On the mat with Lake Orion HS wrestler Cavan McIntyre
LAKE ORION, Mich. — One the biggest challenges Cavan McIntyre, a senior Dragon grappler for the Lake Orion High School Boys鈥� Wrestling team, has faced is being able to stay disciplined both mentally and physically.
鈥淲hen I get tired at the end of the season it seems so easy to just take a day off or to reach for the fast food,鈥� McIntyre said. 鈥淏ut I have to stay disciplined and keep on the right course.鈥�
Part of keeping on that right course, also means readjusting himself mentally during a match as well.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been many times, too often to count, where I鈥檝e started a match poorly and ended the first period down a point or two,鈥� McIntyre said. 鈥淭he best way I鈥檝e handled it is by taking a few deep breaths in between periods, re-centering myself, and getting back to the basics and what I do best.
鈥淭he best advice I was ever given dealt with natural talent and work ethic,鈥� he added. 鈥溾�楬ard work beats talent when talent doesn鈥檛 work hard.鈥欌��
And as bad as McIntyre wants to win every match, one thing he鈥檚 learned from Dragons鈥� Head Coach Jeff Smart, is that winning and losing isn鈥檛 the most important thing.
鈥淭he most important thing is going out there and competing,鈥� explained McIntyre. 鈥淚f you simply wrestle your hardest and compete, more often than not things will work out in your favor, and if they don鈥檛, you can walk off the mat with your head high knowing that you did the best that you could.鈥�
As far as goals go, McIntyre鈥檚 number one goal has been to qualify for the state tournament.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a goal I鈥檝e been working towards ever since the sixth grade,鈥� he said.
So how does McIntyre prepare for an upcoming meet? Simple carbs and music of course!
鈥淭he night before a meet, I always eat a big bowl of pasta or mac n鈥� cheese,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd the morning of the meet I only listen to music that keeps me calm, cool, and collected.鈥�
Outside of wrestling, McIntyre enjoys playing guitar, fishing and being outdoors.
McIntyre, who has been wrestling for seven years, says he loves the camaraderie of the sport.
鈥淚t sounds crazy, since wrestling is largely an individual sport,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut the relationships I鈥檝e formed with the other guys in the wrestling room are ones I know I鈥檒l have for the rest of my life.鈥�
鈥淏eing a member of a team has taught me that I鈥檓 always a part of something bigger than myself,鈥� he added. 鈥淓ven when it seems like I鈥檓 all alone, I still have a whole network of people behind me that I can fall back on.鈥�
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