The Caution Stalling Podcast

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.

Episode 34 - Brodee Garcia

Brodee, a junior, is coming off the most successful season of his career—capturing a State Championship at 157 pounds. But his path isn’t one of instant success. It’s a story defined by persistence… by showing up every day without seeing the results right away. It’s a story of being built in the dark. Early on, Brodee found his interest through the UFC. Drawn to fighting, he saw wrestling as the first step toward that path. Once he committed, the journey wasn’t easy. Wins didn’t come quickly. In fact, success was slow to follow. There were moments of doubt. But Brodee kept showing up. Through the struggles, he stayed consistent—refusing to walk away, even when progress felt invisible. Then, his junior year, everything began to shift. He started winning. He started beating quality opponents. And even against top competition, he proved he belonged. Brodee kept “hitting the stone,” and eventually, it cracked—his breakthrough came with a Regional Championship. From there, his focus shifted to State. The nerves were real early on, but by the time he reached the State Finals, something deeper took over. All those unseen hours… all that time spent being built in the dark… it showed. That moment belonged to him. And he took it. Now, heading into the upcoming season, Brodee faces a new challenge. For the first time, he’s no longer the hunter—he’s the hunted. But he welcomes it. With new goals, a stronger sense of purpose, and the opportunity to defend his title, Brodee is ready to embrace what comes next—and prove that his story is far from finished.