Malik Heinselman found his road map to success in Castle Rock.
The 16-year-old Castle View High School wrestler already has achieved goals that most athletes won’t see in a lifetime.
His most recent accomplishment is his greatest.
Heinselman, who is competing at 92½ pounds, will represent the U.S. team in freestyle wrestling at the Cadet World Championships, Aug. 28-30 in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The cadet age group is for wrestlers born in 1998, 1999 or 2000.
“I’ll be nervous. But I’m going to wrestle how I usually do — hard,” Heinselman said. “And I hope that’s good enough to get first.”
May 29, Heinselman defeated Mosha Schwartz of Franktown in two consecutive matches to win the Cadet University Nationals in Akron, Ohio, and qualify for the world tournament. He is the only Colorado wrestler on the U.S. team.
Castle View has been a fixture in his success. He has two former wrestling Olympians mentoring him — Kevin Bracken and Ike Anderson, the co-head coaches at the school. Their experience and extensive wrestling knowledge have been essential to Heinselman’s success.
“He’s always been a standout, and looking at his work ethic I knew he was going to be special,” Bracken said. “He’s able to avoid mistakes and fast track his progress with the help of our experiences.”
Heinselman is one of 15 enrolled in Castle View’s elite youth training program. Anderson heads the program, with a primary focus of taking athletes to compete nationally with the hope of obtaining scholarships for them.
“Malik has taken all the steps we recommend if he wants to be an Olympic champ,” Bracken said. “He’s the best wrestler in his weight class in the United States.”
Heinselman is in the smallest cadet weight class and often is outweighed 10 to 15 pounds by his opponent, but his speed and technique allow him to overcome size differences.
“Malik’s motivation is right up there with guys who have made wrestling their whole lives,” Bracken said. “He has a soft-spoken, humble confidence.
“But he can stand behind his hard work and let his winning talk for him.”
Heinselman, who will be a sophomore at Castle View this year, picked up wrestling when he was 8 with encouragement from his father, Brian, who wrestled in college.
Last year Heinselman was the only Colorado wrestler to take first at the USA Cadet National Championships in Fargo, N.D. He will have the opportunity to defend his title at the tournament beginning Saturday.
He was named the 2012-13 Colorado USA male wrestler of the year after the seventh grade.
But in Europe next month, he will make the biggest leap toward his dreams and aspirations.
“I want to go to college for wrestling and become (an NCAA) champion,” Heinselman said. “I want to go to Olympics and win gold.”
2012-13 Colorado USA male wrestler of the year
2013 USA Wrestling Kids Nationals: Schoolboy 77-pound national champion in freestyle and Greco
2014 USAW Colorado State Championships: 15-and-under champion at 82 pounds
2014 USA Cadet National Freestyle Championships: champion cadet at 88 pounds
2015 Cadet University Nationals: champion cadet at 92½ pounds
2015 Regional 106-pound champion (high school)
Cameron Wolfe: 303-954-1891, cwolfe@denverpost.com or
