Lance Olberding's ankle was swollen and injured, but nothing was stopping him from celebrating with his twin brother Ely.
The Fort Calhoun senior watched the 138-pound wrestler compete for his second-career state finals appearance from the stands and darted down the arena steps when the semis' result went final.
“You know, I probably shouldn't have ran down the stairs,” Lance said, laughing it off.
Twenty-four hours after clinching his spot, Ely finished second to Bennington's Kyler Lauridsen on Saturday at the NSAA State Championships. His brother was there for him again after the title bout inside downtown Omaha's CHI Health Center. Lance got down on a knee to console the runner-up on the arena tunnel's floor.
Both Pioneers' days wrestling for FCHS are over.
“You don't get guys like that very often,” said coach Drew Welchert. “(Guys) that put in that much work and care, and can manage the load and have their heads screwed on so straight.”
It was a successful four years with eight combined state qualifications and six medals.
“Pretty lucky to be able to coach these guys,” the coach added.
After winning a state title as a freshman, Ely Olberding had some doubts and worries that he may never wrestle for a championship again. But he had faith in he and his brother's diligence.
“I've worked hard, right?” Ely Olberding said. “Me and Lance work hard every day. I wanted it just as bad as he does and he wants it just as bad as I do, and that's what drives you.”
The 138-pounder earned a major decision to start his state run before a 9-3 decision clinched his spot in the semifinals against a familiar foe, Minden's Orrin Kuehn.
“I have all the respect for him,” he said. “He's a tough opponent.”
The Pioneer won 6-4, claiming two key takedowns along the edge of the mat. He stretched to force the referee to award him the points.
“I knew, if I'm going to win close matches, I need to make sure I can score every time I can,” Olberding said. “Being on the boundary like that, that's alright. That actually favors me because it looks like he's fleeing the mat and I'm still in control.”
In the finals, though, the Calhoun standout couldn't score enough to beat Lauridsen, who earned a 12-4 major decision. Welchert said Ely opened himself up to the Bennington Badger, which left him vulnerable, but still wrestled to the end. In fact, the Pioneers' winningest wrestler scored an escape as the match ended.
“He knows the match is over, but it's important that he's competing up to the last second,” Welchert explained. “He's always been that way, and that was Lance's story yesterday.”
Ely said he was motivated to the state finals round by his brother, a multiple-time state medalist who fell short of one more during his final appearance in Omaha.
Lance Olberding, a 132-pounder, lost his opening match Thursday by injury default. Ankle taped, he came back the next day and pinned Grand Island Northwest's Kadyn Friesen in 1:54 despite wrestling from his knees for most of the match.
The 132-pounder then competed in a full, 6-minute match with 33-4 Gering wrestler Jordan Shirley. In pain, he lost, but only 5-0.
“He's tough as nails,” Ely said.
Lance closed his career with a 39-5 senior season. He has more than 150 high school wins and set the school record for nearfalls in January. An injury may have been all that could of stopped the Pioneer from earning his third state medal.
“I love him to death,” Ely said. “But, sometimes, life just isn't fair. You hate to see that happen.”
His twin wasn't feeling sorry for himself Saturday night, though. Lance expressed pride in Ely's showing and his own.
“I'm not a quitter,” Lance said. “I'm willing to go out there and try my best.”
By all accounts, the Olberdings did that for all four years as FCHS wrestlers.
Short makes 1st state appearance
Sophomore Wesley Short also represented Fort Calhoun in Omaha after his first state qualification during the district tourney in Ogallala.
“I'm just happy to be here today,” the 170-pounder said Friday. “I'm proud of how far I've come in the last year from going, like, 1-10 last year to being decent this year.”
The Pioneer competed in matches Thursday and Friday, but left the CHI Health Center 0-2. He was 18-15 for the season.
The end results didn't deter Short after the progress he's made. He was in good spirits after his matches.
“It's just great to be here and experience the big stadium, and kind of get a feel for how it is,” he said.
CLASS B STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thursday-Saturday at CHI Health Center, Omaha
Top 10 Teams: Omaha Skutt 164 points, Bennington 135, Waverly 121, Blair 119, Hastings 87, Beatrice 84, South Sioux City 66, Cozad 64.5, Scottsbluff 64, O'Neill 52. Also: 24th, Fort Calhoun, 22.
Fort Calhoun Wrestling Results
(Weight: Wrestler, state record (season record), place)
132 pounds: Lance Olberding, 1-2 (39-5), NA
138: Ely Olberding, 3-1 (46-4), second
170: Wesley Short, 0-2 (18-15), NA
