Ask Cael: My question is, was there a wrestler that you looked up to and were inspired by when you were coming up in your wrestling career and if so who?

Story Published Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Question from Brent Sawyer: Cael, first off I want to say how much of an inspiration you were for me when I was wrestling in high school. Although I was a HWT and I couldn’t do the things you could I still tried to model my movements after yours. My coach at the time was/is a die hard Hawkeye fan but said that you were the one Cyclone that we could learn from LOL. Once you started your undefeated streak at ISU you became kind of an icon and role model for young wrestlers in high school as well at middle and elementary school. My question is, was there a wrestler that you looked up to and were inspired by when you were coming up in your wrestling career and if so who?

Thanks for the question.  It’s funny, earlier this week I did a clinic for a couple of former hawkeyes, Jody Strittmater and Eric Juergens.  Those two do a fantastic job running some very tough youth clubs in PA and Iowa.  After spending the day with those guys,  it opened my eyes that maybe there are some good Hawkeyes out there! haha

My favorite wrestler was definitely John Smith.  John Smith was the man.  I had his shoes, and wore them with pride.  Smith came and did a clinic in Utah when I was younger and I followed him around all day.  He treated me really well and that was a big deal.  The U.S. Nationals were in Vegas and my dad took my brothers and I to watch the tournament a few times.  We cheered like crazy for John.  I remember one match in particular when John’s had a lot of fans cheering against him.  It was just because he was the multi-time reigning world champ and people like to cheer for the underdog.  Smith’s opponent somehow managed to get a 2-0 lead and held it for maybe 30 seconds before Smith got a takedown, laced him and quickly ended the match in a tech fall.  My brothers and I were arguing with the opposing fans.  I am sure it wasn’t that bad, after all, we were in elementary school.  But we were avid John Smith fans.

John Smith was the best in the world. He is easily the best freestyle wrestler the United States, and maybe even the world, has ever seen.  So he was certainly a hero but at that time we didn’t see much video, if any, and he was more of a legendary figure if that makes sense.  I looked at my older brothers as my role models. I followed them in their work ethic and attitude.  I was inspired my brothers, my dad, and our local high school wrestlers. We didn’t see much college wrestling at all.

My favorite sports heroes were Mike Singletary, Walter Payton, William “The Fridge” Perry, Andre Dawson, Michael Jordan and Gale Sayers. I liked the Chicago sports teams.

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