The family doctor was the first one to notice something distinctive about Ty Edwards.
Early on, that professional observation proved to be remarkably prescient about Edwards, a Gardner-Webb recruit who’s now a standout in his senior season at Yorkville Christian.
“When I was about 6 years old, my pediatrician told my parents that I looked like a wrestler,” Edwards said. “That’s how I got into the sport.”
Indeed, Edwards fits the mold part of a tough, skilled and natural competitor. He has also been the torchbearer for the Mustangs’ rise as a state power in wrestling.
During the abbreviated pandemic season as a freshman, he reached his first state championship match at 106 pounds. Last season, he finished 49-7, losing an overtime heartbreaker in the Class 1A final at 120.
Edwards also was a catalyst as Yorkville Christian produced a Class 1A runner-up in the dual team state meet. An injury kept him out his entire sophomore season, when the Mustangs captured their first dual team state title in program history.
That history has been bittersweet.
“It has definitely made me train harder and just push myself to the absolute limit,” Edwards said. “When the time comes for those matches I need or when the team needs them, I can get those for us.”
Edwards (12-0) is off to a spectacular start this season at 132. He swept his way to the title Nov. 25 in the Ted DeRousse Invitational at Lakes.
He has made a seamless transition moving up two weight classes. His combination of strength, quickness and power at the point of attack remains exceptional.
Yorkville Christian coach Mike Vester calls him a dream.
“As a coach, you can tell, show and guide a wrestler toward all the things that could make them a champion,” Vester said. “But their mentality takes all of that, embraces it and makes it their own.
“Ty’s mentality is that of a champion. He’s not just the hardest worker in the room but works the hardest outside of it, trying to find ways to improve, get stronger, faster and more agile.”
Aiden Larsen, a junior who finished sixth last season at 106, has trained, worked out and wrestled with Edwards since they were 6.
“After the state championship match, Ty worked in silence,” Larsen said. “He didn’t break down in tears or really show much emotion.
“Ever since that match, he started waking up at 4 a.m. just to work out. One thing about Ty, he is always going to chase the title.”
If reaching two separate state championship matches has elevated his confidence, Edwards calls his preparation and approach closer to that of an artist.
He has the drive, inner direction and desire for success.
“I think it’s just the whole aspect of wrestling as a solo sport,” Edwards said. “You know what you need to work on rather than figuring out what everybody needs to work out.
“You can only make yourself better.”
With its state championship and runner-up finishes the last two seasons, Yorkville Christian has jumped up to Class 2A. It’s brought on a change in mindset.
“I’m just a junior and I have a redemption year to win my state title,” Larsen said. “Ty is a senior. He doesn’t have the same time. He’s going to do everything possible to get that loss back.”
The time is just different now. And Edwards remains all in.
“I’d characterize the way I wrestle as more of a physical attack rather than somebody who tries to scramble through positions,” he said. “I’m always trying to make my presence known.”
Like following a doctor’s orders, he excels at mind over matter.
“My overall goal,” he said, “is make the kid I’m up against never want to wrestle me again.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
