MN State Champ Anthony Heim - Wrestling Mindset Success Story

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Published May 11th, 2026 by Wrestling Mindset

MN State Champ Anthony Heim - Wrestling Mindset Success Story | Wrestling Mindset Podcast

In this episode of the Wrestling Mindset Podcast, Gene Zannetti talks with Minnesota state champion Anthony Heim about his dramatic comeback win in the state finals when he was down by two with his opponent in on his leg, how learning to relax and breathe through matches transformed his season after a disappointing start, why he developed a reset button by touching his toes and taking deep breaths between every break in the action, and how coaching youth wrestlers helped him fall in love with the sport again and avoid burnout.

  

Episode Summary

Anthony talks about falling in love with wrestling again, why remembering to breathe was a turning point, and how he forced himself to use his reset button (touching his toes and taking deep breaths) until it became natural. He also explains why he stays relaxed pre-match instead of blaring music in his headphones, and how he approached the four-day state tournament one match at a time.

The conversation builds to the state finals where he was down by two with his opponent already in on his leg and came back to win. He also reflects on going from third to fifth place the year before, and how coaching young wrestlers helped him avoid burnout and reconnect with the sport.

Timestamps

  • 2:14 – Learning to fall in love with wrestling again
  • 4:06 – Remembering to breathe
  • 5:07 – Forcing himself to use his reset until it became natural
  • 6:37 – His reset button was just touching his toes
  • 7:18 – Being relaxed instead of blaring music with headphones
  • 8:28 – The four-day state tournament and taking one match at a time
  • 9:43 – Down by two with opponent in on his leg
  • 14:02 – Going from third to fifth place the year before
  • 18:05 – Coaching young wrestlers to avoid burnout

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Wrestling Mindset helps wrestlers, coaches, and parents master the mental side of competition. Our programs develop confidence, focus, resilience, and composure so athletes can perform at their highest level when it matters most.

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