'He's an absolute hammer': Banks Norby leads Poudre program-record 11 wrestlers to state tournament

It's all built to this for Banks Norby and the fifth-ranked Poudre wrestling squad.

The senior Norby enters this week's Colorado high school state wrestling tournament (Feb. 15-17 at Denver's Ball Arena) as the top-ranked 157-pound wrestler in Class 5A and a favorite for the state crown.

He's part of a program-record 11 Impalas heading to state, and it's a group with plenty of Poudre pedigree on the mat.

"Qualifying 11 is just awesome," coach Barrett Golyer said. "We didn't want to leave guys behind."

Here's a look at Norby and the Impalas as the state tournament arrives.

'He's an absolute hammer'

Norby has emerged as a dominant force in his senior season.

He's 39-3 overall with 24 wins by pin, a 13-0 record in duals and has four tournament titles — including league and regional championships.

He even earned his 100th career win against crosstown rival Fort Collins as part of the Impalas' city sweep this season.

"He’s an absolute hammer. He’ll beat you up on the mat," said fellow senior and teammate Colter Junker.

"Banks just pummels you out there," senior Nico Bekkedahl said with a laugh.

Norby always had the talent, but progress wasn't always linear.

He burst onto the scene with a strong freshman year, finishing fifth in 5A at 113 pounds in a shortened 2020-21 season.

Then a concussion and self-acknowledged battles with mental health derailed his sophomore campaign. He missed regionals and state with the concussion.

It spurred a rededication to the sport, already a lifelong passion.

"It made my focus wrestling," Norby said. "I wanted to dedicate my life to it."

The dedication has paid off since. He ascended to third in 5A at 150 last winter and hasn't let up.

His advantages on the mat now are both his physical strength and noticeable mental fortitude.

The former developed through a childhood wrestling and helping his father Tony's landscaping company, moving rocks and doing physical labor.

"It’s farmer’s strength, real work strength," Golyer said. "It’s hard to deal with."

The latter developed post-concussion, as Norby has found an indomitable will to wear down opponents.

"There’s another level of toughness," Golyer said. "He just makes them tap out."

Now Norby heads to state with a big target but a bigger goal.

"I want to be Outstanding Wrestler of the whole tournament," Norby said. "I know my skills are there, it's just balancing confidence without getting ahead of myself."

That would likely mean Norby brings home Poudre's first individual state title since Jacob Greenwood in 2018.

"It would mean everything, because this has been my goal since I was 4," he said. "I want to be remembered here."

The 'unofficial team captain'

Even on a team with plenty of experience, Norby is a unifying voice.

"He’s our unofficial team captain and one of the greatest teammates I’ve ever had," Junker said. "He's a big reason a lot of us are at this level."

Norby's style is not domineering but more about accountability, for himself and teammates. It's about making sure the work gets done.

Golyer credits him for leadership through example, like working with younger teammates such as Garrett Sims to help them qualify for state.

"He shoots straight but believes in you," Golyer said. "He's sharp in everything, and other kids really pick up on that."

"I've been pushing myself and really just trying to push my teammates with me," Norby added.

It wasn't always like this for Norby, who was quieter early in his career but has found his voice through that aforementioned dedication to the sport.

He doesn't take the pseudo-captain role or his teammates' respect lightly.

"The fact they notice that, I really do appreciate it," said a humbled Norby.

Norby leads close group of Impalas

The Impalas are scaling back up the mountain this year, ranked fifth with those 11 qualifiers and looking for more.

"We're hoping we can hit top two, top three in the state," Bekkedahl said.

The keys to making that high finish happen? Well, it starts with Norby, who could absolutely win it all.

Then there's Billy Greenwood, who was first in regionals and ranked third at 144. Or Marcus Bekkedahl (Nico's younger brother), who matches those rankings at 120.

Then there's Brett Lamb and Ryder Clarkson, fresh off second-place regional finishes with top-5 potential at state.

"I’m proud of this team, we’ve worked for what seems like 10 years for this," Norby said.

He's not stretching with that 10-year talk.

The connecting line? Wrestlers who have grown up competing together or who have seen this program up close through family and older brothers.

That's true for Norby to an extent, as he wrestled with the GRIT Athletic club growing up and has a close relationship with the Greenwood family and others.

"He’d consider this like family," Golyer said. "Banks has been around GRIT and I believe Bill Greenwood (Billy and Jacob's father) even baptized him. So he's has been part of it for a long time."

With those kind of ties, Norby isn't out for himself. It's about the Poudre wrestling brotherhood.

Even his big state goal would be out the window if it meant a team trophy, he said.

"I’d rather be team state champions than a state champ myself," Norby emphasized.

State tournament coverage: The Coloradoan will be down at the state wrestling tournament from Thursday to Saturday, chronicling Norby plus the Impalas, a top-ranked Windsor team and all locals. Check coloradoan.com/sports for more.

Poudre wrestlers who qualified for state

120: Marcus Bekkedahl

126: Ty Reeves

132: Garrett Sims

138: Nico Bekkedahl

144: Billy Greenwood

150: Griffin Bower

157: Banks Norby

165: Brett Lamb

175: Colter Junker

190: Ryder Clarkson

215: Cassius Garcia

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado state wrestling: Top-ranked Banks Norby is Poudre's 'hammer'