From teammates to rivals to teammates again

Freshman forward Omaha Biliew sticks his tongue out while sitting on the court after a layup attempt during the ISU vs. Grambling State men’s basketball game, Hilton Coliseum, Nov. 19, 2023. (Jacob Rice)

AMES — The odds of high school teammates splitting off and becoming rivals at two powerhouse schools just to reunite as teammates at the next level is slim to none. But that was the case for Omaha Biliew and Cade Kelderman.

The two started as teammates on a loaded Waukee team. However, when Waukee added Waukee Northwest as its second high school in 2021, Biliew and Kelderman were pitted against each other in what would become the biggest rivalry in the state of Iowa.

Despite both Biliew and Kelderman leading their own teams to victory in the schools’ “civil war,” the two would soon be reunited when to their surprise, they met as teammates again at Iowa State.

The unique journey that Biliew and Kelderman took to get from Waukee to Iowa State formed a bond that may prove the test of time. But even with a bond as strong as theirs, Biliew and Kelderman still remind each other daily of the past rivalry.

As the two high school phenoms sat in the locker room, they could not help but chirp it up for old times’ sake.

“I got the head-to-head record,” Kelderman said. “That’s all we gotta say.”

“I told you, he always gonna bring up the record every time,” Biliew said. “He always gonna bring up the record.”

“Just gotta keep it fresh in his mind, so he doesn’t forget about it,” Kelderman said.

“Don’t forget who won you that ring,” Biliew said.

Cade Kelderman and Omaha Biliew both played at Waukee High School together during their sophomore season. Waukee won the state 4A championship title that year. (Jacob Rice)

Freshamn guard Cade Kelderman drives the ball up the court during the Iowa State vs. Eastern Illinois University men's basketball game, Hilton Coliseum, Dec. 21, 2023.

The team destined to win it all

Biliew’s and Kelderman’s paths first crossed at Waukee. Before a new Waukee school was created to accommodate the growing size of the town, both players were part of a super team that would roll its way through the Iowa high school basketball scene.

At the time, Waukee was loaded with talent from top to bottom, and with the other players on the team, Biliew and Kelderman were pushed to compete for recognition.

Waukee head coach, and assistant coach during the year Biliew and Kelderman were teammates, Kevin Kanaskie saw that competitiveness every single day.

“Everyone wanted to prove they were the best player on the team. In reality, we probably had five or six best players on the team,” Kanaskie said.

With three other star players on the team—Tucker DeVries, Payton Sandfort and Pryce Sandfort—Biliew and Kelderman had others to push them to get better.

Currently, DeVries is a star player at Drake, averaging over 20 points per game. Payton Sandfort is one of Iowa’s key scorers, sitting at over 15 points per game, and his younger brother Pryce Sandfort joined him as a four-star recruit and the No. 2 player out of Iowa in 2023 just behind Biliew.

With the talent on the team, Waukee’s then-head coach, Justin Ohl, was ecstatic about the high-level basketball on display at every practice and every game.

“That year, our practices were unbelievable,” Ohl said.

Despite the overflowing talent and the competitiveness of the team, everyone was close-knit. There was no ego on the team, which helped build the foundation for each of the players to grow close and form bonds with each other.

Even Biliew and Kelderman were close, despite the looming possibility that they would be rivals in the near future.

“They were. The whole group was close,” Ohl said.

Practices set the same tone as a state championship game due to the high skill level of the group. Although Kelderman was not in charge of guarding Biliew in practice due to their different positions, the two did meet on occasion.

“He was more in charge of getting after [DeVries], guarding him, but I think [Biliew] would set some good screens on [Kelderman],” Ohl said.

Kelderman was always up for a challenge, so when DeVries took a break from giving him the works, Biliew would be the next kid up. With how scrappy and tough Kelderman is, he could compete hard against players much larger than himself.

“He was small, but he didn’t play small,” Kanaskie said.

Biliew may have worked hard in his time at Waukee, but Kelderman still rivaled him in their sophomore campaign.

Waukee Northwest head coach Brett Watson noted that Kelderman’s biggest strength was how hard he worked. Not being the biggest, the tallest, the fastest or the strongest, Kelderman had to work harder than everyone else to keep up. But he was okay with that.

“He has a work ethic that is second to none,” Watson said.

