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This week's Peak Performer: Tyler Oberg, Discovery Canyon wrestling
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Ghassan Nehme, Cheyenne Mountain
Nehme averaged 26 points in three games last week, helping keep the Indians undefeated. The junior scored 33 points Dec. 4 at Thompson Valley, added 15 against Doherty on Friday and had 30 more against Harrison. For the week, he was 23-for-29 from the free-throw line.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Bailey Haist, The Vanguard School
Haist scored 23 points on Friday and 24 on Saturday to lead the Coursers to a victory at the Flagler Tournament. The sharpshooting senior went 9-for-17 from 3-point range and added nine assists.
HOCKEY
Riley Gregory, Pine Creek
Gregory scored four goals and added two assists in two games, as the Eagles won two of three games to improve to 3-2. On Friday against Rampart, he scored two goals, then set up the game-winner early in the third period. Gregory is among the area’s leaders in scoring with five goals and four assists.
Tyler Oberg’s fast start to what he hopes is a breakthrough season started even before the Discovery Canyon junior showed up for the first day of wrestling practice last month.
“I could tell from the way he played football this year,” Thunder wrestling coach Ron Sukle said. “I could tell he had turned the corner and had a great football season. He came in excited to wrestle and get after it. Even before that, he really put time in the weight room all summer.”
Oberg, a linebacker who was second on the team in tackles with 8.3 per game, has transferred his aggression to the mat. Last week at a multistate tournament in suburban Albuquerque, Oberg won all eight of his matches at 145 pounds and none went the distance. Add in three victories and an event title the week before at Battle of the Best at Pine Creek and that makes it 11 straight times Oberg has had his arm raised at the end of a match.
“That’s a pretty good start for me,” Oberg said. “Actually, I’ve never had a start that good.”
Don’t worry about Oberg getting overconfident. Among his practice partners are defending 4A state champions AJ Rees (the past two seasons at 113 pounds) and Steven Turner (120).
“They’re part of why I’m doing better,” said Oberg, who lost at state last season to the eventual 4A runner-up. “They’re great partners. Every day, I get to wrestle good competition and give me all the different looks that keep me ready for my matches.”
It’s not only the partnership that drives Oberg, but also the chance to build tradition at this new northeast Colorado Springs high school. Since opening in 2008, the Thunder have produced three state champions. Started by Nick Adams, who won in 2008 and 2010, that tradition expanded when Rees (2011-12) and Turner (2012) joined that list.
“Every day when I walk in our practice room, just seeing those plaques on the wall motivates me even more,” Oberg said. “I want my name up there. I want to be part of all the people before me. It would be cool to be a part of that.”
After watching Oberg struggle in practices within his weight class last year, Sukle isn’t at all surprised at the level of success just one year later.
“He battled through and hung in there,” Sukle said. “He had a tough match in state and lost a close one. Right there, I knew it was a matter of time before he’d turn the corner. The kid has paid his dues and good things are happening.”
