A lot can change in a year, for better or worse. Pandemics can transform the world, the environment can be destroyed or restored, and a person’s mindset can be radically altered.
In 2024, Wisconsin native Aeoden Sinclair was at the top of the high school wrestling world. He was the No. 1-ranked recruit at 190lbs by FloWrestling and MatScout, committing to Mizzou wrestling following his third-straight state title. The decision to join the Tigers meant forging his own path away from some of the blue
bloods of collegiate wrestling.
Once he got to Mizzou, it was a complete shift from what he was used to – he wasn’t a star, he wasn’t even a starter. Sinclair sat behind four-time NCAA All-American Rocky Elam at 197lbs, developing away from the spotlight.
“You go from wrestling 100 matches your senior year (of high school) to wrestling eight or 12 matches (freshman year of college),” Sinclair said.
His redshirt season had no shortage of emotions while dealing with a foreign situation. Sinclair has always had the tools to be a great wrestler, but his reality was that he was behind a proven competitor in Elam and wrestling for a coach, Brian Smith, who believes in the power of a redshirt season.
Opportunity was right around the corner for Sinclair when, a season later, he transitioned to the 184lbs division for a starting spot. The biggest difference between seasons one and two has been Sinclair’s faith development.
“I sort of realized around Nationals last year… like man, my identity and what my eyes are fixated on is not what they should be fixated on,” Sinclair said after Mizzou’s loss to No. 5 Oklahoma State on Jan. 23. “(My eyes) should be fixated on the Lord, the blessings that he’s put in front of me and glorifying him in everything that I do.”
Sinclair was the only Tiger to win his bout against the Cowboys and the only Tiger to make a takedown in the dual. He’s 18-1 on the season, and his only loss came against current No. 2-ranked 184lbs wrestler Angelo Ferrari of Iowa.
The redshirt freshman’s breakout season hasn’t been because of a cakewalk schedule, either – he’s arguably had the hardest matchups of any Mizzou wrestler this season. Sinclair has wrestled against 11 ranked opponents and only lost to Ferrari. His marquee win came against former No. 1 Max McEnelly of Minnesota at the National Duals.
Wrestling against tough opponents is something that Sinclair relishes, but he doesn’t let the number by their names change his approach. Thinking about what might happen is “irrelevant” to Sinclair because he’s concluded that what happens on the mat isn’t the end-all be-all.
Sinclair’s faith has balanced him this season and held his nerves at bay. Staying calm and focused on his objectives has given him a “move forward” mentality.
“I feel like in the past I would ruminate and get real frustrated and upset,” Sinclair said. “I think the more you can pull your emotion out of matches and outcomes, the more you can kind of see the whole big picture.”
There have been few moments where he’s had to make adjustments or figure out what’s going wrong, and he sees that as a blessing. Sinclair stated that he prays all the time for his matches and that practice keeps him present. His faith journey has helped him to calm worries of past mistakes and worries about what’s to come in the future.
“I think God has allowed me to be here in Missouri, learn from Coach Smith, learn from the people around me; He’s blessed me with a fantastic community,” Sinclair said. “I just praise him every time before my matches.”
English poet Geoffrey Chaucer coined the phrase “All good things must come to an end” in 1374, and Sinclair tries not to take his blessings for granted anymore. He’s leaned on his wrestling talents throughout his whole life, but he knows these days won’t last forever, so he’s living for the present.
Even through all of the growth he’s shown on the mat this season, he’s cited his faith as his biggest area of development from his redshirt season to his first starting season.
“Faith is the biggest thing that’s changed for me,” Sinclair said. “Keeping my identity is something that’s real, something that means something (to me).”
With only four duals remaining in the regular season before the Big 12 and National Championships, he is trying to learn something from each match, regardless of whether it’s against a top opponent or not. Sinclair wants a win every time he steps onto the mat, but if he’s not constantly growing, then he won’t be a true title contender.
His focus is on treating every match like it’s a “big moment,” so he’s ready for when the stakes are actually at a peak in the postseason. Leaning on his faith and trusting the work that he’s put in has instilled confidence in Sinclair that he can make a championship run this season.
“I’m grateful to do this. A lot of guys at the end of the season, they just want to go to spring break,” Sinclair said. “It’s natural for (wrestlers) to want to have these moments pass by and not have to feel that anxiousness, anxiety and the pressure, but the truth is you’ve been blessed with this, you’re gonna learn from this, go attack it, go have fun, go enjoy being in the moment, being present.”
Regardless of how this season wraps up, Sinclair has discovered something more reliable than just winning — a faith that keeps him focused every time he steps onto the mat.
