• Video Below: Sights and sounds from the state finals, Feb. 18
• Photo Showcase: Nebraska state wrestling, Feb. 18

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Connor Bolling and Colton Adams didn’t just live up to the lofty expectations of their 126-pound Class B championship showdown.

They exceeded them.

Adams scored a late takedown and held on for a 4-3 victory in a match that many afterward already were calling a classic. It gave the Scottsbluff sophomore his second state title and denied Bolling of Central City his third crown in his final high school match.

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Scottsbluff coach James Miller said. “And it was.”

Bolling led 1-0 entering the third period behind an escape early in the second. Bolling was in deep on a shot that appeared to be a sure takedown, but Adams somehow scrambled out of it, prompting a “wow” from many looking on.

In the final frame, Adams started down and tied the match early. Bolling then secured the match’s first takedown before Adams escaped shortly after.

“I just had to keep working,” Adams said.

The Scottsbluff standout nearly had a takedown with 39 seconds left that would have given him a lead, but it was ruled out of bounds.

It didn’t take much longer to get the match-winner.

Adams got in on a shot and finished for two points before the whistle was blown with 16 seconds remaining. Bolling nearly escaped with six seconds left, but Adams again scrambled well and kept him at bay for the victory.

“Colton did a great job of finishing those exchanges on top,” Miller said.

It’s something Adams hasn’t had to do a lot of during a 37-3 season. Two of his losses happened at one of the nation’s toughest tournaments and the other came in the district finals.

When he needed it, Adams’ scrambling ability proved to be vital.

“I work on that a lot,” he said. “Tyler (Nation) and I do a lot of that.”

Nation won a state title at 138.

For Adams, the victory capped a comeback weekend of sorts. The loss in the district finals was his first to a Nebraska competitor in his two-year career.

Both Miller and Adams said it was the fuel to a state title.

“I had slacked off,” Adams admitted. “I wasn’t working very hard. Losing changed all of that.”

Miller saw a different Adams this weekend.

“I think it woke him up a little bit,” Miller said. “He came into this weekend with a fire, with a point to prove.”

After an unbeaten freshman campaign, Adams proved his point again Saturday, leaving him halfway to four career state titles. And he’s not afraid to admit that was a major motivating factor.

“Oh yeah,” he said. “I think about that a lot. It hasn’t been done very many times. I want to be one of the ones that does.”

Contact the writer:

402-850-0781, nickrubek@gmail.com

twitter.com/nickrubek

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• Video: Sights and sounds from the state finals, Feb. 18: :