JEFF FIELDER Editor
OSHKOSH – Colton Holthus, a senior at Garden County High School, is Nspire Today!’s Male Athlete of the Month for March, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. He competed in football in the fall, wrestling this winter, and he’s currently in track and field. He’s one of the top wrestlers in western Nebraska. He captured his second straight state title in February, winning the 152-pound weight class in Class D. He finished the season with a 48-2 record, and he recorded 211 takedowns. As a junior, he won state at 145. He also qualified for state his sophomore year. His career record was 153-28. He holds all of Garden County’s individual records except for season reversals and career reversals. In football, Holthus was a three-year starter. He played quarterback, tight end and linebacker. He earned all-district honors. In track and field, he competes in the 400, 800, high jump, 4×400 and 4×800. He went to state his freshman and sophomore years in the 4×400 relay. In addition to sports, Holthus was involved in FFA up until this year. He has a 3.6 GPA. After he graduates from high school, he plans to go to college to wrestle and major in history. His parents are Clint Holthus and Monica Stutzman. For being named an athlete of the month, Holthus will receive a gift card for a free drink at Scooter’s Coffee.
Q: How thrilling was it to repeat as a state wrestling champion?
HOLTHUS: “That was a huge achievement for me. I had been wrestling since preschool to get that – not once but twice. I wanted to do that for our community because winning two has never been done in our school history. I’m one of only six or seven kids at our school to win a state championship.”
Q: Was it easier or harder to win a second state title?
HOLTHUS: “It was a little easier because I knew what to expect, but on the other hand, it was harder because I had a lot more pressure to win. Everyone was expecting me to win another one.”
Q: Talk about your run through this year’s state tournament.
HOLTHUS: “I flew through my first two matches pretty well. In the semifinals, I knew it was going to be a tough match, and it was. In the finals match I was not expecting to score that many points. [Holthus won 10-7]. It was a pretty nerve-wracking match.”
The entire Q&A with Holthus is in the March issue of Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues), you may send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Please include your name, address, phone number, and email. You may also sign up with a credit card by calling 308-220-8865 any time, any day of the week.
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Athletes of the Week or Athletes of the Month, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, you may do so by sending an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or by mailing a letter to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Nominations may also be submitted by sending a text to 308-220-8865.
