The state of Nebraska isn’t a traditional powerhouse when it comes to wrestling, but the Cornhusker State has improved and continues to churn out a few Division 1 wrestlers as well as a number of lower-level college wrestlers each year. Some have become Huskers, while some have gone elsewhere to have success.
As is for any program, locking down the best in-state prospects should be a priority, and the Huskers
have done a great job of getting the best in the state to Lincoln. Obviously, there have been some big misses, but Nebraska seems to almost always get who they want out of the state.
Nebraska brought in Antrell Taylor of Millard South a few years ago and he just won an NCAA title at 157 pounds as a sophomore. Four-time state champ Kael Lauridsen of Bennington signed in 2023 — he just redshirted this past season after grayshirting out of high school for a year to work out at the Olympic Training Center — he’ll be competing for the starting spot at 125 pounds this year with four years of eligibility remaining.
The Huskers just brought in a pair of top-shelf talents from inside the border with Cade Ziola and Abdi Unle signing as part of the 2025 class. Possibly the best wrestling prospect to ever come out of Nebraska, Ziola is a Fargo national champion, an Ironman champ, a Who’s Number One winner, and a three-time state champion for Omaha Skutt. Unle is a two-time state champion from Omaha Bryan who also placed at Fargo Nationals in freestyle.
Nebraska also has two in-state guys already committed for the 2026 class — Mason Petersen of Columbus and Niko Rotella of Omaha Skutt — with a couple more possibly earning offers.
Nebraska Natives on the 2025-26 Husker Roster
125 – Kael Lauridsen, R-Fr. (Bennington)
125 – Abdi Unle, Fr. (Omaha Bryan) – Likely Redshirt
141/149 – Blake Cushing, Sr. (Grand Island)
149 – Scott Robertson, So. (Millard South)
157 – Antrell Taylor, Jr. (Millard South)
197 – Cooper Colson, Sr. (West Point-Beemer)
285 – Cade Ziola, Fr. (Omaha Skutt) – Likely Redshirt
Let’s take a look at some of the state’s best who could warrant an offer from Nebraska.
Zaiyahn Ornelas – Class of 2026
120 pounds
Creighton Prep (via Wilber-Clatonia)
A senior-to-be with an unblemished high school record of 121-0 to date, Ornelas wrestled the last three years at Class C Wilber-Clatonia. This year, he is stepping up his competition by transferring to Creighton Prep, a Class A school where he’ll put his undefeated record on the line. According to FloWrestling, Ornelas is currently ranked #11 in the country at 120 pounds — the highest ranking of any Nebraska wrestler.
He’s won Class C state titles at 106 pounds (2023), 113 pounds (2024) and 120 pounds (2025) so far — he went 49-0 this past season.
Ornelas was a Preseason Nationals finalist in the 9th/10th-grade division in 2023. He also went 2-2 at Super 32, the toughest preseason tournament in the nation each year, and was a finalist at Fall Brawl that year.
In freestyle, Ornelas finished on the podium in eighth place at the 2023 16U Freestyle Nationals in Fargo and took third at the U17 US Open in 2023.
In 2024, Ornelas made it to the Fargo national finals in Greco-Roman in the 16U division. This summer at Fargo, Ornelas went 5-3 in freestyle to finish in 8th place in the Junior division at 120 pounds. In Greco, he went 5-2 but failed to reach the podium after losing his first match, winning five matches in a row on the back side.
With a major need at 133 pounds in the next couple years, Nebraska could bring in Ornelas in 2026 to redshirt behind Jacob Van Dee (then a senior) and Omar Ayoub (then a sophomore).
Cruzer Dominguez – Class of 2028
106 pounds
Creighton Prep
Outside of Ornelas, Dominguez is the only other Nebraska native in Flo’s Top-20 weight class rankings — he’s ranked #19 at 113 pounds.
A big-time incoming freshman this past season for Creighton Prep, Dominguez lived up to the hype by going 29-4 on the way to winning his first state title at 106 pounds. Dominguez was undefeated against in-state foes, dropping matches only at Ironman and the KC Stampede. Ironman is the nation’s toughest in-season tournament every year — Dominguez went 5-3 to finish in 8th place there. At the Stampede, he dropped a close 9-8 decision in the semis and wrestled back for third.
Right after winning his state title with two wins via tech fall and two by pinfall, Dominguez wrestled on the undercard of the FloWrestling Night In America: Lee vs. Ono — an MMA-style wrestling card put on by FloWrestling. Dominguez took on Ethan Humphrey out of Iowa at 115 pounds and promptly beat him via 11-0 tech in just 52 seconds.
This summer, Dominguez competed at Fargo Nationals in the Junior division at 113 pounds where he placed seventh in Greco after going 4-2 in freestyle. The year prior, Dominguez placed seventh in the 16U division in freestyle.
Now a two-time Fargo All-American, an Ironman placer and a state champion, Dominguez seems to be on the cusp of breaking through into the national elite going into his sophomore season — likely at 113 pounds. He’ll be a priority target for the Huskers for 2028.
JT Smith – Class of 2026
190 pounds
Creighton Prep
Going into his senior season, JT Smith broke through for his first state title as a junior at 175 pounds after making it to the state final as a sophomore.
This past season, Smith went 31-4 after going 36-7 as a sophomore. Likely moving up to 190 pounds for his senior season, Smith will be the favorite to win a second Class A state title.
However, it’s in freestyle and Greco that Smith has really excelled. After finishing third at Fargo in Greco in 2024, Smith was on Team USA’s U17 Pan-American team this summer — he earned gold medals in both freestyle and Greco at 92 kg (202 pounds).
