Senior Cole Haberman Shines in Start to 2021-22 Wrestling Season

Jordan Nogg and Grace Vandercoy|December 21, 2021

Jordan Tipton

Cole Haberman celebrated his 100th career win in January 2021 in his junior year. – Photo by Jordan Tipton

Westside’s varsity wrestling team continues in action around the Metro Area. Senior Cole Haberman, at 220 lbs., has been a huge bright spot for the team. Haberman, after a Super-State campaign as a defensive end on the football field, has taken first place in his bracket at both of the last two tournaments Westside has competed in and was the Metro Conference’s “Week 2 Top Performer.”

Head wrestling coach, Michael Jernigan, complimented Haberman’s competitive mindset and attitude throughout his years at Westside. 

“Cole is a competitor,” Jernigan said, “He looks at everything as a challenge and he wants to win. He hates to lose or fail.”

Along with his interest as a collegiate football player, Haberman is unsure about his collegiate career in the sport. He has recently been working hard on winning his matches quickly, keeping him fresh and replenished for his future matches that day. Haberman expressed that he is staying in the present this season and is not focusing on upcoming matches he will face off in.

“I think my next step is just to take every tournament one by one,” Haberman said. “I can’t focus on state because I have 30 matches in front of me right now that I have to focus on.”

Haberman is coming off of a series of milestones last year in his wrestling career at Westside High School. Along with placing second at state, he achieved his 100th career win in January of this year. Going forward, he is trying to implement his goals this year to keep the milestones coming. 

“It benefits me in getting first place at a lot of the tournaments, because of getting second so much last year,” Haberman said. “But it also helps me in stressful moments because there’s nothing worse than being in front of 10,000 people and losing one of the biggest matches of your career. That is one of the things that has helped me from my milestones last year that I have implemented this year.”

Continue watching Cole Haberman reach milestones this year as the season continues. The boys wrestling team will compete in the Papio Triangular against Papillion-La Vista and Burke on Tuesday, Dec. 21.