Brad Osterman’s wrestling career for the Carson City-Crystal Eagle wrestling team ended at the Division 4 team finals on Feb. 21 at Battle Creek.

In the Eagles’ quarterfinal match with Hesperia, Osterman, wrestling at 285 pounds, decisioned Josh Erke 3-1 in overtime. With five matches left, Osterman’s win cut Hesperia’s lead to 23-18. But the Panthers won the next four matches to clinch a 44-21 win and end the Eagles’ strong season at 25-3.

Osterman, a senior, ended a two-year career and brought back memories of his brother Dan, who had a stellar three-year stint with the Eagles before wrestling at St. Johns and later at Michigan State University.

Brad, a heavyweight, finished with a 31-11 record this year. He did not advance to the state individual finals.

“He’s wrestled well for us this year,” said coach Kacy Datema. “He’s beaten some real good kids, and he’s had some close matches with some ranked kids.” He had several second places at tournaments.

Brad wrestled until seventh grade then decided to take a break and focus on football.

“I started back up my sophomore year and got an injury,” he said. “So I’ve only wrestled last year and this year. Last year was sort of a ‘getting-back-into it’ year. I forgot some things. I won some matches and lost some matches. It was a matter of getting it all back.

“This year, I’ve excelled at heavyweight. I have more endurance than most of the guys I’ve wrestled.”

He’s definitely improved this season. “My brother comes down and helps us in practices; he brings one of his friends and helps out,” Brad said. “He showed me a lot.”

Brad said he likes the individual aspect of wrestling but tends to be more team-oriented.

Datema’s current assistant, Trent Ward, was coaching when Dan Osterman wrestled for the Eagles.

“I’ve had Brad the last two years,” Ward said. “Danny lived and breathed and ate and slept wrestling. Both are great kids, kids you want around. They’re very quiet and do not say a whole lot. Danny, I remember his freshman year winning the state title. He probably wasn’t expected to win a state title that year. But he was an extremely hard worker and very goal-oriented. He had his mind set on what he wanted to do, and he did it.

“Brad had to come up in the shoes of Danny, and I think some of that pressure might have gotten to Brad a little bit, trying to fill the shoes of a brother who’s a three-time state champion and a state runner-up. Quality-wise, Brad has all the intangibles Danny had. He’s a very solid wrestler and a very hard worker. They’re totally different, with their body styles.”

Dan was with the Eagles three seasons and was at St. Johns as a senior. He was state runner-up as a sophomore and was state champ the other three years. He started at 103 pounds as a freshman and finished his high school career at 135.

Dan wrestled four seasons at MSU and qualified for NCAA tournament action three times.

“We have a great relationship,” Dan said. “We’re really close. This year, I’ve really got to be a part of his senior year. My eligibility is up for MSU. During the season, I was coming up a couple of times a week to help with practice. During his matches, I coach him. We’re pretty close.”

Both Ostermans got into wrestling at a young age.

They’re at different weight classes, “but I almost wrestled like a bigger guy,” Dan said. “I was good at Greco, so I like to lock up and go upper body. That’s something [Brad] does. We both have that type of a style.”

“I like to pace myself and see how the guy is moving,” Brad said. “I’m normally quicker than my opponent. They have size on me. I use my speed and strength to my advantage. I can normally break them down.”

Brad remembers watching Dan as a wrestler. “He was good, Brad said. “I always looked up to him as the wrestling standout. He put 110 percent into it. He’s quicker than I am. I’m more laid back and he’s more aggressive.” 

“Both were super good kids,” Ward said. “I would put the trust in my kids with both of them. They’re very respectful, very hard workers…very good in school, both of them.”