Last year, Smith won a Fall Brawl title, took first at Preseason Nationals, and finished third at the KC Stampede with an 8-1 record — all at 175 pounds.
The Huskers are still searching for their future 197-pounder after Camden McDanel graduates in 2028 — Smith may just be that guy. He could also end up at 184 in college.
Cole Caniglia – Class of 2027
113 pounds
Creighton Prep
As a freshman, Cole Caniglia was a force at 106 pounds in Class A for Creighton Prep. He went 43-3, placing second at the Council Bluffs Classic and third at the KC Stampede — two very tough regional tournaments each year.
After those two out-of-state losses, he didn’t drop another match until the Class A state final, placing second as a freshman.
As a sophomore this past year, Caniglia moved up to 113 and went 36-4. He again finished third at the KC Stampede and took third at Fall Brawl. His one in-state loss was a pinfall loss to Khy’ree Thomas-Calloway of Omaha Bryan in the Metro Conference Tournament final.
Caniglia went on to win his first state title in dominant fashion with a pair of pins, a tech fall and a major decision at the state tournament.
This summer, Caniglia competed at Fargo in the Junior division, going 4-2 in freestyle at 113 pounds.
With a long frame for the weight, it’s unclear what weight class Caniglia could grow into, but he’s a guy Nebraska is likely keeping an eye on as a future 125, 133 or 141-pounder.
On a separate note — Creighton Prep could have Dominguez, Caniglia and Ornelas starting things off in duals at 106-113-120 — that’s a salty trio.
Ben Ziola – Class of 2027
150 pounds
Omaha Skutt
The younger brother of Cade Ziola, Ben Ziola came in as a top middle school prospect and delivered on the hype when he won his first Class B state title at 106 pounds as a freshman with a 39-3 record on the year. Two of his losses came at Ironman where he impressively went 3-2.
This past season, Ben Ziola bumped up to 126 pounds and won another Class B state title, winning his state final via pinfall. He again went 3-2 at Ironman. His only in-state loss was to Millard South’s Kiernan Meink in a dual in December.
At Fargo this summer, the junior-to-be wrestled up at 150 pounds — he went 1-2 but has been jumping weight classes for some time and may need time to acclimate to wrestling at higher weight classes.
Regardless, Ben Ziola has never shied away from tough competition and he’ll ultimately be better for it. Talking to his dad Tim Ziola, he anticipates Ben wrestling at either 174 or 184 in college. All I know is that the talent is there, the pedigree is there, and the work ethic is there. With big brother already in the fold, I would be shocked if Ben ends up anywhere other than Lincoln.
Brock Goebel – Class of 2027
113 pounds
Syracuse
A Class C state champion as a sophomore for Syracuse, Brock Goebel has a chance over the next couple years to catch Nebraska’s attention. He finished in fourth place as a freshman at 106 pounds before winning a state title as a sophomore — he went 49-2 on the year with his only losses coming to Class A competition.
After his freshman year, Goebel made it to the 16U semifinal round at Fargo Nationals in freestyle — he finished in 6th place to earn All-American honors.
Competing this summer in the Junior division at Fargo at 113 pounds, Goebel went 2-2 in both freestyle and Greco.
The son of Syracuse Head Coach Jeremy Goebel, Brock is expected to move up to 113 pounds as a junior where he’ll be a favorite to win another Class C title. He looks like he’ll be a collegiate 125-pounder.
Brody Jensen – Class of 2027
113 pounds
Burwell
Already a two-time Class D state champion at 113 pounds, Brody Jensen has separated himself. As a freshman, he went 45-2 before winning state gold. As a sophomore, he finished the year 47-2 with his only losses coming to Ornelas.
At Fargo in freestyle, Jensen went 3-2 a year ago in 16U and 3-2 this year in the Junior division at 120 pounds. He really does seem like the type of guy who’s on the cusp of breaking through on the national scene.
With a 92-4 career record going into his junior season, Jensen should be a favorite in most of his in-state matches, but it’s his out-of-state results that could determine if he gets that Division I offer.
Honorable Mentions
2026 Class
- Preston Wagner (Fremont) – 2x Class A placer, Multi-time Fargo All-American, taken official visit to Nebraska
- Jermaine Dortch (Omaha North) – ‘25 Class A State Champ at 138 with 49-0 record, 2x state finalist
- Jaeston Delano (Columbus) – ‘25 Class A State Champ at 165 with 41-2 record, 2x state finalist
- Brady Hochstein (Cedar Catholic) – ‘25 Class C state finalist at 165, went 48-1 on the year
2027 Class
- Khy’ree Thomas Calloway (Om. Bryan) – ‘25 Class A 3rd at 113, went 48-1 with only loss in state semi
- Uriel Guzman (Palmer) – 2x Class D State Champion, undefeated 54-0 in ‘25. 104-9 career record
- Easton Hochstein (Cedar Catholic) – ‘25 Class C State Champion at 144 with 51-0 record, 97-3 career record
- Bodie Hochstein (Cedar Catholic) – ‘25 Class C State Champion at 138 with 34-2 record, 79-4 career record
2028 Class
- Ace Schweitzer (Central City) – 3rd at 106 in Class B as Fr. with 49-4 record, ‘25 Fargo 4th place in Greco
- Carter Booze (Columbus) – 3rd at 106 in Class A as Fr. with 47-4 record, 5-2 record at Fargo in freestyle
- Coy Childers (Alliance) – ‘25 Class B State Champion at 113 as Fr., 42-1 record on the year
- Adryck Stewart (Plainview) – ‘25 Class D State Champion at 126 as Fr., undefeated 43-0 record
