Home invitationals mean something to high school wrestlers.
“I would say it's extremely important,” senior Alex Schuler said 30-some hours before the Fort Calhoun Pioneers were set to host their home wrestling tournament. “(It's my) last year, so I want to make the community proud. I want to set a positive example for the younger kids in wrestling.”
Unfortunately for coach Drew Welchert's boys squad, the Saturday event was cancelled due to icy road conditions. The start time was originally pushed back before the tournament was called off altogether.
Pioneers split duals Thursday
Before Saturday's disappointment, the Pioneers hosted Ralston and Arlington for duals on Thursday.
Coach Welchert's lineup dropped its first matchup against the Rams, 39-27, but rebounded with a 48-25 victory against their Washington County neighbors.
“We were really looking to get both here tonight, but Ralston is a state-dual level team,” Schuler said.
Even so, FCHS wrestlers won five contested matchups against the Rams. Lucas DeMilt scored a pin at 106 pounds, while Fred Altstadt and Seth Waters earned their's at 150 and 157 pounds, respectively.
Merritt Olberding, meanwhile, won by tech fall at 120 pounds before TJ DeMilt's 14-0 major decision at 165.
Later on, though, Pioneers earned five more contested victories to best the Eagles by 23 points.
“It felt great to get the win,” Schuler said. “Proud of all the guys.”
Olberding started things off, gutting out a 6-2 decision against Jake Flesner, who pushed him.
“I had to stay confident,” the Pioneer said. “I couldn't get out of the match. Just had to stick to the game plan and wrestle smart.”
From there, Calhoun's Presley Olberding added six team points with a first-period pin at 126 pounds before Seth Waters' own first-period pin of Brayden Nath at 157.
After back-to-back losses at 165 and 175 pounds, Schuler got the Pioneers back on track with a 4-3 decision win at 190 pounds. He started quick against Arlington's Tate Johannes and held on late.
Schuler said the victory came down to some pre-match advice from Coach Welchert.
“He said, 'Here's what you need to do. You have 45 seconds to shoot,'” the wrestler said, recalling the pep talk. “I said, 'Give me 30,' and we went from there.”
Nathan Duros added a FCHS pin at 215 pounds, too, all but sealing the home dual victory — the Pioneers' first of the new season.
