Holly and Mike Bodner are the proud parents of Beckett (10) and Bauer (8) and have lived in Lake Forest the past 12 years. Wrestling takes center stage in the Bodner family. Mike wrestled in high school and now coaches the boys' teams. Beckett shares, "We always watch wrestling at home. Our favorite team is the Iowa Hawkeyes, and our favorite wrestlers are Spencer Lee and Jordan Burroughs."

The Bodners spend many of their weekends traveling to wrestling tournaments. Beckett and Bauer credit their parents for making these weekends fun-filled mini vacations. They enjoy staying in hotels and Airbnbs, making sure there's a pool to swim in during their downtime.

We asked the boys what they love most about wrestling. Bauer tells us, "It's really hard and makes me stronger. I like learning new moves and head-locking people." Beckett adds, "Meeting new friends and going to matches. My favorite move is the quarter nelson and the power half. They are pinning combinations I learned this year."

All their hard work and dedication to the sport is paying off. Beckett placed fourth at the Bluegrass Nationals, beating an opponent who placed fifth in State last year. He explains that wrestling is very technical. "I'm best at top position where I can use my pinning combos. Most people like neutral but I prefer top. I like learning the technique and strategy instead of being more aggressive," he says.

Bauer had an impressive couple of seasons, placing second in the State Tournament last year; this year he got first place! "I beat a kid that had beat me twice this year in the semis and another kid that finished second last year in the quarterfinals," he proudly reports. Bauer is unique in that he is the only one who wrestles in his grade. He is smaller than his opponents which helps him to stay low and shoot easier shots. He says, "I wrestle at a hard, fast pace and don't let up. This allows me to score a lot of points."

While the boys look up to their father as they excel in their sport, they also admire another influential coach—Coach Zeppa. A retired high school wrestling coach, Coach Zeppa is a local legend. He has not only helped Beckett and Bauer develop their skills but has also mentored Mike, guiding him in both coaching and balancing the role of "dad/coach."

When the boys aren't wrestling, they like to play football and soccer and attend school at St. Patrick. They like working hard but also ensuring they get some fun and relaxation in too! Spending time at the lake or having sleepovers can be such a great way to recharge.

With their dedication, passion, and strong support system, Beckett and Bauer are well on their way to making a lasting impact in the wrestling world—both on and off the mat.