Cebulski shines in Argo's Columbia and Gold Scrimmage Held at Malta High

After high school graduation, many athletes could only dream of having one more chance to shine on their homecourt in their sport.

For Chad Cebulski, wrestling once more at the Malta High School gynasium became a reality.

The University of Great Falls Columbia and Gold Intrasquad Scrimmage was held last Saturday and Cebulski highlighted a night full of action.

“It’s capping off our preseason of wrestling each other and kind of seeing where we’re at,” Chad Cebulski told the PCN. “We’re getting into tournaments next weekend so we’re judging where we are right now.”

Cebulski admitted that being home was pretty weird, considering he has been gone for a while.

“I haven’t been in the high school for about five years and coming back it’s just kind of a different experience,” he said. “It’s kind of nice to see all of the old faces.

In his senior year of high school, he wrestled at 135 pounds which is 22 pounds lighter than the weight he currently wrestles at.

He went to state four times in his career at Malta high. He placed three times and even placed second at his highest placing.

““We got here and practiced. We went back to the old wrestling room and at seems pretty much the same since I left,” Cebulski said. “It was kind of a cool experience.”

Argos Head Coach Caleb Schaeffer has been a part of UGF’s wrestling program since it’s beginning ten years ago. Last year the team won second at the NAIA Nationals.

“Every year I pick a senior, what hometown they are from and we go to their school,” said coach Schaeffer.

Upon talking to Nick Cebulski, Chad’s father, Schaeffer knew Malta would be a prime spot for the showcase.

“Chad was a returning All-American, so I said, yeah let’s do it,” Coach Schaeffer said.

He also noted that Malta High School has produced the most All-American Athletes in his program Michael French three time All-American, Wayne French three time All-American and Cebulski One time All-American.

“If you break ‘em up, just from this high school we’ve have seven All-Americans,” Coach Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer had nothing but good things to say about Cebulski, saying that he is self motivated and has produced himself.

“He got in the room over the summer. He wanted to be the best and he’s proven it,” Coach Schaeffer said. “When he first got in our program, you’d say that he was probably 30th out of 30 in the room and he just kept trying to excel and get better.”

Every summer Cebulski stuck around the gym to train and better himself. Eventually finishing fourth in the nation.

“That’s all self driven. You can’t coach that . What he’s done is by himself,” said Coach Schaeffer who has a team of 52 wrestlers (47 of which wrestle.)

Cebulski’s opponent in the scrimmage was fellow 157 pound wrestler, sophomore Khaldoon Rashid of El Paso, Texas.

“He was actually my roommate last summer,” Cebulski said. “ So we’re fairly close but we have a mutual understanding that we’re here for business.”

He noted that Rashid is one of the hardest workers on the team.

“If I mess up, he’s definitely going to catch me. He is no slouch. I’ve got to show up and wrestle,” said Cebulski. “

When asked about his strategy Cebulski’s original game plan was to get as many points as possible.

“As soon as I get out there that’s my motto, ‘score right away,’” he said. “That’s what they teach us.”

Though Cebulski didn’t get the jump he wanted to, he did stay on top all of his match, scoring two points in the opening three minute round with a takedown, while Rashid had one on an escape..

Rashid had another escape in the second round, making the score two all at the end of the second round.

Cebulski scored on another escape in the third and then added one last takedown, giving him the 5-2 win.

“I feel like I wrestled pretty smart,” Cebulski said. “He’s a tough kid to score points on.”

Cebulski realized that Rashid gave him opportunities to score most points, but ultimately he did not capitalize on those chances.

“It felt pretty good (to get a win at Malta High), a lot of my family is here. That was nice seeing them,” Cebulski said. “A lot of my old pals that I grew up wrestling with showed up. That was kind of nice to see them again and put on a nice show.”

As the season begins Cebulski knows there are a couple of things about his wrestling game that need to improve.

“My footwork’s not where I want it to be,” he said. “My shots I need to polish up a little bit and just conditioning. It’s the first part of the year and the first time making weight and I felt a little tired.”