OZARK, MO - Wrestling is physically and mentally taxing. But that doesn't mean it can't be fun. Ozark Jr. and defending state champ Cody Lindsay has no problem enjoying himself, while putting in the work necessary to be great.
"He's a good combo," said Ozark head coach Mike Jackson. "He's very loose. He doesn't take it too serious but he takes it serious when it's time to be serious."
But the laughing and joking didn't come as easy earlier this season.
"I tore my meniscus at a tournament as Lee's Summit," said Lindsay.
The torn meniscus required surgery that kept him out of action for 5 weeks. An eternity for a wrestler.
"You got to be on the mat everyday. Hustling and working out. It's been hard getting on the mat."
"Sitting out the injury hurts a little bit. Except for he's better now that he was before the injury."
Despite battling through knee surgery, Lindsay has just one loss on the season. In a sport known for being about the individual, it's been his teammates pushing him towards success.
"They've helped me since I started wrestling. We all wrestled together. How much work they put in to help me is huge. That's why I won state. It pays off."
With state less than 2 weeks away, everyone is concentrated on doing whatever it takes to win, but Lindsay is taking it one step further.
"My goal is to win state. Not just win, but dominate the state tournament this year."
"He's healthy. He's peaking at the right time. We expect big things out of him."
"I'm going for the pin."
Ozark Jr. Cody Lindsay is this week's Arby's high school athlete of the week.
"He's a good combo," said Ozark head coach Mike Jackson. "He's very loose. He doesn't take it too serious but he takes it serious when it's time to be serious."
But the laughing and joking didn't come as easy earlier this season.
"I tore my meniscus at a tournament as Lee's Summit," said Lindsay.
The torn meniscus required surgery that kept him out of action for 5 weeks. An eternity for a wrestler.
"You got to be on the mat everyday. Hustling and working out. It's been hard getting on the mat."
"Sitting out the injury hurts a little bit. Except for he's better now that he was before the injury."
Despite battling through knee surgery, Lindsay has just one loss on the season. In a sport known for being about the individual, it's been his teammates pushing him towards success.
"They've helped me since I started wrestling. We all wrestled together. How much work they put in to help me is huge. That's why I won state. It pays off."
With state less than 2 weeks away, everyone is concentrated on doing whatever it takes to win, but Lindsay is taking it one step further.
"My goal is to win state. Not just win, but dominate the state tournament this year."
"He's healthy. He's peaking at the right time. We expect big things out of him."
"I'm going for the pin."
Ozark Jr. Cody Lindsay is this week's Arby's high school athlete of the week.
