Nebraska State Wrestling

Good day readers of this blog...It is my first posting on this blog. If you want to see some of my other writing you can catch it on "Get The KO" for UFC Events and Results.

But I wanted to take the time and talk about something near and dear to my heart...Nebraska Wrestling. I had been wrestling for 10 years and loved every minute of it, on occasion I still jump on the mats and roll with some friends, but not to the extent that I was did. People are right when they say it is like riding a bike. All you have to do is jump on and pedal and the body will remember the rest. When I was in high school, I wrestled between 140-157lbs., I went to Bayard High School in Bayard, Nebraska home of the Tigers. I have been fortunate to wrestle with some of the coolest and best people around. Numerous state qualifiers, placers, and even champions. When I went to college I wrestled in Iowa at a place called Northwestern College, I was there for a year and half and to be honest, I got so much better being in there (but that is to be expected when you wrestle in the next level). 

While I was attending high school and college, there was a school around me who had won numerous titles in wrestling. That school was Omaha Skutt Catholic...as of yesterday 02/18/2017 they had just clinched their 19th our of 20 state titles. To me that is amazing, they have finished in the top 3 20 out of 20 times. The only time they did not win a state title they finished 2nd overall. You have to really sit in awe of a school that can produce that many championships, and stay as dominate as they have been. They have produced numerous state champions and to the best of my knowledge five 4-time State Champions (There has been 28 overall). Just under 25% of 4-time state champions have come from this one school. It is truly a feat that will go unmatched with lots more champions to still come.

The other thing I was very impressed with, was the evolution of the weight classes. I do not know about other people, but I was in shock by how much the wrestlers have changed. I know in the heavier weight classes wrestlers looked more in peak physical condition. Even the lightweight wrestlers were shredded up and looked like they had been chiseled out of stone. With the evolution of the sport it was amazing to see how far they had come since I was in high school. Maybe I was too close to see it but, I was thinking they all looked ready for the next level in competition. 

I was also impressed with the way Western Nebraska represented the wrestling community. Even though I have been away for sometime, it was still fun to see schools like Bayard, Scottsbluff, Morrill, and Mitchell involved. To see people from North Platte, Bridgeport, and Chase County placing in the tournament. If we could see an increase in the western schools in the state finals it would be amazing, but for now I am glad to see how well they are showing up. 

Another thing I found astonishing was how much mat time these wrestlers are getting, at one point there was a wrestler who was 60-2 for the year. To get 62 matches in one year was mind blowing to me. I know a lot of schools are going to a two day dual tournament format to get that kind of mat time which I think is great for the state of Nebraska. 

I want to give a big congrats to Bayard High School. We sent three to state, but they represented well with two of them placing in the tournament. I hope I am able to make it out next year during the tournament, I know my school will be bringing to Omaha a squad with them, and hopefully we will see them hold a team championship. 

Let me know what you think of the blog, or you can tweet out at me @cm_miller85 and do not forget to check out my other blog Get The KO...the link is www.blogspot.com/gettheko

