The atmosphere inside the CHI Health Center in Omaha this past February wasn't just loud; it was deafening. If you were there, you know. For the first time, girls wrestling didn’t just share the spotlight—it owned the building. The Nebraska girls state wrestling 2025 tournament was a massive, two-day statement that the sport has officially arrived.
More than 16,000 fans pushed through the turnstiles. Honestly, that kind of turnout for a standalone girls’ event would have been unthinkable just five years ago. But here we are.
Norfolk and Yutan: The New Gold Standard
When the dust finally settled on Wednesday night, two teams were left standing in the center of the arena. Norfolk claimed the Class A title, while Yutan snagged the first-ever Class B team championship.
Norfolk’s path wasn't exactly a cakewalk. They actually trailed Omaha Westside after the first day. But the Panthers are built differently. They didn't rely on a handful of superstars; they relied on everyone. All ten of their state qualifiers scored points. That’s how you win a team title in a meat grinder like this. Victoria Maxey was their lone individual champ at 145 pounds, but five of her teammates clawed their way through the consolation brackets to land on the podium. It was a masterclass in "next man up" (or in this case, next woman up) mentality.
Over in Class B, Yutan basically turned the lower weight classes into a private party.
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They were the heavy favorites going in, and they didn't blink. With stars like Addisyn Darling (110), Aubrie Pehrson (125), and Jordyn Campbell (130) all taking home gold, the team race was essentially over before the finals even hit the midway point. Yutan is a small school, but their wrestling program is a legitimate factory right now.
The Matches We’ll Be Talking About for Years
If you want to talk about drama, look no further than the A130 final.
Everyone was waiting for Bennington’s Macy Peacher to make history. She was chasing her fourth state title—a feat no Nebraska girl had ever accomplished. Standing in her way was Kaylyn Lyons from Omaha Westview. Lyons had beaten her earlier in the season, but state finals are a different beast.
Peacher was up 4-3 in the second. Then, Lyons hit a three-point takedown that changed everything. The Westview sophomore held on for a 6-4 decision, becoming her school's first-ever girls wrestling champion and ending one of the most storied runs in state history. It was shocking, but as Lyons said afterward, she "manifested" it.
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Other Standout Performances:
- Anyia Roberts (Grand Island): She capped off a stellar career at 155 lbs by defeating two-time champ Zoey Barber 7-3. Roberts is just tough. Period.
- Jocelyn Prado (Johnson County Central): She entered the tournament on a 110-match win streak. She left with a third gold medal and 114 straight wins.
- Ambie Custard (Southwest): Her story is pure grit. After a year off for recovery, she came back, drew a tough seed, knocked off the top-ranked Alexis Pehrson in the semis, and won it all at 135 lbs.
- Adeline Graaser (Omaha Westside): Won the 170 lb title in a four-overtime ultimate tiebreaker against Fabi Cortez. My heart rate still hasn't recovered from watching that one.
Perfection on the Mat
Winning a state title is hard. Going undefeated is statistically improbable. But in 2025, a handful of girls made it look like a Tuesday afternoon practice.
In Class A, six wrestlers finished with perfect records. Madelynn Bohnet (105) won a battle of unbeatens in her final. Mia Anderson, a freshman from Bennington, was a literal wrecking ball at 110 lbs. She finished 40-0 and pinned almost everyone she touched.
Class B saw another six go undefeated. Along with Prado and Custard, we saw Hayley Rusher (145) from Chase County and Addison Arvdal (190) from Sutherland cap off seasons where nobody could find a way to beat them.
The Reality of the "Solo" Move
There was some skepticism when the NSAA decided to split the girls' tournament from the boys' and move it to its own two-day window earlier in the week. People worried the energy would dip.
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They were wrong.
Moving the Nebraska girls state wrestling 2025 event to Tuesday and Wednesday didn't marginalize the sport; it gave it room to breathe. The CHI Health Center felt intimate yet massive. You could hear every coach's scream and every thud on the mat. The fans who showed up were there specifically for these girls, and that created a vibe that was arguably more intense than the combined tournaments of years past.
What’s Next for Nebraska Girls Wrestling?
The 2025 season proved that the "growth" phase is over—we're in the "dominance" phase now. The talent pool is deep, and the technical skill is skyrocketing.
If you're a coach or a young athlete looking at these results, here is what you need to take away:
- Depth Wins Duals: Look at Norfolk. You don't need five state champs to win a team trophy. You need ten girls who refuse to get pinned and know how to score points in the consolation rounds.
- The Target is on Class B: Yutan has set the bar. To beat them in 2026, teams like Lakeview and Conestoga are going to need more than just one or two stars.
- Freshmen are Dangerous: Between Mia Anderson and Kaylyn Lyons (who is only a sophomore), the youth movement is real. If you aren't evolving, these younger, faster wrestlers will pass you by.
The 2025 tournament wasn't just a series of matches; it was a bridge to 2026. Records were broken, heartbreaks were had, and the standard for what it means to be a "wrestler" in Nebraska was permanently raised. Get back in the room. The work for next February has already started.
Actionable Insights for the Off-Season:
- Join a Freestyle/Greco Club: The girls who dominated in Omaha are wrestling year-round. Find a local club to sharpen your technical edge outside of the traditional folkstyle season.
- Review the 2025 Tape: Many of the 2025 matches are archived on FloWrestling and Nebraska Public Media. Study the top performers at your weight class to see how they handle scrambles and late-match pressure.
- Focus on Strength and Conditioning: The gap between the podium and the stands often comes down to third-period gas tanks. Implement a wrestling-specific lifting program now.