As a kindergartner searching for an outlet during Iowa’s frigid winter months, Connor Christopher found inspiration in a local tradition.
“I grew up with the Eagle Invite with the stands in the high school gym stacked,” said Christopher. “To be a part of that was always a goal.”
After attending a wrestling practice with a friend, the youngster was quickly hooked by the sport. Christopher noted that his confidence began to increase when he found himself on the winning end of difficult middle school matches.
“I started beating kids that had beaten me for years,” the wrestler exclaimed with a chuckle. “I got to start seeing some improvement.”
With that improvement came loftier goals and expectations, some of which seemed out of reach after a 10-win freshman season.
“You see the guys who hit 100 wins and you know that that’s a big deal,” said the senior. “I didn’t really know if I could hit it or not.”
Then, after countless hours of training, lifting, cutting weight, and fine-tuning his craft with coaches, it happened. In a win or go home district tournament in nearby Webster City, he pinned a Lynx wrestler in his first match of the day for his 100th career victory.
“When I finally did it, I felt a relief off of my chest,” Christopher recalled while reliving the special moment.
With one goal already under his belt that day, the Eagle Grove wrestling captain had all the self-belief he needed to check the box off of another. He proceeded to win three more matches in Webster City to earn runner-up at 144-lbs. and a trip to The Well.
“There’s nothing like it,” Christopher said with a smile. “I really do believe that is the greatest feeling an athlete can feel.”
