The Nebraska wrestling team earned one of its biggest in-state recruiting victories in quite some time.
Bennington standout Kael Lauridsen announced his commitment to the Huskers on Tuesday morning.
“Let me tell you, it is just the beginning,” Lauridsen tweeted.
Nebraska is not only getting one of the state’s top wrestlers but one of the nation’s elite grapplers. After beginning the season at 120, Lauridsen rolled to his third state title at 113 pounds in February, which lines him up for a chance to be a four-time state champ next season.
MatScouts had Lauridsen ranked as the No. 2 wrestler nationally at 113 pounds by the end of the high school season.
The junior has won freestyle national titles in 2019 (15U Nationals) and 2018 (14U Nationals), and placed second in the Greco-Roman divisions in each of those events. He won a 16U national Greco-Roman title in Fargo, North Dakota, last year.
Photos: Championship Saturday at the state wrestling tournament in Omaha
Lincoln East’s Cole Toline makes his entrance before the 138-pound Class A final at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Bellevue East’s Garrett Grice celebrates his fourth state championship after winning at 138 pounds in Class A Saturday at the state wrestling tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Hunter Jacobsen enters for his championship match at 120 pounds in Class A Saturday during the state wrestling meet at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Westin Sherlock adjust his headgear during the Class A 145-pound final against eventual champion Joel Adams of Millard South on Saturday at the state tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha.
The Class A 120-pound top six, including champion Gabe Turman of Lincoln East, are honored on the podium at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Gabe Turman gets ready to make his entrance for the 120-pound final Saturday at the state wrestling tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Gabe Turman wins the Class A 120-pound title at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Brandon Baustert (bottom) battles Columbus’ Adrian Bice during the Class A final at 126 pounds Saturday at the state wrestling tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Bice won 4-3.
Lincoln East’s Keith Smith enters for his Class A championship match at 132 pounds Feb. 19 at the state wrestling tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Smith pinned Omaha Burke’s Julio Reyes.
Bellevue East’s Garrett Grice enters before the Class A 138-pound title match at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Brandon Baustert reacts after losing the Class A 126-pound title match at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Gabriel Turman (right) gets ready to resume the match after a reset during the 120-pound Class A match at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Bellevue East’s Garrett Grice (middle) points to the fans as he wins his fourth state wrestling title Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Westin Sherlock takes a knee after his match for the 145-pound title in Class A Saturday at the state wrestling tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha. Joel Adams of Millard South defeated Sherlock 16-4.
Lincoln East’s Gabe Turman enters for his championship match at 120 pounds in Class A at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Keith Smith wins the Class A 132-pound title at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Brandon Baustert looks to make a move on Columbus’ Adrian Bice during the Class A 126-pound final at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East fans cheer on Gabe Turman during the 120-pound Class A final at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
The Class A 132-pound top six, including champion Keith Smith of Lincoln East, are honored on the podium at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Keith Smith (right) locks arms with Omaha Burke’s Julio Reyes during the Class A 132-pound final at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Bennington’s Kael Lauridsen (left) attempts to take down Sidney’s Chance Houser during the Class B 113-pound final at the state wrestling tournament Feb. 19 at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Keith Smith celebrates with his family after winning the Class A 132-pound title at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Gabe Turman celebrates with Will Turman — an assistant coach and Gabe’s brother — after winning the Class A state title at 120 pounds Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Bennington’s Kael Lauridsen (right) pins Sidney’s Chance Houser during the Class B 113-pound final at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Plattsmouth’s Zoey Barber wrestles Conestoga’s Kylee Plowman during the Girls 114-pound final at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Cross County/Osceola’s Cameron Graham wrestles Grand Island Central Catholic’s Ben Alberts (left) during the Class C 160-pound state final Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Cross County/Osceola’s Cameron Graham (left) and Grand Island Central Catholic’s Ben Alberts battle in the Class C 160-pound state final Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Millard South’s Antrell Taylor (right) and Millard North’s Brian Petry wrestle for the Class A state title at 170 pounds Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Millard South’s Antrell Taylor celebrates after winning the Class A 170-pound state wrestling championship Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Cross County/Osceola’s Cameron Graham (back) and Grand Island Central Catholic’s Ben Alberts compete for the Class C 160-pound state championship Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Aquinas’ Christopher Nickolite (left) gets a point against Tekamah-Herman’s Logan Burt during the Class C 152-pound state final Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Aquinas’ Christopher Nickolite wrestles Tekamah-Herman’s Logan Burt (bottom) during the Class C 152-pound state final Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Aquinas’ Christopher Nickolite (top) and Tekamah-Herman’s Logan Burt clash for the 152-pound state title in Class C on Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Aquinas’ Christopher Nickolite (top) controls Tekamah-Herman’s Logan Burt during the Class C 152-pound state final Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Fans dress like Aquinas’ Christopher Nickolite during the Class C 152-pound final at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Bennington’s AJ Parrish and Wahoo’s Malachi Bordovsky (left) battle for the championship at 138 pounds in Class B during the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Millard South’s Joel Adams wrestles Lincoln East’s Cole Toline (front) in 145-pound state final in Class A on Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Fillmore Central’s Alexander Schademann (right) and Raymond Central’s Logan Bryce compete for a state championship at 132 pounds in Class C on Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Plainview’s Tanner Frahm celebrates after winning the Class D 145-pound final Saturday at the state wrestling tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Winside’s Art Escalante (top) wrestles Plainview’s Tanner Frahm during the Class D 145-pound state final Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Winside’s Art Escalante (top) takes on Plainview’s Tanner Frahm during in the Class D state final at 145 pounds Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Bennington’s AJ Parrish (left) and Wahoo’s Malachi Bordovsky are paired in the Class B state championship at 138 pounds Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
David City’s Simon Schindler celebrates after winning the Class C 126-pound championship Saturday at the state wrestling tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Gabe Turman pins Lincoln Southwest’s Hunter Jacobsen (left) during the Class A state final at 120 pounds Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Gabe Turman wrestles Lincoln Southwest’s Hunter Jacobsen during the Class A 120-pound final, won by Turman, on Saturday at the state wrestling tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Gering’s Jacob Awiszus (left) goes for a takedown against Beatrice’s Deegan Nelson during the 182-pound state final in Class B on Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
David City’s Simon Schindler (top) wrestles Central City’s Tristan Burbach in the Class C 126-pound state final Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
David City’s Simon Schindler wrestles Central City’s Tristan Burbach (left) during the Class C 126-pound state final Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Gering’s Jacob Awiszus does a flip in celebration of his win in the 182-pound Class B finals at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln Southwest’s Hunter Jacobsen makes his entrance for the Class A 120-pound final Saturday at the state wrestling tournament at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Lincoln East’s Gabe Turman makes his entrance for the Class A 120-pound final at the state wrestling tournament Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Bennington’s Kael Lauridsen (top) and Sidney’s Chance Houser battle for the state championship at 113 pounds in Class B on Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Plattsmouth’s Zoey Barber (left) and Conestoga’s Kylee Plowman compete in the girls 114-pound state championship on Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Gering’s Ashton Dane (top) wrestles Bennington’s Cadyn Coyle in the Class B 106-pound state final Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
Yutan’s Aubrie Pehrson wrestles Weeping Water’s Raelyn Wilson during the girls 107-pound final Saturday at CHI Health Center Omaha.
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