Wrestling Olympic Hopeful Competing In Europe

It’s a moment the entire sporting world braces for. The results are in and the news is good for the U.S. team. Flags are waving wildly. Red, white and blue colored confetti is pouring down in streams. The announcer’s voice resonates loudly. A young wrestler extends his arm triumphantly accepting his medal. The U.S. has taken the Olympic Gold for wrestling.

It’s a scene Toby Erickson, 19, formerly of Sidney, has replayed over in his head from a young age. Some day he hopes to stand on the U.S. pedestal and accept the most prestigious sporting award in the world, a gold medal. He hopes to represent the U.S. for the world team and wrestle in the Olympics. Through years of hard training and perseverance, he’s confident he’ll get there.

From July 26-29, he’ll be competing in Bucharest, Romania for a title at the Junior World Tournament. “We’re all expecting to get a medal. That’s my big goal but I take it one match at a time and just try to win them all,” Erickson said.

In Romania, the 22-man bracket is for the age groups of 17-20. If he does well, it will mean he is one of the top Greco Roman wrestlers in the world.

This summer he is training every day at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. “I feel like I am in the best shape of my life. I’ve been working out every day and feel like I am ready,” Erickson said.

His current head coach, Ike Anderson, is a former Olympian.

This year, Erickson is wrestling as a sophomore at Northern Michigan University after transferring from Boise State while majoring in English. When he’s not in school, he resides in Helena.

Erickson was introduced to the wrestling mat when he was five years old.

Since then he’s racked up an impressive record and describes himself as a grizzly bear on the mat. Ironically, his favorite move is the ‘bear hug’.

During his wrestling career at Helena High School he secured two state heavyweight titles after receiving his 45th consecutive victory.

Last April, he finished second at the Junior World trials and qualified to represent the U.S. at the Pan-Am games in Managua, Nicaragua where he won titles in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling. He captured those titles weighing in at 264.5 pounds.

Wrestling is a family affair at the Erickson residence. Both of his brothers also wrestle at Helena High School. Tucker, 18, is the first sophomore in the history of the Wrestling Association to win a state title in the heavyweight division. His other brother, Tanner, 15, is wrestling on the junior varsity team.

“It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for 15 years and now here we are at this point. It’s just an amazing feeling for a dad. I sent my son to the mat when he was a little kid and now he’ll be representing the U.S. in his age group for the country,” said Dwayne Erickson, his father.

His grandparents are Judy and Talbert Erickson, Sidney. His great grandmother is Elaine Portra, Fairview.