Coach Jake Prochaska wanted all seven of the Centennial girls to qualify for the 2025 state wrestling tournament, but only one did. Lainey Abell finished third at 190 pounds to punch her ticket to the tournament.
“She’s the first girls’ qualifier Centennial has ever had,” Prochaska said. “Her goal was to make state. Now it’s to medal at state.”
Abell was 3-1 with three pins, including a pin of Kennedy Blevins from Lyons-Decatur Northeast in the third-place match.
Two other wrestlers lost in the opportunity round, also known as the consolation semifinals. Kobie Kosek at 100 pounds and Jaclynn Prigge at 170 pounds couldn’t get through that round to the medals.
“They all wrestled good,” Prochaska said of the Bronco team. “We had our chances.”
With no seniors on this year’s team, he’s looking forward to having everyone back with a year of experience.
The state tournament starts Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. Abell (25-10) will wrestle Libby Evans (27-5) of Elgin Public/Pope John in the first round.
