There are champions, and then there are those who rewrite history. Omaha North’s Tyson Terry belongs to the latter group. In February, the heavyweight wrestler won his fourth consecutive state title, becoming Nebraska’s first-ever four-time heavyweight champion. The title capped off a perfect high school career for Terry, who went 169-0 to cement his place among the state’s all-time greats.
“I was raised to not stay complacent. You know, there’s always another level to reach… you’ve always got room to improve. I wanted to go out there and dominate these guys, and not just win by a few points and let them think that they can wrestle with me. I wanted to take their soul,” Terry said with a laugh.
That killer instinct propelled him to three straight state titles, but his senior year presented a different kind of challenge. In the middle of his final football season, the star defensive lineman suffered a torn ACL. Most athletes would have called it a career, especially with a Nebraska football scholarship in hand. But Terry couldn’t bring himself to walk away from wrestling without finishing what he started. He chose to wrestle on a torn ACL just two months after suffering the injury.
“At the beginning, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do this.’ But I said, ‘I’m not ever going to get this back again for the rest of my life.’ It was something I’ve always worked for growing up, being a four-time state champ,” he said.
Terry, a four-star defensive lineman who expects to take a redshirt season before playing for the Huskers the following year, had plenty of determination on his side. But his decision to wrestle on a torn ACL was met with concern from the Nebraska football coaching staff, who encouraged surgery. Head coach Matt Rhule supported Terry’s determination, but made it clear: if the knee worsened, the plan would change.
His North High coach, Dan Carlson, had his own moment of doubt.
“When I first heard about his injury, I did my grieving. I just assumed it was over. He’s going to go on and play football, no harm, no embarrassment about being a three-timer,” Carlson admitted. “When they made the decision, I was really like, ‘one step and it’s over’… It was a stressful year for all of us, because as the head coach, if something goes wrong, you can’t help but take the burden of it.”
Terry wasn’t deterred.
“I remember telling my dad that if I have to limp off that mat, I’m going to do that, and I’m going to find a way to win the match,” he said.
Terry said he never wrestled without a brace or a compression sleeve. But those tools did little to help his confidence in his knee, both on the mat and off it. While Terry adapted his style, looking to finish his opponents right away, a lack of stability kept him guessing.
“It was constantly on my mind, [even] in the classroom, it was, ‘Will this knee go out?’… It was like a weight off my shoulders once I won the finals match. It was kind of a relief,” he said.
His final victory earned him a spot in the record books, but Terry was out to prove that nothing could stop him.
“I think what I want people to remember most is that anything’s possible. With hard work, you can achieve anything,” Terry said.
His mindset of resilience is what sets Terry apart, according to his coach.
“I’ve been a head coach 20 years, and have been a part of wrestling my whole life, and the way he faces adversity, I’ve never seen in any athlete that I’ve been around. That’s what separated him,” Carlson said. “Other coaches assumed the four-peat was ‘meant to happen,’ but they don’t understand the adversity he’s had to overcome from day one.”
Terry’s dominance in wrestling extends beyond his own accolades. His name already carries weight among young wrestlers in the region who one day hope to follow in his footsteps.
“When I go to middle school tournaments to try to get some kids interested in our program, his is the first name that comes up. They idolize him. I’ve had some friends from other places and their kids ask for his autograph, and he’s had a huge influence on this program,” Carlson said.
For Terry, this reality might seem like destiny because wrestling is in his blood. His father, cousin, and uncle were all state finalists, with his father and cousin winning two titles each. He’s embraced his identity as a fourth-generation wrestler, even tattooing the school’s Viking logo on his back.
Now, Terry’s focus shifts to football, where he figures to eventually anchor Nebraska’s defensive line after his knee is fully healed.
“My goal overall is to be in the NFL, but you know, it’s a marathon and it’s not a sprint, so it’s going to take time, and I’m ready for that process.”
While his path to stardom will undoubtedly feature roadblocks along the way, Terry is more than equipped to handle those challenges. He didn’t let up before, and his coach doesn’t envision that changing anytime soon.
“I can’t imagine this guy letting off the gas right now,” Carlson said. “I don’t ever see that happening.”
This article originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
