Junior Trindyn Degodt after claiming 4th place at state.
The Hastings High Tigers Wrestling team arrived at the Nebraska State Wrestling Championships with five qualifiers and left with four state medalists, a sixth-place team finish, and a tournament defined as much by resilience as results.
Assistant Coach Brandon Kile described the state tournament as a test of both physical and mental strength as the Tigers fought through the consolation bracket.
“The state tournament is three days of triumphs, failures, and emotions,” Kile said. “Our five state qualifiers displayed resilience and represented the Tiger-style brand with courage, confidence, and fearlessness.”
Those five qualifiers are seniors Emmet Kelley and Zane Thomsen, Logan Clark, junior Trindyn DeGodt, and sophomore Balin Bruyere, who pushed Hastings into the top six as a team.
Head Coach Nolan Laux pointed to the group’s leadership and consistency throughout the season as a driving force behind their success.
“We had a great year,” Laux said. “Our upperclassmen carried a large portion of the load in duals throughout the season.”
The Tigers’ four medalists, Degodt, Thompson, Kelley, and Clark, reflected a program standard built on preparation and belief.
“Having four state medalists is awesome for our program,” Laux said. “We believe in our athletes and know they are capable of achieving their goals. We hold our wrestlers to the standard of expecting to compete against and beat any wrestler from any school.”
For Kelley, the tournament marked both a breakthrough and a farewell. After missing the state tournament the previous year, he returned determined to make the most of his final opportunity.
“It was pretty awesome,” Kelley said. “I hadn’t placed before and I didn’t even go to state last year, so it was really exciting just to be on the podium.”
Kelley faced top-ranked competition early, including a matchup against an opponent from Omaha Skutt. Despite being defeated, he found confidence in how he competed.
“Even though I lost, I still wrestled really well,” Kelley said. “I told myself that if I could wrestle guys that good really close, then nobody on the backside could beat me.”
That mindset carried him through the consolation rounds, where each match could have been the last of his career.
“You’re pretty much out of lives on the backside,” Kelley said. “Knowing that if I lost it would be my last match ever kind of motivated me to go out and get it done.”
After more than a decade in the sport, Kelley said finishing on the podium brought a sense of closure and pride.
“I’ve been wrestling for about 13 years,” Kelley said. “To end it like that, on the podium after a great season, feels really good.”
Thomsen’s tournament followed a different path but required the same level of determination. After a quarterfinal loss ended his chances at a state title, the challenge became resetting both mentally and emotionally for the matches ahead.
“Zane was heartbroken after his quarterfinal loss,” Kile said. “The context of that loss meant he could no longer be a state champion.”
Thomsen acknowledged the difficulty of continuing after falling short of his primary goal.
“The biggest challenge was wrestling the next match after two tough losses,” Thompsen said. “I knew I had already fallen short of my goals, but I had to focus on the next best thing, which is easier said than done.”
Instead of shying away from the moment, Thomsen leaned into it.
“I try to embrace those tough matches because that’s what I train for all year,” Thompsen said. “I want the chance to wrestle the best competition in the state and prove myself.”
His response did not go unnoticed by the coaching staff.
“The way Zane wrestled back through the consolation bracket took a lot of heart,” Kile said. “I’m glad he responded and earned his second state medal. Nobody can take that performance from him.”
Across the lineup, that ability to respond after adversity became a defining theme. According to Kile, each Hastings qualifier won the match immediately following their first loss.
“That’s resilience,” Kile said.
Many of those wins came in the consolation bracket, Laux said the team’s approach remained consistent regardless of circumstance.
“Our wrestlers showed resilience throughout the tournament by winning multiple matches on the consolation side,” Laux said. “Their attitude is always about striving for the next best thing. If you can’t get first anymore, then go get third.”
Experience played a role in how the Tigers handled the state stage. Each of the five qualifiers had previously competed at the tournament, allowing them to approach the environment with a level of familiarity and composure.
“All five had been to state before, so they knew what to expect,” Laux said. “As a program, we pride ourselves on peaking at the right time.”
Preparation leading into the tournament emphasized confidence and trust in the work put in throughout the season.
“The language around our program in the final two weeks centered on believing in our ability and trusting that we would be ready for our moment,” Laux said. “Our qualifiers were ready.”
That preparation extended beyond physical training. Both coaches highlighted the importance of leadership, particularly from the senior class, in shaping the team’s mindset.
“There are infinitely more private moments than the performances fans see under the lights,” Kile said. “Our seniors showed poise, confidence, and light-heartedness until it was time to compete.”
Laux echoed that sentiment, noting the impact senior behavior has on the entire program.
“Senior leadership is vital for success,” he said. “Our seniors carry themselves in a professional manner in their daily training, and the underclassmen see that and follow their example.”
Behind the results, both coaches pointed to the culture of the program as the foundation for sustained success.
“Our program has been blessed with dedicated athletes,” Kile said. “Success is a reflection of the support, coaching, and effort invested year-round by athletes, families, and staff.”
For Laux, the defining characteristic of the team was not just medals or placement.
“I’m most proud of our team’s heart,” Laux said. “Through the ups and downs, our athletes kept showing up every day and working to get better.”
As the season comes to a close, the departure of senior leaders and coaches marks the end of one chapter while leaving a clear example for those returning athletes. The foundation, according to the coaching staff, will remain firmly in place.
“Momentum, tradition, culture, excellence,” Kile said. “The Hastings wrestling program continues to stay relevant because Hastings is for real.”
