Wrestlers to honor Lance Golubinski on his Leap Day birthday

GOSHEN — Lance Golubinski, honor student and athlete, was a senior at Goshen High School before he was killed in a car accident on April 10, 2014.

Lance wanted to become an engineer. He was accepted to his number one college, Clemson University School of Engineering, with a scholarship.

Lance was an intensive wrestler, ending his career with over 100 wins. Coach Ed Killengberger called Lance “the face of Goshen wrestling." And his legacy lives on. His passion was with every Goshen Wrestler this year, seen clearly in every match. Lance’s final sectional he stood alone on the podium.

Five Goshen wrestlers stood on the podium at Section 9 finals 2016: Frank Fea, Mike Kubik, Austin Brock, Tom Kerns and Ryan Ellefson. Ryan Ellefson is going to States — the first time a wrestler from Goshen has been in states since 2005.

“I’m lucky that I have the opportunity to get up there and do my best for Goshen,” Ellefsen said.

The high level of integrity of the team was demonstrated when they won the Sportsmanship Award at Eastern States, the most competitive high school wrestling tournaments in the nation, with 114 teams. And lastly, but most importantly, the team started the season as the champions of the Lance Golubinski Memorial Wrestling Tournament.

These young men make the Goshen Town feel proud! Fierce competitors yes, but better words to describe the Goshen Wrestling Team is "honorable" — honorable in the memory of their lost friend, Lance Golubinski.

On Feb. 29, the day Lance would have been 20 years old, the boys will be standing together tall at a Memorial Display at the Goshen High School. All donations will go to the Lance Golubinski Memorial Scholarship Fund, Chase Bank, Goshen.

Submitted by the Golubinski family