Submitted Photo From left are Landon Mead, Trenton Mead and Chase Kyler, former Sheffield High School wrestlers competing for DIII Thiel College.

Thiel College wrestling coach Craig Thurber has three former Sheffield Wolverines on his Division III team, and “would take a full of roster of this type of student-athlete.”

Junior Landon Mead, and freshmen Trenton Mead (Landon’s brother) and Chase Kyler are three of five Warren County wrestlers along with Warren Area High School graduate Gio Elinsky, and Cole Kellogg from Eisenhower.

Kyler and the Meads have been teammates for years.

“Warren County wrestlers need to know that a similar path to mine is completely possible,” said Trenton. “It just requires responsibility and dedication to keep up with your academics and athletics. Anyone could follow a path like mine, but they still have to put in the work and effort.”

However, he admits it’s easier having “family” at Thiel with him. The differences from high school to college extend far beyond two-minutes to three-minutes per period.

“It’s easy to bring people together with the small-school experience because you get to know everyone,” he said. “Being around the same people for so long makes you feel more like a family. This makes it easy to support each other.

“Landon has had a large influence in my life by showing me a lot of principles to live by,” said Trenton. “He’s taught me to work hard at everything I do and to be confident in myself. He’s been able to teach me a lot about Thiel, wrestling, and my academics. He was a big reason why I chose to come to Thiel. It was an easy transition having someone there that I knew. Also, we both have the same major, so it was easy for me to learn about my classes from him. I did think about my other options, but I ultimately thought it would be more fun going to college with Landon and Chase.

“Being on the same team as Chase has made the sport easier for me,” added Trenton. “While doing the tough practices or tournaments, we can always realize that we’re going through it together, and we support each other through the difficult times, too. … Yesterday was a tough tournament. I’m just happy that I’m able to continue wrestling, especially with my brother and Chase. I hope I’ll be able to finish my four years of wrestling here.”

Thiel will be at the NCAA Division III Southeast Regional at Averett University in Danville, Virginia this weekend.

“It is an absolute pleasure having Chase, Trent and Landon in our program,” said Coach Thurber. “I just said to Landon yesterday, ‘Who would’ve thought back in October we would have three Sheffield boys in our lineup at the regional next weekend?’ They all have a tremendous work ethic and a real ‘want to get better and improve each day.’ They also perform very well in the classroom, which is why they are truly here, to get an education and still have the opportunity to compete at a sport they still have a passion for. Obviously, Landon has been here a couple years, and to be on a team with your brother and another teammate from the same high school is something very special. They bring a lot to the table because there are three of them; they have the same goals to get a degree and continue improving every day and achieve their wrestling goals. It is a big transition from high school to college and they are all feeling that. If you keep setting goals and not get caught up in wins and losses, then seeing little improvements is what keeps you coming back each day. It helps to have a brother or a roommate to keep you motivated to show up every day and come with a good attitude and put forth a solid effort every day to improve. I think college coaches are always looking for kids like Chase, Trent, and Landon. You want kids that have strong work ethic, good attitude, and desire to compete. I would take a full roster of this type of student-athlete. They are dependable, they are committed, they know that school is very important, and they can have success on the mats if they are willing to put the work into it. We are fortunate to have them in our program.”

Landon said the “small-school feel” followed him from Sheffield to Greenville.

“I never had many negative experiences in high school and I think that’s a result of the small-school feel,” said Landon, who was Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Wrestler of the Week earlier this year. “When it comes to wrestling, I started to realize my potential during my junior year of high school when I started placing in tournaments and beating quality opponents. Wrestling — for my character overall — has done tons. The sport teaches a different type of ability to persevere through tough times that you can’t find anywhere else. Wrestling has kept me focused in all aspects of life due to the belief in myself that I’ve gained from the sport. My goals for my wrestling career have always been to improve each year and maintain a positive attitude.

“One of the main reasons I chose Thiel is because I would still be able to compete in a sport I enjoy and make memories while still obtaining my degree,” he said. “It was also important that Thiel had similar class sizes that I was used to at Sheffield as I enjoyed the personal relationships I’m able to form with my teachers.”

Landon and Trenton both major in exercise science, and Kyler environmental science.

“I think it’s a real special and rare thing to have the three of us together at this level,” said Landon. “It adds another level of enjoyment to the sport being able to cheer on and improve with my brother, Trenton, and longtime friend, Chase. What it says about Sheffield wrestling and Sheffield as a whole is that we’re doing something right. The love and support generated from the Sheffield community gives us everything needed to succeed.

“The small-school feel from both Sheffield and Thiel has played a huge role in getting me to where I am today,” he said. “It brings friends, family, and teammates together because of how much time you spend with one another and how much you end up depending on each other to reach success.”

Landon received the Sportsmanship Award at the five-team PAC Championships, and he’s been a big brother to Trenton and like a big brother to Chase.

“The sportsmanship award was nice to receive as I feel it helps represent my character,” said Landon. “I try to always remain positive and guide those around me no matter the situation given.”

Kyler comes from a family of athletes and mentors.

“My high school highlights and my best experiences were winning an AML title and just spending time with my teammates and building relationships through wrestling,” he said. “I thought I may be good at wrestling starting my (high school) freshman year; I had a good start to the season and started to get recognition for it, so that’s when I first thought that l could go somewhere with it. I’ve always enjoyed and had a love for wrestling. l’ve been doing it since I was five years old, so it’s kind of all I know. It’s a very long season, so it’s hard to enjoy it all the time, but it’s that love and passion that keeps me going when it gets tough. Sports have been a huge part of my life — all my brothers have been athletes for as long as I can remember. So growing up, it helped us bond and get closer as a family.

“I chose Thiel … because of the coaching staff,” said Kyler. “Coach Thurber is an amazing coach and he gives so much to his athletes. He really goes to bat for us and always has our best interest in mind. I chose Thiel because it’s a small, close-knit community, and being from a small town like Sheffield, it made me feel more at home.”

Trenton — who has his clearances to help Sheffield wrestlers in his free time — said, “For us three to be competing for the same team again for a couple more years, it gives us great memories. While we realize that we’re starting to grow up and become adults, we still have a little time where we can have fun and compete together. This can say that Sheffield wrestling was like a family, your teammates would always be there for you and have your back.”