BY CAMI KOONS
Cael Lynch has been inches away from placing at state many times during his 14-year wrestling career, and finally, last weekend, the Eudora High School senior was named the 4A 138lb state wrestling champion.
Lynch’s success this season came from his intense determination both mentally and physically.
EHS wrestling coach Gus Andrews said wrestling is almost more of a mental sport than a physical one. Andrews has known Lynch since he was a child and watched him grow up. This year, Andrews said he saw Lynch understand himself and bring that character to the mat.
“He was pretty driven this year as far as the mental and physical aspects,” Andrews said. “Going into senior year, he finally understood what I was telling him.”
Lynch’s mother, Sheila Schaake, similarly said she saw Lynch “flip a switch” this year, and he became more dedicated than she’d ever seen.
Lynch’s mental battle to success started a year ago when he lost in the “blood round” at the state competition. Lynch said it left a bad taste in his mouth that would fuel him to work harder this season and visualize himself coming out on top.
“You’re going to wrestle to what you hold yourself accountable to,” Lynch said. “I think mentality is what I did different this year, and I think that’s how I won my state title.”
Lynch thought about the state championship all season and said he made use of visualization practices to make sure his mind was right when the time came.
Diet, training and many years of experience were also key aspects to his success. Schaake said her son has been wrestling since age 4, following the influence of his older brother Caden Lynch. The family helped to start the Sunflower Club in Lawrence, which fostered a training ground for Lynch and several of his EHS teammates.
Lynch said he wouldn’t be in this position without the support of his team, coach and wrestling partner Mason Cox. Cox, a sophomore, moved to Eudora from Kansas City, Missouri, shortly before wrestling season.
Lynch said he was initially not excited to be paired with a new wrestling partner. However, Cox said they quickly learned how the other practiced and pushed each other throughout the season.
“I knew Cael had a good chance at winning state, and I knew that was one of his goals,” Cox said. “So I wanted to help him work towards it.”
Lynch wasn’t the only wrestler who succeeded at state this year. Holden Andrews came in fifth place in the state championship. Coach Andrews said the team was tough this season, and he knew several would do well in state.
“[Lynch] has got a lot of brothers on the practice mat that got him there,” Andrews said.
Earlier this year, Lynch signed to play football at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. He said when it came time to decide which sport to choose -- wrestling or football -- he went with the one he enjoyed most. As he entered his wrestling postseason, he started to feel differently and wondered if he’d made the right choice.
“I was just almost ready for the sport [wrestling] to be done,” Lynch said. “It wasn’t until towards the end of the season that I started training the hardest I ever have before, and I started to enjoy it.”
Ultimately, Lynch said he’s excited to begin his college football career, but knows wrestling will always be important to him and something he hopes to pass on to his future children.
“A great example of the coach I want to be is my own coach,” Lynch said. “He [Andrews] can be a bit hard at times, but I think that’s him showing how much he actually cares.”
Schaake said she’s seen her son at the state championship many times and to see him win was incredible. Lynch said the response from everyone around him was the support he’s felt his whole life in Eudora.
“The support I had from my team and the support I had for the community was above all things,” Lynch said. “It’s everything I hoped it could have been.”
Reach reporter Cami Koons at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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