By Terry Douglass
terry.douglass@theindependent.com

After watching his youngest son, Sean Trampe, roll to a 12-1 victory in the semifinals of the Class C state wrestling championship semifinals, the elder Trampe came to the realization that he'd only get to coach one of his sons one more time. Adding to the ante, the last time will be in the 112-pound state title match at the Qwest Center.

"It was very, very emotional for me," said Derry Trampe, who's in his 15th year at Ord. "I haven't had a chance to talk to his mother yet I'm sure she's about as emotional and his brothers are, too.

"I can't even explain how it feels. It's just a joy to see."

Saturday's 2 p.m. finals will mark the ninth time Trampe has coached one of his sons in a state title match. His twin sons, Chris and Craig, combined to reach the finals seven times with Chris making it four times and Craig reaching the title match three times, winning twice.

Sean Trampe, won the 103 title in Class C last year, and will finish his career as a three-time state medalist.

"This will be the ninth time and this one will probably be the most emotional, too," Derry said of coaching Sean in the finals. "This is it. We have a daughter but she won't be wrestling."

Derry Trampe said he was a bit surprised by his son's major-decision victory over Jeffrey Green of West Point-Beemer, who entered the match 38-2.

"This was a tough bracket this year so I was really nervous," Trampe said. "(Green) was such a physical kid and Sean is kind of a long, skinny thing, but Sean really used his length to his advantage and really wrestled a smart match and looked good."

Sean Trampe will face 35-2 Luis Rosales of Madison in the finals. It's sure to be an emotional one, no matter how it turns out for the Trampe family.

"This is it, and to be honest with you, I'm kind of ready," Trampe said. "It gets to be kind of stressful from a parent's standpoint. I don't know how all parents do it, I really don't.

"I've had a lot of fun here. It's been great, but I have a lot of appreciation for our parents and every one of our parents because of what they go through is unreal."

Wood River has its first state finalist in seven years as Garret Lambrecht (36-6 at 103) pinned Brody Welchert of Fort Calhoun in 4:42 in the semifinals. The Eagles' freshman will face Shawn Nagel (36-0) of Kimball in the finals.

"Garret came down here with a fantastic attitude," Wood River coach Darin Waddington said. "You're always concerned when you take a freshman into the semifinals, but he was smiling before his match and bouncing around so he was real loose.

"He told me that he had been in the finals all year and this wasn't much different, so I had a pretty good feeling."

Grand Island Central Catholic's bid for a state finalist came up short as Zach Starostka (31-9 at 160) was pinned in 3:59 by Ethan Studebacker of Raymond Central in the semifinal round.

"Zach wrested very well," GICC coach Marc Starostka said. "He shouldn't feel bad, walking about from that one. He gave a 110 percent, but he just got dropped and got pinned.

"He came prepared. He just got outwrestled did a couple of sloppy things but like I told him, he's got next year."

Sargent/Burwell made a strong day-two push in the team race and has 77 points to trail Madison by just a half point. The Bulldogs/Longhorns have three state finalists in Dakota Holt (37-6 at 119), Bruce Zurek (40-2 at 135) and Tom Brown (41-3 at 171).

The area's other Class C state finalists is Ravenna's Noah Steele (36-1 at 189), who beat Ben List of Crofton 6-3 in the semifinals. Steele will earn his second career state medal after finishing third at 189 last year.

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