The incoming Husker D-lineman talked about his journey through injury to state wrestling history – and the support he felt from Matt Rhule along the way.
He left his shoes on the mat to mark the end, undefeated, a four-time champion as a heavyweight. No one has ever done that in the state of Nebraska, but Tyson Terry just had.
You can imagine the emotions of that accomplishment even if the roads had been entirely cleared. Seeing the tears of joy from family and those in the Omaha North community who had been with you at each mile marker. That’s the best stuff.
Now think of those emotions when you factor what Terry was dealing with just a little more than four months before when it seemed a dream run might be disrupted. A pop and a crunching sound on the football field that he knew immediately was a problem.
«Because I wanted to wrestle, finish that job,» he said. «I knew it was going to be tough. I didn’t think there was going to be any chance that I was going to wrestle. It was really a tough couple weeks there.»
Could he wrestle on a torn ACL and stay undefeated and make history? What would Matt Rhule and the staff he was committed to for Husker football say about his situation?
«After a few weeks, especially talking with Coach Rhule, he was just saying that if my knee is starting to hurt or give out or anything like that then we’re shutting it down right away and we’re getting surgery,» Terry said. «I’m super fortunate just to have him be behind me on that because you just don’t get that chance back. I know this is something I’ve always wanted for me and so I needed to find a way to be able to wrestle.»
And, like always, win.