The Fort Calhoun boys wrestling team finished ninth out of 18 scoring teams on the final day of 2024.
Coach Drew Welchert's Pioneers scored 78.5 points Dec. 31 during the Tom Dineen Invitational at Omaha Creighton Prep. They were five shy of Lincoln North Star, but also two points better than Elkhorn North.
The host Junior Jays, meanwhile, took first with 303 points — 65.5 better than second place Grand Island.
Merritt Olberding secured FCHS' top finish during the tournament, taking third at 120 pounds. The sophomore bounced around the Creighton Prep gymnasium between matches, sitting in the front row alongside his father and older brothers at points before climbing up into the bleachers to interact with more of his supporters.
At one other point, Olberding even lounged on concrete steps as he awaited another bout.
In the end, the Pioneer secured a 4-1 record across five Tom Dineen matches. He lost his semifinals matchup with Creighton Prep's Kobi Streeter, but also earned three pins against Fremont's Jonathan Archer, Cooper Sutton of Elkhorn and 12-7 Omaha North wrestler Xzavier West. The 120-pounder won the third-place match against Papillion-La Vista's Jack McAuliff by 11-0 major decision, too.
Calhoun's Lucas DeMilt notched a fourth-place individual finish Dec. 31, too. He was 4-2 across six matches at 106 pounds, losing a pair to Lincoln North Star's Haidr Al-Azawy.
DeMilt won three matches by pin, however, and earned a 9-0 major decision against Grady Maas of Wayne. The wrestler secured his top-four finish during the consolation semis, besting Omaha Westside's Mason Bruber by first-period pin.
TJ DeMilt secured a top-five finish for FCHS, too. The 165-pounder took fifth, going 4-2 with a pin of Fremont's Emanuel Romero during the fifth-place match. The fall came after three other pins, including two in 43 and 37 seconds, respectively.
TJ DeMilt also pinned Gretna East's Jeremiah Carnine in 3:58 during the Creighton Prep tourney.
Though they fell short of medals, Fort Calhoun's Alex Schuler Nathan Duros and Presley Olberding added pins during the end-of-year event. Schuler secured two, while Duros and Olberding had one apiece.
FCHS drops duals
The Pioneers were back in action Friday, dropping a pair of duals to Elkhorn North and Elkhorn Mount Michael on the Knights' mats.
FCHS first fell to the Wolves, though, 41-34. Merritt and Presley Olberding both earned contested wins during the dual as did fellow Pioneers Ray Caruso, Beau Ruma, Duros and Schuler.
During the 53-21 loss to Mount Michael, however, just Calhoun's Ruma and Levi Lasher earned contested victories. Lucas DeMilt and Duros scored team points by forfeit, too, though.
TOM DINEEN INVITATIONAL
Saturday at Omaha Creighton Prep
Top-10 team standings: Creighton Prep 303 points, Grand Island 237.5, Lincoln Southeast 149.5, Gretna East 141, Papillion-La Vista South 130.5, Papillion-La Vista 113, Omaha North 105.5, Lincoln North Star 83.5, Fort Calhoun 78.5, Elkhorn North 76.5.
Fort Calhoun top-6 placers: 3, Merritt Olberding, 120 pounds. 4, Lucas DeMilt, 106. 5, TJ DeMilt, 165.
