• Photo Showcase: Nebraska state wrestling, Feb. 17

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Zack Denney doesn't even wait for the reporter's sentence to be finished before giving his assessment of his team's first two days at the state wrestling tournament.

"North Platte came to wrestle," the senior said.

Ranked No. 1 at 145 pounds, Denney has been the flag bearer for a surprising Bulldog bunch that hung with the big boys in Class A for a good part of the first 48 hours at the CenturyLink Center.

Denney is one of two of North Platte's seven semifinalists going for gold Saturday. His 7-0 victory over Omaha North's Reggie Holt-Wesley sets up a showdown with second-ranked Jordan Hammond of Omaha Burke in the finals.

Before he even knew who his opponent was, Denney was already giving a warning.

"Whoever I end up against (Saturday)," he said, "it's going to be the longest six minutes of their life."

North Platte coach Dale Hall said that isn't cockiness; it's confidence.

"He means everything to our team," Hall said. "He's the heart and soul, the leader in the wrestling room. When you work as hard as he does, others start to follow. That's definitely been the case this season."

That's a role Denney embraces.

"I'm proud to be the leader of this team," he said. "I'll take that team over any other team in the state."

His first stroll down the Walk of Champions on Saturday is something he's worked his entire life for. Denney finished fourth as a freshman and third each of the past two seasons.

Those losses at state have been his fuel this season, Hall said.

"He's been on a mission ever since," he added.

The only blemish on an otherwise perfect senior season was a loss to Grand Island Northwest's Blake Fruchtl, the No. 1 145-pounder in Class B and a fellow finalist Saturday. Fruchtl will be wrestling for his third state title.

Denney signed a letter of intent to wrestle at Chadron State next season. He's already itching to make the sport a full-time obsession.

But one more high school match looms. The biggest of his career, actually.

So how about those nerves? Think that they'll keep you up Friday night, Zack?

"Not a chance," he said. "I'm going to sleep well."

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