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HARTINGTON — Kerby Hochstein knows wrestling talent when he sees it.
And he ought to. You don’t get to be the school’s all-time wins leader without a little talent.
In 2021 Hochstein knocked Eric Hoesing from the top of Cedar Catholic’s all-time wins list finishing his high school wrestling career with 128 victories.
He knew the record wouldn’t last long, though.
He had been wrestling in practices against a youngster that he figured would be able to score quite a few victories over the course of his own career.
He was right. Thursday night Braeden Kleinschmit put West Holt’s Max Flannery on his back and pinned him with just 23 seconds left in the first period to earn win number 129 of his career.
“I wasn’t surprised he got that record frome me. You could tell he was gonna be pretty good,” Hochstein said. “He wrestles hard and always gives it his best.”
Kleinschmit is no stranger to success on the mat.
He is currently 24-0 on the season and now holds several school records. He is hoping to add one more to that lengthy list next month — the school’s first four-time state qualifier.
He is currently the third-ranked Class C wrestler in the state in the 132-pound weight class.
His coach knew from the start he would find success if he just kept working hard.
“Braeden has come a long way. He learns from his mistakes and just keeps getting better,” Cedar Catholic coach Justin Bartling said after Kleinschmit qualified for his first state tournament in 2022.
Thursday night Bartling said he wasn’t surprised to see Kleinschmit pick up the school record.
Cedar Catholic’s Braeden Kleinschmit gets West Holt’s Max Flannery onto his back before earning the pin during action in last Thursday’s triangular here. The win marked Kleinschmit’s 129th victory, knocking Kerby Hochstein from atop of the school’s all-time wins list. (left) Hochstein, an assistant coach with the Cedar wrestling team, congratulated Kleinschmit after the win by pinning him to the mat. Rob Dump | Cedar County News
