PREVIEW: Beatrice wrestling confident, ready for state championship

BEATRICE - There’s no shortage of storyline's for Beatrice wrestling heading into the state championship.

Beatrice has their first girl wrestler at state, a two-time state champion returns from a major injury, and they look to make it over the hump after last year’s runner-up finish in Class B.

Senior Cole Maschmann has been here before and talked about what it takes to be successful at state.

“Obviously the goal is to win it all,” Maschmann said. “I think as a team we can do amazing. My strategy is just to wrestle to my potential. I know what I need to do and what it takes to do my best.”

Senior Trevor Reinke, Beatrice’s two-time state champion, recently returned from a severe leg injury. A recovery time of up to six months was shortened to a matter of weeks. Reinke traveled nearly two hours to Council Bluffs, IA. multiple days a week to make it back for his senior season outing at state.

“Been going for about two days a week up until now,” Reinke said. “Started off with non-evasive stuff, to work around the bone, then like three weeks in, we started walking on it, doing little things and then started lifting.”

Beatrice wrestling coach Jordan Johnson has watched Reinke’s recovery from beginning to end.

“He’s put in the time, he really has,” Johnson said. “He’s a smart kid, always has been. He’s been really smart about this recovery, listened to people he needs to listen to, he’s been really great about how to manage it, probably above his years.”

Reinke has done non-contact practice since returning. While he’s still getting back into the swing of things, he says he’s ready for the weekend in Omaha.

“I feel pretty good, a little rusty,” Reinke said. “That’s to be expected, but I think if I wrestle at my pace, I shouldn’t have much of an issue.”

Beatrice will have their first Lady Orange wrestler at state this weekend. Autumn Bartlett is ready to represent Beatrice as the first girl wrestler in school history at the state championship, but she’s keeping in mind her teammates who won’t be at state.

“It feels good, but also bad, because there’s a lot of other teammates who also worked their butts off to get where they’re at today,” Bartlett said.

She’s also one of several Beatrice wrestlers making their first appliance at state. Bartlett says those with state championship experience have given her guidance leading up to the weekend.

“They’ve all told me it’s a really fun experience,” Bartlett said. “It’s really laid back. It’s almost like another tournament.”

Someone who is no stranger to the state championships is Trevor Reinke. Even having missed time due to injury, he’s ready to rock.

“My adrenaline’s pumping,” Reinke said. “Really excited. Not as nervous as some people might be, I’m just ready to go.”

Beatrice fell to Gering in a close one a year ago. Beatrice looks to avenge that this weekend.

“I hope that motivates them a lot, it motivates me,” Johnson said. “And it’s not without reason. We’ve had guys injured and in and out of the lineup, but I know what I have in the room, I know what they’re made of, and I think we can do a lot of great things.”

“I want my teammates and team to do great, but as long as we focus on ourselves, for the most part, the job will get done,” Reinke said.