With Kelderman and Biliew sporting a work ethic that only rivaled each other, it was bound to get competitive.

That competitiveness helped both players excel and grow at an exponential rate. Even though a rivalry would form just a couple of years later, the two went on to win the Class 4A state championship on that 2020-21 team.

The bond formed from winning it all together was strong enough where it could not be erased by the rivalry that was about to unfold.

“We won a ring together and everything, so it’s all fun,” Biliew said.

Freshamn guard Cade Kelderman drives the ball up the court during the Iowa State vs. Eastern Illinois University men’s basketball game, Hilton Coliseum, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jacob Rice)

Cade Kelderman and Omaha Biliew are both freshman from the city of Waukee, Iowa. Iowa State men’s basketball media day, Hilton Coliseum, Oct. 10, 2023. (Jacob Rice)

Friends to foes in the blink of an eye

Following the 2020-21 season, Waukee Northwest opened up. Given how the borders lined up, Kelderman, who resided on the north side of town, was absorbed by Waukee Northwest.

Right away, it was clear that he would be one of the leaders on a team that would rival Waukee from the jump.

“We needed to rely on someone like [Kelderman] that was not only a talented player but just a really really good leader,” Watson said.

When the two schools split, Biliew transferred for his junior season. He attended Link Year Prep in Missouri to take his basketball skills to the next level.

When Biliew got back to Waukee for his final year of high school, the two schools were already pitted against each other. Biliew would have to pick up where he left off right away if he wanted to help Waukee compete with the powerhouse Waukee Northwest had become. Given his personality, it was not a challenge at all.

“What surprised me the most when he came back was how humble he was, how good of a teammate he was,” Kanaskie said.

Waukee Northwest was relieved to get a year to prepare for Biliew, especially given how good he was expected to be after his work at Link Year Prep. Although the rivalry between the schools was birthed immediately, Biliew brought a competitiveness that would take it to the next level.

If both schools, or one of the two, was not great, the rivalry would not be what it was. However, during the two’s senior years, Waukee and Waukee Northwest were two of the best teams in the state.

The rivalry became not just the talk of the town but the talk of the state. To put it simply, Kelderman said that every player, every game, every part of the rivalry was just “extremely competitive.”

That competitiveness opened up the door for Biliew and Kelderman to take the reins of their respective teams and raise them to new heights.

“I was really proud of just how they handled the new opportunities,” Ohl said.

There was a mutual respect the two had for each other, which showed in their fighting spirit. Ohl said they were both aware of each other’s efforts and how hard they worked.

Kanaskie said that Biliew wanted to work hard at everything he did. Kelderman may have lived in the gym, but so did Biliew.

Biliew would come in at night on his own. Before, and even after, practice, he would get in extra reps.

With Biliew and Kelderman working toward the same goal of beating each other’s teams, the rivalry took on a new shape.

Biliew still eggs on Kelderman when it comes to the two’s devotion to their respective teams.

Biliew and Kelderman may have been teammates their sophomore year, but by the time they took the court as seniors, the vibes had changed.

“Me and [Kelderman], we always liked each other and everything. We always been friends,” Biliew said. “Obviously, last year, it was different.”

With how big the rivalry became, the games between the two schools became a “civil war” of sorts. Or at least that is how they ended up describing the matchups that would unfold.

“Obviously, you know, the civil war,” Biliew said.

Omaha Biliew shoots a free throw in the home town rivalry game between Waukee and Waukee Northwest, Waukee Northwest High School, Dec. 6, 2022.

The civil war: Waukee vs. Waukee Northwest

“There was a lot of hype around the matchup. I’d say all three times we played them, each matchup lived up to that hype,” Kelderman said.

With both schools at full strength following Biliew’s return, the state of Iowa was in for a trifecta of blockbuster matchups between Waukee and Waukee Northwest.

“Going into my senior year, he returns to Waukee. The headlines are, ‘Waukee, Waukee Northwest,’” Kelderman said.

Each game played out differently and became a classic in its own sense.

Omaha Biliew shoots a free throw in the home town rivalry game between Waukee and Waukee Northwest, Waukee Northwest High School, Dec. 6, 2022. (Mike Hughes)

Cade Kelderman shoots a three pointer during the final minutes of the Iowa State vs. Eastern Illinois University men's basketball game, Hilton Coliseum, Dec. 21, 2023.

