Qualifying for state isn’t just about winning matches. It is about overcoming nerves, pressure, and doubt.
Freshman 130-lb. Berkley Lynch, senior 135-lb. Anna O’Rear, and junior 190-lb. Gracie Heim faced different challenges on the road to the Iowa girls state wrestling tournament, from battling highly ranked opponents to handling the constant struggle of nerves and pressure.
“I was pretty scared to go up against her,” Lynch said about facing a ranked competitor, “but I was telling myself I could do it.”
Heim also felt similar pressure before her qualifying match, telling herself, “I have to do this. There was no (other) option.”
O’Rear, a four-time state qualifier, learned to handle pressure by trusting her preparation and reminding herself what she had already accomplished.
“I actually felt less pressure in the past years going to state because I wasn’t seeded as high in my bracket,” O’Rear said. “This year, being seeded second, I felt more pressure to fulfill my seed.”
Dale Meyer, head coach, said that mental toughness is key to succeeding as a wrestler, and he believes it also helps the wrestlers feel more accomplished.
“Anna’s experience allowed her to do this and defeat a wrestler who had beaten her earlier this season. That takes a lot of mental toughness,” Meyer said. “Berkley and Gracie both had to show mental toughness as well.”
O’Rear fought her way to a second-place finish at the state tournament. O’Rear said staying composed during the toughest moments of high pressure helped her.
Heim and Lynch stepped onto the state mat as well, facing elite competition with courage and walking away stronger from it.
“In past seasons, I was just happy to be in the sport,” Heim said. “This season I had the goal of making it to state and becoming a better wrestler.”
Lynch appreciated O’Rear’s influence on her. “Putting in the work can get you where you want to be, or at least close,” Lynch said. “Wrestling Anna at practice pushed me to keep working hard and to try to get to where she is.”
Over the years, wrestling taught O’Rear that achieving her goals required consistent effort and commitment. She explained that without putting in the work and maintaining discipline, she would not have been able to accomplish what she did.
“If you want to achieve something, you have to work hard for it,” Lynch said.
“We always try to celebrate the girls’ accomplishments, no matter how small. At the same time, we’re always trying to grow and improve,” Meyer said.
Meyer said the team was fortunate to have dedicated assistant coaches. Jason White and Jared Coyle worked closely with the athletes to prepare them for state competitions, while Jason Guyer managed daily tasks and uploaded videos for review. Coach Jewel O’Rear provided guidance on nutrition and mindset, and Meyer noted that the coaches’ efforts, combined with the girls’ hard work, led to strong progress.
“All three of them (girls) worked really hard through the season to fix things that were costing them matches at the beginning of the season,” Guyer said. “It was really satisfying to see it all pay off at the end of the season.”
