Gene Lybbert competed on the outstanding teams that Cresco High School had in the late 1940s, including the state team champion in 1948.

Lybbert went on to compete at Iowa Teacher's College, now the University of Northern Iowa, for Dave McCuskey, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Lybbert had top finishes in three AAU Nationals and was a two-time NCAA All-American, finishing third in 1951 and first in 1952 when he was undefeated.

Following graduation and two years with the armed forces in Korea, Lybbert became the head wrestling coach for Blue Earth High School in Blue Earth, Minnesota. In his four years, Blue Earth won three consecutive Minnesota team titles while finishing second in the other year.

Lybbert, who left coaching to enter private business, retired and lived in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he was actively involved with the UNI wrestling program until his death in 2019.