.
7. Tyler Harrill (Omaha Skutt)
In the state of Nebraska, Harrill has been pretty untouchable since he got to high school – he’s won three state titles in Class B. In 2023, he became a Nebraska “Triple Crown” winner with state titles in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco.
Harrill has won state titles at 145, 144 and 150 pounds. As a junior, he finished the year with a 32-2 record after going 39-3 as a sophomore.
An Air Force signee, Harrill is 22-5 this year up at 165 pounds. He started his season by making it to the Gardner Edgerton Invite finals before going 2-2 at Ironman and 3-2 at Reno TOC. Against in-state foes, Harrill is 12-0 with a pin and nine wins via tech.
8. Riley Johnson (Omaha Skutt)
Another Skutt standout, Johnson has won two state titles at 165 pounds after making the final as a freshman at 160.
At Fargo, Johnson is a three-time 16U All-American, placing sixth in freestyle in 2023 before coming in seventh in both styles in 2024. Also in 2023, Johnson made the finals at Preseason Nationals.
A South Dakota State signee, Johnson is off to a 19-4 start to his senior season up at 190 pounds. He went 2-2 at Ironman and recently placed seventh at Reno TOC. Against in-state competition, Johnson is 8-0 with one pin and seven techs.
Last time out, Johnson made an in-state statement when he beat Class A state champion JT Smith of Creighton Prep 19-4 by tech fall.
A Nebraska-Kearney signee, Delano has been dominant the past two seasons. After making it to the state final as a sophomore, Delano went 41-2 as a junior to win his first state title in Class A at 165 pounds.
This season, Delano is 26-1 on the year with 22 wins coming with bonus points. Delano spent the first half of the season up at 190 before moving down to 175 for the Norm Manstedt Invite, where he won his second career title there.
Delano’s only loss of the year came in the Council Bluffs Classic final against Tad Forsyth of Blue Valley in Kansas by 4-2 decision – Forsyth is a Husker signee who also beat Delano last season via 8-3 decision in the semifinal round.
10. Easton Hochstein (Cedar Catholic)
Out of Class C, Hochstein has been a dominant force for Cedar Catholic along with his brothers Bodie and Brady.
A junior this season, Hochstein was dominant as a sophomore with a perfect 51-0 record. He’s continued that trend this season – he’s 20-0 with 16 wins via fall. After wrestling at 157 during the first semester, Hochstein is down at 150 now.
Over the summer, Hochstein wrestled a lot on the AAU circuit, winning an AAU State Nebraska title at 150 before going 7-1 at National Duals and 8-2 at Scholastic Duals.