“I haven’t [always] been this good. IT took a lot of work and a lot of time and effort to get to where I am now. It was just a lot of hours working out and running. Stuff that we don’t love to do,” said junior wrestler Lincoln Carlson.
Carlson’s wrestling resume holds one item most other wrestlers who have stepped on the mat in ELHS can boast: a state open championship. Breezing through ECC’s and the Class L State Championship, Carlson dominated the 175 pound weight class in the State Open.
He started his wrestling journey at 7-years-old.
“Well, I was a hockey player, and then there was like this open mat thing [at a club] down the road. My mom was like, you want to go? . . . And I just kind of tried it and I really liked it, so I just kept doing it,” Carlson said.
Carlson has been wrestling ever since. He competes with the motivation and advice his coaches have given him over the years.
Carson said the advice his coaches have given him is to “just to always work hard. Always put in the work . . . You get as far as just the work you put in.”
Before the State Open, Carlson was confident but ready.
“When the tournament began I knew that the first day wasn’t going to be as challenging as the second, but after the second day weigh-in is when I really started to lock in and get ready for my first upcoming semi-finals match. My parents and coaches helped me get my mind right through the day and made sure that I was ready to go when it was time for me to wrestle,” Carlson said.
After all this hard work, it paid off with Carlson winning the 175 pound weight class championship.
“When I won state opens I didn’t know what to think because I was so in shock because all the work that I have put in and all the long practices and hours at the gym finally felt like they paid off . . . When I was on top of the podium it was the best feeling knowing that I was finally on top when I have been training to be for so long,” Carlson said.
Carlson said his biggest sources of motivation come from his parents, his coaches and his teammate Brayden Soleau. He added that Soleau has always been there for him and they have practiced together for a long time.
“Lincoln stands out as a truly hard working person. Lincoln sees someone working hard and is willing to work harder every time. Lincoln also has perseverance like no other, pushing through injuries and sickness,” junior wrestler and Carlson’s teammate Brayden Soleau said.
