THE NEBRASKA 100

Ask Brad Vering about his best moment as an athlete and he fires an answer back as quickly as he headlocks a wrestling opponent to the mat.

"It hasn't happened yet," he said.

Vering won three state titles at Howells High School, an NCAA title at Nebraska, has made three world teams in Greco-Roman wrestling at 185 pounds and competed in the 2004 Olympics.

But he is still seeking his first world-level medal.

He placed fifth in the world in 2002 and 2003. He will compete at the world championships in September in Budapest, Hungary.

"I want to win the Olympics and win a world title," he said. "That's what is left for me -- winning medals at the highest level. I am training as hard as I can to get to that level. I know I can do it."

Vering took up the sport early and benefited from his older brother, Russ, who started at Nebraska after joining the Husker team as a walk-on.

Everything Russ learned, he passed on to Brad.

"Russ is one of the most unselfish people I've ever met," Brad said. "He's awesome."

His parents, Reynold and Rose Marie, started hauling Brad to a club 40 miles away in Fremont when he was in second grade.

"A lot of people thought we were crazy," Brad said. "But that gave me a huge advantage."

Vering is the only native Nebraskan to win an NCAA wrestling crown for the Huskers.

"Brad has always outworked everybody," said Lee Schroeder, Vering's high school coach. "I'm prejudiced, but Brad is the greatest wrestler ever in Nebraska."

-- Craig Sesker