With district tournaments coming up this weekend in Nebraska, there are a number of wrestlers angling to make history at the state tournament the following week. 

There have been a total of 38 four-time state champions in the four-class state of Nebraska, but that number could reach 40 after next week.

The most notable of the bunch may be 2021 World champion Thomas Gillman, who won four titles from 2009-12 for Omaha Skutt, but the most recent additions to the four-timer club came last season when Tyson Terry won his fourth Class A heavyweight title and Kyler Lauridsen won his fourth in Class B for Bennington. 

A generational wrestler from Nebraska, Terry not only became the first freshman in Class A to win a state title at heavyweight, he also became the first to ever win four titles exclusively at heavyweight. He finished his career with a 169-0 record before going on to join the Nebraska football team as a defensive tackle this past fall.

Lauridsen joined his older brother Kael Lauridsen — a redshirt freshman for the Huskers — as the only set of brothers to both win four state titles in state history. 

Here are the 11 wrestlers in Nebraska who have already won state titles and are still on track to potentially win four.

Two Seniors Going for Number Four

Zaiyahn Ornelas (Creighton Prep)

A Husker signee wrestling for Creighton Prep, Zaiyahn Ornelas wrestled his first three seasons at Wilber-Clatonia in Class C, where he went undefeated on the way to all three of his titles at 106, 113 and 120 pounds. He went 121-0 for the Wolverines before transferring for his senior season to Creighton Prep in Class A. Now up at 126 against stiffer competition, Ornelas has been nearly flawless in an injury-shortened season. He’s 13-1 on the year with his only loss coming to Hayden Schwab out of Don Bosco in Iowa. Ornelas lost a 2-0 decision to the future Northern Iowa Panther, who is ranked #15 nationally. Ornelas still hasn’t lost a match to an in-state foe in his career. This past weekend at the Class A state dual championships, Ornelas helped the Blue Jays earn the team title by going 3-0 with two pins and another win via technical fall. Coming up at the A1 District Tournament, Ornelas is on a collision course with North Platte’s Tyler Haneborg who is 41-1 on the year, presenting a serious challenge as he looks for a top seed at the state tournament.

Tyler Harrill (Omaha Skutt)

An Air Force signee from Omaha Skutt, Tyler Harrill is a heavy favorite in Class B at 165 pounds this year. Harrill has won titles at 145, 144 and 150 pounds. Including his 33-5 record this season, Harrill holds a career record of 157-17 for the SkyHawks. All five losses this season for Harrill came at national tournaments Ironman and the Reno Tournament of Champions. If Harrill wins his fourth title, he would be the sixth wrestler to accomplish the feat for Nebraska prep power Omaha Skutt which has the most of any school. Last time out at the Class B state dual championships, Harrill helped Skutt win a team title with three wins via first-period fall. This weekend at the B1 District Tournament, Harrill’s top competition will likely come from Jace Larchick (39-5) out of Gretna East, who is down at 165 after spending most of the season at 175.

Three On Track For Their Third

Ben Ziola (Omaha Skutt)

A teammate of Harrill’s at Omaha Skutt, North Carolina commit Ben Ziola won state titles as a freshman at 106 and as a sophomore at 126 before moving up multiple weight classes again this year to 150 pounds. Ziola is 30-5 this season and has a 105-14 career record. All five of his losses this year have come to national competition at Ironman, the Gardner Edgerton Invite and Reno TOC where he made the tournament final. Last weekend at state duals, Ziola won all three of his matches via pinfall in the first period. 

Brody Jensen (Burwell) 

After winning titles at 106 and 113 pounds the last two years, Brody Jensen is up at 132 for his junior season at Burwell in Class D. Including his 44-1 record this season, Jensen holds a career record of 136-5 for the Longhorns. Jensen has won 25 matches this year via pin with his only loss a 7-3 decision to Waverly’s Dominic Olson in the semifinal round of the Council Bluffs Classic in December. At the Class D state dual championships this past weekend, Jensen bumped up to 138 pounds and won both his matches with bonus points, securing a pin and a tech fall to help his team win the team title. If Jensen ends up winning four state titles in his career, he’ll be the first in school history to do so. If he wins his third this month, he’ll be just the second in Burwell history to do so and the first since 1987 when his dad Mark Jensen accomplished the feat.

Uriel Guzman (Palmer) 

Wrestling in Class D for Palmer High School, Uriel Guzman secured a state title as a freshman with a 50-9 record before putting together a dominant sophomore year, going 54-0 en route to his second state crown. This season, Guzman is up at 132 pounds, where he’s 35-2 on the year with one of his losses coming to Jensen 16-3 by major decision in the South Loup Invite final last month, setting up a potential showdown between two guys going for their third state titles. If Guzman is able to win his third title, he’ll be the first in Palmer history to do so.

Six Sophomores Looking To Repeat

Cruzer Dominguez (Creighton Prep) 

After winning a Class A state title at 106 pounds for Creighton Prep, Cruzer Dominguez is a heavy favorite again this year at 120. Dominguez is 30-5 this season with a number of big wins, including a 6-3 decision over Don Bosco’s Hendrix Schwab in a dual and an individual title at the KC Stampede in December. He has never lost to an in-state opponent. Facing top-level national competition at Ironman, Dominguez placed eighth as a freshman at 106 pounds but fell in the bloodround this season at 120. He’s also a three-time Fargo All-American and a Preseason National Champion in 2025.

Ace Schweitzer (Central City) 

Another wrestler who won a state title at 106 as a freshman, Ace Schweitzer out of Central City has been one of the most dominant performers in the state this season. He’s 45-0 with 33 wins via fall, one by tech fall and the rest coming by forfeit. At the Class C state dual championships, Schweitzer wrestled two matches at 113 pounds and got the first-period stick in both as his team secured a runner-up finish. 

Coy Childers (Alliance)

Last season, Alliance High School’s Coy Childers went 42-1 on the way to his first Class B state title at 113 pounds. This season up at 132, he’s been similarly dominant with his 32-1 record at this point of the year. Half of Childers’ wins have come via pinfall this year with his only loss coming to Class A favorite Creighten Lassen of Millard West via 13-4 major decision in a late January dual.

Adryck Stewart (Plainview)

As a freshman last season, Plainview’s Adryck Stewart was perfect at 106 with a 43-0 record. This season, he’s 23-1 up at 120 pounds with his only loss coming via pinfall to Elm Creek’s Brett Larson who he will see again this week at the D2 District Tournament. Of Stewart’s 23 victories this season, 18 of them have come by pin. At the Class D state dual championships, Stewart won both his matches via first-period fall.

Drake Troxel (Southern)

As a freshman a year ago, Southern’s Drake Troxel won his Class D state title at 144 pounds with a 49-2 record. This year, he’s up at 150 pounds with a 23-2 record on the year — 16 of his wins have come by pin.

Lincoln Nekoliczak (Central Valley)

Also in Class D, Central Valley’s Lincoln Nekoliczak is looking to repeat after winning his first state title at 120 pounds as a freshman with a 39-6 record. Up at 126 this season, Nekoliczak is 26-4 on the year and will face a tough bracket at this year’s Class D state championships.

In the upcoming D3 District Tournament, Nekoliczak will have his hands full in a big potential matchup against Twin River junior Zach Held, who has finished third at the state tournament twice.