Sidney's Houser, Bridgeport's Menke to wrestle for state gold Saturday

OMAHA, NE — A pair of wrestlers from the southern panhandle will try to bring home state championships Saturday. 

Sidney's Chance Houser defeated Waverly's Garrison Brehm by 8-6 decision in Friday's semifinal round to advance to the gold medal match Saturday afternoon. Houser, wrestling at 113 pounds, picked up a pair of pinfall victories in the first two rounds of the tournament Thursday. Houser will match up wit Kael Lauridsen of Bennington in the championship match.

There's also a Bulldog going for gold Saturday. Steven Menke downed Gabe Escalante from Winside by 6-4 decision in Friday's semifinals. Like Houser, Menke won his first two matches at the state tournament via pin. Menke will face Thayer Central's Gunner Mumford in the Class D 160-pound championship match.

Championship matches begin at 3 p.m. CST Saturday in Omaha.

One other Sidney wrestler has brought home a medal from state. Austin Munier finished fourth place at this year's state championships at 126 pounds. He advanced to the third-place bout, but fell by 8-6 decision to Beatrice's Bryce Karlin in the bronze medal match.