After a strong first half of the season, Nebraska wrestlers are starting to prepare for title runs.

Wrestling in the Cornhusker State has improved by leaps and bounds over the past decade with clubs like MWC, CWO, Golden Eagles, and Nebraska Boyz getting kids exposed to the sport early and across the Midwest. The effects are starting to show as these kids start to get into high school. 

There are a number of guys who have already committed to schools for the next level. As we prepare the next generation of student-athletes these wrestlers have already gotten off to a hot start this season. All rankings courtesy of NEWrestle.com.

• Jakason Burks (Omaha Burke) signed with Oklahoma State
• Maxx Mayfield (Lincoln East) signed with Northwestern
• Isaac Trumble (Millard South) signed with North Carolina State
• Grady Griess (Grand Island Northwest) signed with Navy
• Damen Pape (Hastings) signed with Northern Colorado 

Below are  wrestlers in each class who hope to make some noise in this upcoming postseason.

Seniors

Gage Krolikowski (Valentine) is currently ranked #1 in Class C at 138 pounds and is going for his fourth state title this year. He is 133-1 in his career. He had a strong showing at the Virginia Beach Open last March, going 6-2 and losing in the bloodround. He is currently 13-0 with 13 pins. 

Kasten Grape (Columbus) is currently ranked #1 in Class A at 195 pounds. He won the state title last year at 220 pounds. Grape had a nice performance in Fargo this summer, he was a Greco All-American, and he went 4-2 in freestyle. Grape is a two-time Northern Plains Freestyle champion and a Greco champion. He has carried that momentum into this season. Grape is 24-0 and 17 falls. Grape has over 150 wins in his career. 

Juniors

Drew Arnold (Beatrice) was a runner-up at state last year following a fifth-place finish as a freshman. He is the top-ranked wrestler in Class B at 120 pounds. Arnold was a runner-up at Fall Brawl falling to Flo #19 Jerimiah Reno 4-3 in the finals. He placed third at Pre-Season Nationals before the season started. Arnold went 3-2 in freestyle at Fargo. He has continued his form, going 19-1, and he has split matches with Class A second-ranked Emilio Haynes. Arnold has 14 falls on the season.

Conor Knopick (Millard South) is a third-place (SO) and fourth-place (FR) finisher in Nebraska. He is the top-ranked 132-pounder in Class A and has dominated this season. Knopick was a Cadet Greco World Team member this summer. He wrestled in Super 32 this spring where he finished fifth at 126 pounds. Knopick finished in first at Monster match. Knopick is a Northern plains Freestyle and Greco Champion. He is 20-1 with 19 bonus point wins. His lone loss is to Kyle Dutton from Liberty, MO. He is 132-8 in his career.

Sophomores

Garrett Grice (Bellevue East) entered the season as the top-ranked 120-pounder in Class A. Grice is a Fargo Freestyle All-American. He was the Monster Match Nationals champion including a victory over Flo #19 Jett Strickenberger. Grice was 2-2 at Super 32, falling to Flo #9 Dustin Norris. He is a returning state champion. Grice is 16-1 with 16 bonus-point wins. His only loss is a 5-4 decision to Flo #5 Jakason Burks.

Brandon Baustert (Lincoln East) was a fourth-place finisher as a freshman last year. Baustert went 6-2 at Pre-Season Nationals. He is the top-ranked 113-pound wrestler in Class A and has been rolling this season. He is 16-1 with 10 bonus point wins this season including over the #2- and #3-ranked wrestlers in Nebraska. Baustert’s lone loss is to Parker Witcraft from Broken Arrow (OK).

Tyler Antoniak (Millard South) has not been touched all season. He was a U15 Greco World Champion over the summer. He was fifth at Pre Season Nationals and runner-up at Monster Match Nationals. He was a runner-up in state last season losing to Mayfield in the finals. Antoniak is 22-0 with 19 bonus-point wins.

Lone Freshman

Kael Lauridsen (Bennington) is the second-ranked wrestler at 106 pounds in Class B. In the summer he was a bronze medalist in freestyle at the U15 World Championships. He has walked through the competition this season. He is 20-0 with all but one match ending in fall or tech fall he has wins over the top two ranked wrestlers Class A.