Kelderman with the dagger

Game one came down to the wire at Waukee Northwest.

Kelderman had to step up in the matchup, as Pryce Sandfort was sidelined with an ankle injury. Pryce Sandfort would have been the player to guard Biliew, but without him, it was up to Kelderman to match up against him.

“We didn’t know who else to guard him. You have to go with your competitive guard that won’t back down from any challenge,” Watson said.

Kelderman rose to the challenge.

Although Biliew filled the stat sheet in every matchup, Kelderman still made his life difficult.

“It was just making it as hard as we could for him. He’s gonna score 20, 25 points, but how hard he has to work to get those 20 to 25 points is really what matters,” Kelderman said.

With seconds left in the game, the win was still up for grabs.

Biliew missed the dagger with time running out and could not draw a foul to get to the line to potentially give Waukee the first win of the series. Immediately following that, with no time left on the clock, Kelderman took the final shot of the game and hit a buzzer-beater to give Waukee Northwest the two-point win.

Cade Kelderman shoots a three pointer during the final minutes of the Iowa State vs. Eastern Illinois University men’s basketball game, Hilton Coliseum, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jacob Rice)

Waukee sophomore Omaha Biliew, takes a breath before shooting a free throw in a game against Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 19, 2021.

Biliew’s revenge game

Game two was a revenge matchup for Waukee. Given the exciting finish of the first game, it was no surprise that the rematch would be highly anticipated. Kanaskie said that the game sold out in minutes.

Now on the Warriors’ home court, they made quick work of the Wolves and ran away with the game. Biliew was the star of the show, opening the game with a dunk, putting up 21 points on the Wolves and even adding to his highlight reel with a through-the-legs dunk to ignite the gymnasium.

Kelderman’s 17-point performance was not enough to power past Biliew’s energetic revenge arc.

However, the best was yet to come, as the two teams met one final time on what was nearly the biggest stage of all.

Waukee sophomore Omaha Biliew, takes a breath before shooting a free throw in a game against Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 19, 2021. (Jacob Rice)

Sophomore Omaha Biliew drives the ball toward the paint during a game against Des Moines Roosevelt. Waukee won 74-37. Waukee High School, Jan. 9, 2021.

The final matchup

Biliew and Kelderman met one final time in the semifinal game in the state tournament. The winner would get a chance to play for their second state championship.

“There’s nothing better than a rematch in the state tournament,” Kelderman said.

The game played out similar to the first, with Waukee Northwest getting the last laugh.

Kelderman had to step up again in the absence of Pryce Sandfort. This time around, Pryce Sandfort was not injured but instead was seeing the bench more than expected due to foul trouble.

Biliew put up 21 points, which was nearly half of Waukee’s total points, but it was not enough to overcome Kelderman’s 26-point night as Waukee Northwest cruised to a 20-point win.

“You look at both times we won—Cade Kelderman was unbelievable,” Watson said.

Watson said it was Kelderman’s two best games of his career. When someone needed to step up in games one and three, Kelderman did just that to secure a winning record over his rival.

That 2-1 record that Kelderman has over Biliew is something that he still boasts about to this day.

“[Kelderman’s] quiet, but he also can be a little bit like, ‘Hey, you know it was 2-1,’” Ohl said.

“I’m not afraid to let him know that I’ve got the tiebreaker on him. It’s 2-1,” Kelderman said. “He can’t say anything about that. I’ve got that on him the rest of my life.”

Each of the wins came in their own way and played out differently. Both Biliew and Kelderman have their own things to brag about when it comes to that final year of matchups.

“We joke about it each and every single day—his record against mine, but our one win was better than theirs,” Biliew said. “It was a fun and exciting time.”

Biliew said that Kelderman “proved a lot of people wrong” in his senior season. People doubted Kelderman’s abilities as a well-rounded player, but the marquee matchups showed just how good he could be.

Kelderman’s performances are even what drew the eyes of Iowa State initially.

“Against us, he showed the reason why. He’s not here for no reason,” Biliew said. “That was apparent last year.”

Every game became an instant classic and set the standard for the rivalry to continue. The outings from Biliew and Kelderman in the matchups also helped them rise in the rankings and eventually move on to their dream school: Iowa State.

Now with the Cyclones, the two still reminisce about their games. Even the coaches of both teams made it clear that the 2022-23 season will go down in history and will not be forgotten for years to come.