-Clifford Miller

Super Bowl LI

Whats happening world?!?!? The day after what should be known as a National Holiday has brought insight to the world of the NFL. First and foremost, congratulations to the New England Patriots. What-a-game! It was the tale of two halves (literally). The first half seemed like all the adrenaline from pregame hype to Luke Bryan singing the National Anthem with class, to the first kick off. We watched a what was call "struggling" Falcons defense stop Tom Brady's offense and made them punt after a 3 and out. Then here comes that hot Atlanta offense. Devonta Freeman runs for 37 yards on the Falcons first offensive play of the game. Then the Patriots Defense who gave up an average of 15.6 per game decided they wanted to play. The Falcons punt. Both teams punt on their next possessions, leads up to the Pats closing out the first quarter with the ball on their side of the 50 to end a scoreless first quarter. The first play of the second quarter, Brady goes deep to Julian Edelman for 27 yards to the Atlanta 33. Just as it seems the Patriots are going to get on the board first,  Deion Jones from the Falcons strips LeGarrette Blunt and Robert Alford recovers the ball. The Falcons march down the field and Freeman runs in it from 5 yards. 7-0 no big deal right? The Pats go 3 and out, punt the ball and Matty Ice (Matt Ryan) finds Austin Hooper 19 yards out for another TD. Now 14 points down is nothing to Tom Brady, especially in the first half. Then Brady marches his team down the field to throw a pick six to Robert Alford. 21-0. Now everyone is scratching their heads and thinking how is this possible. Brady who is already referred to by many as the GOAT, down by 21. How? HOW? Who in their right minds would have predicted this? Patriots go on an 11 play 52 yard drive and kick a field goal. 21-3 at half. Half time show was nothing less that amazing. Lady Gaga put on a show! She literally dove off the top of the building! Sitting on the couch I am thinking Brady will put his team right back in it immediately. The teams exchanged a couple of punts to start off the second half. Then Matt Ryan leads the Falcons down the field and Tevin Coleman punches in the TD from 6 yards out. 28-3 with just over 8 minutes in the third quarter to play. Its over. 4 TD's is too much to come back from, and Atlanta has the momentum. Just as I am sitting there thinking it, a buddy of mine says its over. I reply and say watch somehow Tom Brady will get back into this game. Sure enough 13 play drive by Tom and  James White catches a 5 yard pass for the score. Gostkowski misses the point after and its 28-9. The Falcons go 3 and out, punt the ball away . Brady goes down the field in 12 plays and settle for a field goal. 28-12 Falcons. Next drive the Falcons fumble the ball. Matty Ice gets hit as he is bringing his arm back to throw and loses the ball, Pats recover. 5 Plays later, Danny Amendola catches a 6 yard pass for the score. A direct snap to White allows him to push it in for he 2 point conversion. 28-20 Falcons. Literally, less than 6 minutes to play and the Falcons are getting the ball back. All they need to do is set up a good drive and eat some time off the clock. First play of the drive Matt Ryan passes the ball to Devonta Freeman for 39 years to the Falcons 49. 2 plays later Ryan runs up the gut and before the line of scrimmage guns a ball down the field to Julio Jones, who makes a wild catch, taps both feet in at the 22 of the Pats for a 27 yard gain. Now all you have to do is run the ball 3 times eat the clock or make the Patriots use their times outs. If you run the ball the less of a chance of a penalty, and you are in field goal range already. Nope the Falcons decide to go for a pass and Ryan gets sacked for 12 yard loss, on second down. Still in field goal range, run the ball. I literally screamed "IF YOU PASS THE BALL ON THIS PLAY YOU WILL REGRET IT".  Matt Ryan tosses the ball for 9 yards, but wait there is a penalty. Holding on the offense. Puts them out of Field Goal range. Incomplete pass leads to a punt with just over 3 and a half to play in the game. Lets put it in the hands of probably the GOAT. 10 plays later, (including one miraculous catch by Edelman), Brady gives it to White and he pounds it in from 1 yard out. 2 point conversion is for sure. Brady to Amendola is good. We are tied. You have to be kidding me right. Did this really happen? Right then and there I looked up at my buddy and said the Patriots are going to win. Now ladies and gentlemen, we have the first ever Super Bowl Overtime. Pats win the toss, march down the field and score a touchdown. Pats get the comeback win and now are the champs.


How did Atlanta lose this game? 28-3, 28-9, even 28-12. Devonta Freeman is a beast. How do you not just give him the ball 3 times when you are at the 22 of the Patriots late in the 4th quarter. Kyle Shanahan, who is said to be the best Offensive Coordinator in the league should have done a better job at managing the game that late. 1 field goal away from pretty much putting the game away. Instead he calls 2 passing plays. A sack and penalty for holding cost them the game. Maybe Atlanta is not meant to be a championship city. 1 Championship in the city's history. The 1995 Atlanta braves won the world series 4-2 over the Cleveland Indian. The City has to be devastated, even tho they have felt this way before. The Denver Broncos beat them in Superbowl XXXIII 34-19.


Is Tom Brady the Greatest Of All Time? NFL wise, maybe. Joe Montana might have something to say about it. He has never lost in the Super Bowl. Terry Bradshaw won 4 championships in 6 years. Troy Aikman won 3 in 4 years, but 5, 5 championships by a single player. Honestly He could be one of the greatest athletes ever, in all sports. As a "Diehard" I can say I never rooted or even considered the idea of saying this, but in my opinion Tom Brady has to go down as the Greatest football player ever.

I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to read my first ever blog. Follow me on twitter @Alujan1985. Also you can follow me on snapchat @alujan1985

Anthony Lujan

References: https://en.wikipedia.org,  http://www.espn.com/, https://www.google.com/