For the first time in 15 years, Creighton Prep wrestling has captured the Metro crown. The Junior Jays won the Metro Conference Tournament, scoring 306 points. Last year’s champion, Millard South, finished second with 173 points. The Junior Jays led with 6 individual champions and 10 wrestlers making the podium in their weight class.

One major factor that contributed to Prep’s championship was a boost from the freshman class. Cruzer Dominguez and Kam Green Jr took the 106 lb and 126 lb weight classes, respectively. In the finals, Dominguez took down Isaiah Tuttle, a fellow freshman at Omaha Central, and won all three of his matchups by technical fall. Dominguez also took down Mohamed Mohamed from Omaha Bryan, who entered with a 35-1 record. Green Jr took down top-seeded Kieran Meink from Millard South by decision in the finals.

Sophomore Kieran Akerson rounded out the Junior Jays’ lightweight champions, as he took down top-seeded Isaac Ekdalh of Millard South by sudden victory in the 132 lb class.

Senior Adonis Bonar closed out his final Metro Conference Tournament by claiming a championship in the 190 lb weight class. The California Baptists commit was able to defend his 2024 Metro title, taking down Elkhorn South’s Bret Barr by technical fall and pushing his record to 24-2 on the season. Bonar was dominant, winning all his matches by fall or technical fall in the first 90 seconds.

Prep’s final two champions were sophomores JT Smith and Michael Novero. Both entered as top seeds. Smith claimed the 175 lb class crown by fall over Bellevue East’s Dillon Ginger and won all his matchups by fall or technical fall. Novero won the 215 lb class by fall over Omaha North’s Brandon Louis. Novero was hot from the start, winning his first two matchups in under a minute each.

Cole Caniglia and Kobi Streeter placed second in their classes. Caniglia lost to the undefeated Khy’ree Thomas of Omaha Bryan by fall in the 113 lb class, pushing his record to 21-4 this season. Streeter lost by technical fall to 33-0 Abdirahman Unle of Omaha Bryan in the finals, as Streeter’s record moved to 17-6.

The Junior Jays also received a third-place finish from Myles Sanchez in the 138 lb class and top-five finishes from Trey Magness, Bodi Knudsen, and Joseph Novero. Throughout the fourteen weight classes, the Junior Jays had six individual champions, ten podium finishes, and thirteen finishes in the top five of their weight classes, all tournament highs.

Capturing the Metro Conference Tournament Championship dominantly is a good sign for the Junior Jays’ state championship hopes. The Junior Jays are looking to win their first state title in wrestling. A 306-point outburst in the Metro Conference Tournament proves that the Junior Jays have the talent and depth to win a state championship. While there is roughly a month until the state tournament, which starts on February 20th, the Junior Jays must be confident after claiming the Metro crown.