Episode 39 - Arturo Estrada

Episode 39 - Arturo Estrada

Arturo, a Las Vegas native and former Eldorado High School standout, joins the podcast with Daniel to reflect on his baseball journey—a path filled with success, adversity, and ultimately betting on himself. From the moment Arturo stepped into the program at Eldorado, he became a focal point of the team. Between his freshman and senior years, he consistently performed at a high level and experienced the kind of success many athletes dream about. Arturo earned All-Conference honors, was named Eldorado’s Male Athlete of the Year, and received over 20 college offers. Eventually, he chose Chestnut Hill College in Pennsylvania. But for the first time in his baseball career, things became difficult. College brought challenges Arturo had never truly faced before. Being far from his family weighed heavily on him mentally, and it began affecting his performance on the field. Sitting third on the depth chart only added to the frustration. For someone used to success, adversity hit hard. After reflecting on what he wanted for himself and his future, Arturo decided he needed a fresh start. He transferred to California Miramar University, believing it was the right opportunity to rebuild his confidence and rediscover his love for the game. And he did. Through growth, maturity, and learning how to handle difficult circumstances, Arturo regained belief in himself. After two years, he made another bold decision—to leave college baseball behind and chase his dream of playing professional baseball in Mexico. Arturo recently completed his first season playing in Mexico. While the journey was far from perfect, it reflected something deeper: resilience. The willingness to keep fighting, adapting, and refusing to quit. His story is a reminder that challenges don’t have to define the ending. There is always another route, another opportunity, another answer—if you are willing to keep searching for it.

Episode 38 - Cole Faircloth

Cole Faircloth, an Minot State University commit, joins the podcast with a story that proves there is far more to him than meets the eye. Cole is the definition of someone willing to pay whatever price greatness demanded. A young man who separated himself from normalcy in pursuit of purpose. A two-time State Champion and four-time State finalist, Cole built an impressive athletic career through relentless dedication. But more than the accolades, Cole became known for his relentless mentality. While many watched him build that mindset brick by brick, not everyone understood it—or liked it. For Cole, wrestling was deeply personal. There were no excuses, no one else to blame. Just him. That mentality became his version of “Mamba Mentality”—the pursuit of perfection, even knowing perfection doesn’t truly exist. Cole opens up about one of the toughest conversations in wrestling: weight cutting. He speaks honestly about some of the poor decisions he made, the consequences that followed, and the lessons those experiences taught him. At the same time, he reflects on how overcoming those obstacles deepened his love for the sport and strengthened his discipline. Now, with maturity and experience, Cole understands the importance of doing things the right way. It’s not an easy subject to talk about, but it’s a necessary one for the wrestling community. Cole’s willingness to speak openly about those experiences may help younger athletes avoid the same mistakes and better understand the balance between discipline and health. And for that, his story carries weight far beyond wrestling.

Episode 37 - Ky Brinkerhoff

Ky, an accomplished dual-sport athlete, walks us through his journey as a faith-driven competitor. A three-time State runner-up at heavyweight and a varsity offensive lineman, you might expect an aggressive personality—but Ky is the opposite. While his presence is big, his heart is even bigger. He prides himself on kindness, humility, and living through his faith, saving his aggression strictly for competition. Ky shares how his love for wrestling wasn’t immediate—it was built. Early on, he wanted to quit, but his father stepped in with a simple standard: you don’t quit what you start. Through that, wrestling became more than a sport. It became a bond between father and son—one that shaped Ky into who he is today. Along the way, he learned a powerful truth: once you’ve endured wrestling, everything else in life feels manageable. The podcast also touches on an emotional and meaningful moment from his senior year banquet. After the passing of his father, Kelly Brinkeroff, light was still found in honoring his legacy. An award representing excellence and character was created—one that Ky now helps present each year. Additionally, the Las Vegas High School wrestling room was renamed the K. Brinkeroff Wrestling Room, a lasting tribute to both Ky and his father. Ky is still navigating life after loss, leaning heavily on his faith to guide him forward. His next step after graduation is to serve a two-year mission, spreading the word of Jesus Christ. After that, he plans to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a firefighter. Ky may not claim to have everything figured out, but one thing is clear—he brings light, purpose, and strength to everything he’s a part of.

Episode 36 - Walter Jones

A wrestler for Cheyenne High School, Walter’s story is one of adversity—one that was headed toward something special before everything took an unexpected turn during his senior year. Walter didn’t grow up in wrestling. He found it almost by accident, sparked by interest from a school assembly. At first, it wasn’t love—it was hard, uncomfortable, and nearly pushed him to quit. But his coach saw something in him and didn’t give him an easy way out. Looking back now, that moment changed everything. Once it clicked, Walter committed. He dedicated himself year-round, pouring time and energy into becoming the best version of himself. After a heartbreaking loss in the blood round at State his junior year, he made a promise—to never feel that moment again. That loss didn’t break him; it sharpened him. His senior year was supposed to be the payoff. And in many ways, it was—Walter began to see the results of his work, finding success and building momentum. But just as things were lining up, his season—and his path—was disrupted by circumstances outside of competition. He didn’t get the chance to finish it the way he envisioned. He didn’t get to compete for a State title. But that’s not where his story ends. Through it all, Walter discovered something bigger than wins and losses—he found his purpose. Wrestling became more than a sport; it became his future. His goal now is to continue competing at the collegiate level and keep building on everything he’s learned. Walter’s story isn’t defined by what was taken from him—it’s defined by how he responded. Resilient. Driven. Unfinished. A true product of the Battle Born state.

Episode 35 - Madison Worden

An Missouri Valley College commit, Madison opens up about her beginnings in wrestling, the path that shaped her career, and the family dynamic that made the sport such a central part of her life. While wrestling has surrounded her with teammates, coaches, and constant competition, Madison shares that she has always carried a bit of a lone-wolf mentality. It’s part of what has helped shape her identity as both a person and a competitor. Wrestling, she explains, was her family’s sport—and she was the second sibling to take it on. But by staying with it the longest, Madison helped pave the way for her younger siblings to follow. In many ways, she helped build the standard. The podcast also gives us a glimpse into the competitiveness that runs through her family, especially with her sister. Whether it was wrestling for the bigger room or doing push-up challenges to earn the better seat on an airplane, competition didn’t stop when practice ended. But beyond the rivalry, there’s admiration. Madison talks about how rewarding it is to watch her younger sister continue doing what she loves—wrestling—and how much pride she takes in seeing her siblings chase their own goals. She also takes us through her recruiting process, narrowing her decision down to two schools before ultimately signing with Missouri Valley College at Women’s Nationals—a moment that brought clarity to the next chapter of her career. All in all, Madison reflects on her wrestling journey, her family, and the joy she finds not only in her own accomplishments, but in watching the people closest to her achieve great things in their own lives.