Omaha Westside boys wrestling competed in the Nebraska State Wrestling Tournament on Feb. 17 and 18 at the CHI Health Center. Westside had four wrestler’s place with three third-place winners and one second-place winner. Overall, the team finished eighth, right above Grand Island. Sophomore Michael Myers expressed that his aggression in his matches is what led him to get the third-place win. 

“I’ve been working hard at practice running with Noah, getting my gas tank better so I can come out and win these matches like I’ve been doing,” Myers said. 

Myers has come out this season and has proven his spot on the team. He finished out the season 29-6 and will be back next year and will continue to prove his role on the team. Along with Myers, junior Cole Haberman stepped up for the team by channeling his emotions and using those to gain a second-place medal.   

“I think my emotions tell me a lot cause I kinda turn into the Hulk when I get mad. I feel like I wrestle better,” Cole said.  “That first match I started getting mad, and I pinned him shortly after. I think it really pays off wrestling with my emotions when a lot of other wrestlers have to stay cool and calm, but I get to show my anger and show it off to everybody and pose my will on that.”

 Wrestling isn’t all based on physical toughness, as competitors also have to be mentally prepared. Haberman said he feels he’s the best when he wrestles with emotion. Cole said he felt that he doesn’t want to stay calm, he wants to channel his anger and take that emotion out on his opponents. Cole’s brother, senior Cade Haberman has really shown his ability to channel those same feelings before he wrestles. After two first-period pins on day one, Cade would fall in the final seconds in his semifinal match on day two. Although unable to achieve his state championship ambitions, Cade was able to hold the bronze medal and reflected on his time at Westside.

“It’s been great. A lot of great accomplishments made, it sucks to lose but that’s the best part about that sport anyone can beat anybody at any time,” Cade said. “I just couldn’t be more grateful for the career I had here.”

Cade Haberman has been a natural-born leader since he started his career at Westside. His leadership was shown at state when the outcome of his match wasn’t what he was hoping for. Although multiple wrestlers from other schools forfeited their consolation brackets matches to take a sixth-place prize, Cade worked two quick pins and earned his bronze medal, while also cheering on the rest of his teammates.

“When Cade came here as a freshman he was an immediate leader. It is awesome he’s leadership for what he did, suffering a tough loss, not being able to reach your goal but being the type of person he is,” head coach Michael Jernigan said.  “And for him to come back and show his team that, hey, I suffered a loss but this team needs me for us to finish in the top ten, it was absolutely unbelievable.”

He shows his leadership skills on and off the mat by encouraging his team to be the best wrestlers they can be. Cade Haberman has worked hard since the beginning of his wrestling career and he will continue to achieve greatness going forward at Northern Illinois.

“There were a lot of people down at the CHI Center Arena who talked about his character and we had numerous coaches come talk to him from other programs and say ‘hey, we wish we had kids like you’, ‘we wish our kids had the character that you guys do in your program,’” Jernigan said.

The leadership in the Westside wrestling program has been phenomenal this season, with many lowerclassmen stepping up when needed, and for Cade, the team’s momentum is only growing.

“This is only the beginning, this is still a super young team and the future is bright. And the best part is we have more kids coming up on top of it,” Cade Haberman said.  “So it’s a place where the cultures are and this coaching staff is the best coaching staff in the state. Generally, cares more about the individuals. Just a great future ahead for this team.”