'It's a dream come true': Isaiah Schaefer is making his own mark as a Mater Dei wrestler

EVANSVILLE — Greg Schaefer remembers when his oldest son, Isaiah, ran around the Mater Dei wrestling room in diapers and a little kids singlet.

The young child was already aware his father, who has been the Wildcats' coach since 2008, was also one of the school's most decorated wrestlers. He attended countless matches over the years and has even rubbed shoulders with former championship-winning coach Mike Goebel.

But the now-junior Isaiah continues to make a name all of his own in Mater Dei's storied program.

With a career record of 98-12, Isaiah placed seventh at the IHSAA state finals throughout the last two seasons. The top-ranked wrestler in the 126-pound class also has five wins against top-six opponents this season.

Isaiah aims to close out yet another season at state, this time under the lights of his hometown Ford Center. There's a possibility of him capping off his junior year with a state title. But for now, his main goal is to keep on improving as the postseason looms.

"There's always areas that he can improve on," Schaefer said. "But one thing that makes him a special wrestler is that he's a student of the sport. He's constantly working to learn and to get better. And he genuinely loves it. To love something that's difficult, that's always in his favor to be successful."

"Isaiah's a really good leader and example," younger brother and freshman Caleb added. "He can help me get better in a lot of ways."

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Isaiah has also been surrounded by state champions his entire life. His club coaches, Blake Maurer and Matt Coughlin, have combined for 363 wins and six titles. His own father is a two-time champ. All three of them have wrestled at Big Ten programs.

"It's hard not (to be a Mater Dei wrestler) when my dad is the head coach," Isaiah said. "It's like a dream come true to be in this room every day."

The Wildcats' last team state championship came when Isaiah was in eighth grade. He's gotten to watch two of his teammates, Brody Baumann and Gabe Sollars, win individual titles the following year. It's been engrained in Isaiah that he, too, can be a successful Indiana high school wrestler.

Caleb knew of his oldest brother's potential since youth. In seventh grade, he clinched an IHSWCA Middle School state title. He also won a Central Regional championship the following year in greco and competed at the AAU Scholastic Duals in Orlando with many top wrestlers across the city, like former Memorial standout and state runner-up Kelton Farmer.

As he entered Mater Dei, Isaiah was part of a lower weight group that was one of the best in the state. Former teammate and practice partner Evan Seng was a three-time state placer of his own during his career, finishing no lower than fifth place.

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The lower weights are still a strength of the Wildcats with the Schaefers, junior Ty Henderson and sophomore David Alstadt leading the way. All four wrestlers took home Southern Indiana Athletic Conference titles this past weekend.

"Those guys have all put in time, just like the rest of the team," Schaefer said. "Hopefully, they'll reap some benefits of their hard work."

While Isaiah has experienced many highs throughout his high school career, he also had his share of disappointment.

He fell short of his first triple crown at 120 last season, losing the semistate title match in a major decision to the eventual state champion. He certainly felt he could have gone higher than seventh place the last two years at state. He even lost to the same wrestler, Union County's Jayden Raney, three years in a row at the Mater Dei Holiday Classic.

But Isaiah embraces wrestling against the best of the best, including Raney, one of the top 126-pound wrestlers in the country. He also uses his disappointments as fuel to continue his dominance.

"He likes to joke around outside of the room, but when it comes time to wrestle, he really gets into it," senior Tyler Vanover said. "Whenever his dad would show moves in the room, he would always add onto them. He would give us extra advice on what to do even though he's not the coach."

Isaiah added: "It's my job to be a leader and helping my teammates out. I love the community that we have, like the alumni and the parents and the guys. I just enjoy being a part of that community."

Isaiah enjoys being in the wrestling room with his father and younger brother this season, referring to them as his "best friends." And as Mater Dei prepares for the postseason, he's proud of what his team has accomplished this year given its youth.

It would mean the world for Isaiah to clinch the seventh individual state title for the Wildcats in five seasons.

"The state title would be more for my family and for all the people that have helped support me and encouraged me," Isaiah said. "I think that would be super rewarding for them. But I'm going to take it one step at a time. That's where I'm hoping to be."

Courier & Press sports reporter Treasure Washington can be reached via her email, treasure.washington@courierpress.com, and on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Twashington490.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA wrestling: Isaiah Schaefer makes his own mark for Mater Dei