Tyler Lincoln understands hard work.
He puts it into practice every day on the Cardinals' practice wrestling mat, sharpening his already razor-like skill set. The Brodhead-Juda senior also recognizes hard work, never more than two weeks ago at the Madison East Invitational when he met Ripon sophomore Nathan Schendel.
"He didn't look (like) the best wrestler and he still did pretty good," Lincoln said. "I watched all his matches and he never gave up."
Schendel is a first-year wrestler with the Tigers living with autism. He joined the team with no experience after seeing an advertisement put in Ripon school announcements by the coaching staff.
"He was the only kid who came up to the coach," Lincoln said. "He said 'I've never wrestled coach, but I'll try my hardest.'"
Schendel's efforts impressed Lincoln so much it made the Cardinal captain hand over his Most Outstanding Wrestler award over to the Tiger sophomore after cruising to an individual title in the 135-pound weight class.
"He was a dang good wrestler for his conditions and everything else," Lincoln said. "I was real proud of him."
"Nathan just thought the world of that," Ripon head wrestling coach Mark Bradley said.
Lincoln became larger than life in Schendel's eyes as the two shared some time together talking and Schendel took a picture of the two with his cell phone camera. Bradley said that Schendel - who looks to his coach on the sideline for instructions during the heat of battle - would tell anybody that would listen about who Lincoln was and what he did for him.
It's a gesture like Lincoln's that shows all is not lost amongst teenagers regarding class and unselfishness. While it's easy for an athlete to get wrapped up in the glory of individual accomplishments, Lincoln has taken the high road and shown, by boldfaced example, how to be a leader.
"The thing about Tyler is just the way he conducts himself," Brodhead-Juda head coach Tim Colden said. "I've never seen him lose his cool after a loss. His composure is always there."
For four straight seasons, Lincoln's done things the right way. He, along with co-captain Ryan McCarville, will leave a lasting impression on the Brodhead-Juda wrestling program for years to come.
"We're very young, a lot of freshman and sophomores," Colden said. "I comment to them 'notice how Tyler and our other seniors are treating them and remember that when they're seniors.'"
Lincoln will get to unwrap one late Christmas gift after he secures a victory at the Badger State Invitational on Dec. 29. That one win will put Lincoln in the 100-victory club after four seasons with the Cardinals. Maybe the club isn't as illustrious as it used to be with more weekend tournaments emerging, but it still means something to Lincoln.
"Most kids now for tournaments are getting 100 wins in their sophomore year," Lincoln said. "I'm a few years late, but it's still nice to get the 100 wins."
The lure of the bright lights at the state meet have eluded Lincoln during his standout career with the Cardinals. He's run into roadblocks that he couldn't overcome en route to Madison and is still hungry for more.
"I'm hoping to get to the Kohl Center and end my career there," Lincoln said.
And hopefully it will. It's the least that could happen to a kid that has given out so much for so many others.
- John McNally is a sports reporter with The Monroe Times. He can be reached at jmcnally@themonroetimes.comChristopher Heimerman 12/17/07
He puts it into practice every day on the Cardinals' practice wrestling mat, sharpening his already razor-like skill set. The Brodhead-Juda senior also recognizes hard work, never more than two weeks ago at the Madison East Invitational when he met Ripon sophomore Nathan Schendel.
"He didn't look (like) the best wrestler and he still did pretty good," Lincoln said. "I watched all his matches and he never gave up."
Schendel is a first-year wrestler with the Tigers living with autism. He joined the team with no experience after seeing an advertisement put in Ripon school announcements by the coaching staff.
"He was the only kid who came up to the coach," Lincoln said. "He said 'I've never wrestled coach, but I'll try my hardest.'"
Schendel's efforts impressed Lincoln so much it made the Cardinal captain hand over his Most Outstanding Wrestler award over to the Tiger sophomore after cruising to an individual title in the 135-pound weight class.
"He was a dang good wrestler for his conditions and everything else," Lincoln said. "I was real proud of him."
"Nathan just thought the world of that," Ripon head wrestling coach Mark Bradley said.
Lincoln became larger than life in Schendel's eyes as the two shared some time together talking and Schendel took a picture of the two with his cell phone camera. Bradley said that Schendel - who looks to his coach on the sideline for instructions during the heat of battle - would tell anybody that would listen about who Lincoln was and what he did for him.
It's a gesture like Lincoln's that shows all is not lost amongst teenagers regarding class and unselfishness. While it's easy for an athlete to get wrapped up in the glory of individual accomplishments, Lincoln has taken the high road and shown, by boldfaced example, how to be a leader.
"The thing about Tyler is just the way he conducts himself," Brodhead-Juda head coach Tim Colden said. "I've never seen him lose his cool after a loss. His composure is always there."
For four straight seasons, Lincoln's done things the right way. He, along with co-captain Ryan McCarville, will leave a lasting impression on the Brodhead-Juda wrestling program for years to come.
"We're very young, a lot of freshman and sophomores," Colden said. "I comment to them 'notice how Tyler and our other seniors are treating them and remember that when they're seniors.'"
Lincoln will get to unwrap one late Christmas gift after he secures a victory at the Badger State Invitational on Dec. 29. That one win will put Lincoln in the 100-victory club after four seasons with the Cardinals. Maybe the club isn't as illustrious as it used to be with more weekend tournaments emerging, but it still means something to Lincoln.
"Most kids now for tournaments are getting 100 wins in their sophomore year," Lincoln said. "I'm a few years late, but it's still nice to get the 100 wins."
The lure of the bright lights at the state meet have eluded Lincoln during his standout career with the Cardinals. He's run into roadblocks that he couldn't overcome en route to Madison and is still hungry for more.
"I'm hoping to get to the Kohl Center and end my career there," Lincoln said.
And hopefully it will. It's the least that could happen to a kid that has given out so much for so many others.
- John McNally is a sports reporter with The Monroe Times. He can be reached at jmcnally@themonroetimes.comChristopher Heimerman 12/17/07
