#### Athlete of many talents
Linderbaum wasn't just an exceptional football player in high school, but also dominated on the wrestling mat.
After playing basketball as an underclassman, he transitioned to wrestling. In two seasons, he racked up 122 career victories and placed in the Iowa state tournament both years. In the process, he also engaged in an rivalry with future college teammate and now NFL All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs.
"I wrestled Tristan a lot in high school, but it didn't go in my favor," Linderbaum [said](https://www.kcrg.com/video/2022/04/28/tyler-linderbaum-joining-his-rival-turned-friend-tristan-wirfs-nfl/) in 2022. "I got my butt whooped a lot."
Wirfs was victorious by pinfall in their first two matches, but Linderbaum settled the score in their third and final encounter. At the regional tournament, in a match Linderbaum needed to win to qualify for the state tournament, he pulled out an upset over Wirfs in overtime with a sudden death takedown and pinfall.
In addition to playing football, basketball and wrestling, he was a varsity letterman in track and field and baseball.
"I just like doing all the sports," Linderbaum told the [Des Moines Register](https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/high-school/all-iowa/2018/06/23/solons-tyler-linderbaum-all-iowa-boys-athlete-year-iowa-football-des-moines-register-sports-awards/714619002/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z119019e006050v119019d--xx--b--xx--&gca-ft=140&gca-ds=sophi). "Since a young age, that's all I've been doing — just playing year-round. Just trying out new things and enjoying all the sports I've been playing. So I tried to do as many as I could."