“We’re gonna look back 10 years later talking about how special these games were,” Kanaskie said.

Sophomore Omaha Biliew drives the ball toward the paint during a game against Des Moines Roosevelt. Waukee won 74-37. Waukee High School, Jan. 9, 2021. (Jacob Rice)

Freshman forward Omaha Biliew goes for a layup as Grambling State Jalen Johnson falls toward the media seating. ISU vs. Grambling State men's basketball game, Hilton Coliseum, Nov. 19, 2023.

Iowa State rekindles old bonds

Although the two grew up lifelong Cyclone fans, Biliew did not know Kelderman was planning to walk on at Iowa State.

As a five-star recruit, Biliew made his intentions clear to the world when he chose Iowa State, but Watson said Kelderman was not like other recruits. He did not tweet or announce anything; he just talked with the people close to him.

Despite having scholarship offers from smaller colleges, the decision to go to Iowa State was not hard for Kelderman.

“Iowa State just fits who both of us are as people but also as players,” Kelderman said.

Kelderman’s brother was a manager for the Cyclones when T.J. Otzelberger was an assistant coach. The two became friends, so the connection formed between Otzelberger and Kelderman as well.

Otzelberger was at the first game between Waukee and Waukee Northwest when Kelderman took the reins and willed his team to a win. According to Watson, that was the point when Otzelberger told assistant coach JR Blount that Kelderman would be a good walk-on candidate.

When Kelderman announced his decision to go to Iowa State to his coaches, they in turn told Biliew. Biliew texted Kelderman that same morning, excited to become teammates again, and the two even worked out together before they got to Iowa State.

Even though they were rivals, the familiarity they had helped them respark the bond they had as teammates and make the transition to Iowa State easier.

“You have someone to lean on that you’ve been through it with,” Kelderman said.

However, the rivalry between the two was not going to die just because they were teammates.

“As soon as we [saw] each other, we had to get a squabble in about what happened,” Biliew said.

Biliew and Kelderman are “extremely competitive,” so it was no surprise that they would carry over their rivalry from high school. Although, it took on a more friendly look as they were teammates again.

Being familiar with each other’s games allowed them to push each other in practice again, and the rivalry made them even more motivated to outwork each other.

“It’s all part of the game,” Kelderman said. “We still respect each other and love each other off the court. It’s just on the court, it can get a little chippy. That’s what makes basketball basketball.”

Despite the chippiness, Kelderman was the first to breathe a sigh of relief to see Bilew in the same uniform as him again. Biliew also did the same given what he saw on the court in all three of their past meetings.

“I’m glad that we’re teammates again,” Kelderman said. “It’s a lot better competing with him instead of competing against him.”

Although the high school days are slowly shrinking into the rearview mirror as they tackle the challenge of the next level, both Biliew and Kelderman still hold a place in their hearts for their alma maters.

“We used to it. We talk normally now,” Biliew said. “But whenever Northwest and Waukee play again, I’m the first person to talk about it when they win.”

The first time Waukee won when they were both at Iowa State, Biliew went to the next practice and flaunted the win to Kelderman. He had to let him know what school was on top.

“The rest of our career here, we’ll be reminding each other of who wins upcoming games,” Kelderman said.

The uniqueness of the situation is something that may never be rivaled again, according to Kanaskie.

It is rare for a school to split into two and for both basketball teams to continue being top programs in the state. Add to that the fact that Biliew and Kelderman would lead their respective teams to marquee matchups and then be reunited at one of the top basketball programs in the toughest conference in collegiate basketball, and it makes for a storybook reunion.

“I don’t know if it will ever happen again…Usually a community doesn’t split into two high schools and both high schools be good, and both players be good enough to play in the Big 12,” Kanaskie said. “I think it’s probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Given all that the two went through to get to where they are, the rivalry and bond between them have strengthened who they are as people and players.

They may be teammates now, but their rivalry clearly still goes strong. Even as the two find success at the next level, the old high school days will still live on and give them a fire to compete hard against each other every single day.

“Yeah, that ain’t never gonna stop,” Biliew said.

Freshman forward Omaha Biliew goes for a layup as Grambling State Jalen Johnson falls toward the media seating. ISU vs. Grambling State men’s basketball game, Hilton Coliseum, Nov. 19, 2023. (Jacob Rice)