Eagle Grove’s Cael Schafer medals at AAU Junior Olympics - Competed in tumbling event

Cael Schafer, the son of Aaron and Shonda Schafer, began to show an interest in tumbling at the age of five and started seriously pursuing it two years later. Now, all that practice has paid off with a medal at an Iowa AAU competition.

  Ten-year old Cael took the third-place medal in his event at the Junior Olympics held recently at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. According to his mom, his journey to this achievement began five years ago.

  “While he was interested in tumbling, we didn’t think it was much of a ‘boy’ sport,” said Shonda. “So, we never checked into it. Then his sister decided she wanted to tumble, so at registration I decided to sign Cael up too.”

  That took him to weekly practices at “The Power Company” in Dakota City, and he has now been competing in the sport for the past two years. The coaches then informed his parents that the Junior Olympics were coming to Des Moines, and that Cael would have a chance to compete in that. “His team practiced every Saturday until the event, and then did summer camp during the offseason,” said Shonda. “He had his normal class twice a week, plus the extra Saturday practice. Cael and his team worked hard at this.”

  He had to first go to a state competition held in Waterloo, where he placed second. At the Olympics, Cael wore a red, white and blue Iowa team leotard and competed against hundreds of athletes from all over the United States. Qualifications were held on the first day, with the finals on the second day. “I wasn’t nervous at all, and I felt that my chances were very good,” said Cael. He ended up qualifying for the finals. “I felt great about that,” said Cael.

  Shonda explained that her son was in the rod floor event, which has different levels. He was entered in the 9-10 year old sub-novice level, and had seven others in his bracket. “He usually only has two or three in his bracket, including him,” said Shonda. “It was very nerve racking for me.”

  The top ten move on into the finals, and even though his mom was confident he would make it she wasn’t sure how close to the top he would get. “The boys that placed above him were very good and would be hard to beat,” said Shonda. As it turned out, his first-day score was only two-tenths of a point away from second place. “He had a shot at winning it in the finals,” said Shonda..........................................