Thomas Gilman is a YouTube junkie.

But the Omaha Skutt senior isn't seeking the standard fare of the hottest, most popular video of the moment.

Unless Russian wrestling makes the list.

Yep, he can't get enough of Russian wrestling.

"Wrestling is just my life," Gilman said.

And Gilman is about to take the biggest step of his wrestling life. The three-time Nebraska state champion left late last week for a few days of work in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

From there, Gilman will go to Hungary for the Cadet World Championships, where he'll be the U.S. representative at 54 kilograms (119 pounds) in the freestyle tournament.

"I'm super excited for him," Skutt coach Brad Hildebrandt said. "He's been wanting this for so long. It's the kid's dream, and he's going for it."

A spectacular offseason gave Gilman the opportunity to go global. He captured the 54-kilogram crown at the ASICS FILA Cadet Nationals in Ohio in late April. That clinched a spot on the U.S. team that is heading overseas later this week.

But it wasn't where his summer ended.

Gilman went on to win another national meet in Fargo, N.D.

"He's extremely tough on the national level," Hildebrandt said. "I'm looking forward to seeing where he stacks up at the international level."

While his focus right now is wrestling on the world stage, it will soon turn to a decision he's been mulling for a long time — college.

Gilman said he'll pick between Nebraska and Oklahoma State shortly after returning from Hungary.

The No. 8 overall recruit in the nation, and second at 119 pounds, he had plenty of big-name schools knocking on his door.

"Those two were very honest and upfront," Gilman said. "That was the main thing for me."

Nebraska's shift to the Big Ten is a selling point. The opportunity to compete against teams like Penn State, Minnesota and Iowa — winners of the past five national championships — is tough to pass up.

But Oklahoma State has its own tradition. The Cowboys won four straight titles from 2003 to 2006, and coach John Smith is as respected as they get in the sport.

"He's one of the best coaches in the world," Gilman said. "They're still Oklahoma State."

Hildebrandt, who led Skutt to 13 straight Class B state titles, said kids like Gilman don't come around often.

"He's such a student of the sport," he said. "He just studies it and soaks in everything he can. It's been really fun to watch him mature as a wrestler."

Gilman said he looks forward to testing himself against the best the world has to offer. His respect for the way Europeans wrestle comes from all of those Internet videos.

"Their composure is what sticks out," he said. "Even if they're down in the match, they're composed. They don't freak out. Watching those things pays off when you're out there actually doing it. Especially when I'm just rolling around on the mat. It'll get in a position that when I'm wrestling I've never been in before.

"But I've seen it."

Contact the writer:

402-850-0781, [email protected]

twitter.com/nickrubek