WARNER – Linemen seldom get noticed unless they get caught for holding or jump offsides. Then there’s Preston Cavalier, who gets noticed for all the right reasons.

The senior from Warner is a force on both sides of the ball for the Monarchs.

The all-state selection helped lead Warner to the school’s first ever state football championship last season, and was named the title game’s Outstanding Lineman.

“It meant the world to me,” Cavalier said of the honor. “I didn’t know that I was going to get that award at the end of the night.”

Cavalier helped pave the way for a team that accumulated nearly 4,000 yards from scrimmage a year ago. Of course, having a dynamic threat at quarterback in Hunter Cramer made things a bit easier.

“It was interesting,” Cavalier said. “I would just block for a few seconds and then I’d look behind me, and there’s nobody back there. He was already halfway down the field.”

While Cramer graduated, the success has continued this fall for the Monarchs. Cavalier is once again on the line, and Warner has maintained its gridiron domination, going undefeated through the first six games.

The Monarchs have gone 33-5 the past four seasons with Cavalier as a starting lineman.

“Us seniors are doing our best to keep the record high,” Cavalier said.

Cavalier has some help on the line in fellow senior Zach Evans, along with center Noah Bakeberg.

Through the years Cavalier has played on the left side, the right side, at nose tackle and even some linebacker on the defensive side.

“Sometimes I get a chance to get contain and they run the plays near me, and I get a little more tackle action in there,” Cavalier said.

Last season Cavalier racked up 13 sacks, four short of the school record set by Devon Woosley.

“Devon and I were really good partners up on that defensive line,” Cavalier said of the opportunity to play alongside his former teammate. “It was either him or I that got up there and got the quarterback. We just hyped each other up.”

Cavalier is on pace for another huge year for Warner.

“Preston is a force on both sides of the ball,” said Warner coach Derek Hoellein. “He’s got double-digit sacks on the year and when it’s crunch time, he has a knack for making big plays.”

Cavalier said he enjoys both of his roles for the Monarchs, whether he’s on offense or on defense.

“I prefer defense,” he said, “but offense is where it’s at.”

Cavalier, an imposing figure at 6 feet, 255 pounds, said he likes to make his presence felt on defense as soon as each game begins and send a message to the opposition.

“I get down in my stance and I’m like, yeah, I’m the biggest guy on this field. I’ve got to make a play,” Cavalier said. “As soon as those guys come through, I start off super strong, I get in there and I show them who I am. Sometimes I make the biggest play at the beginning of the game, and they start to realize that they need to start blocking me some more.”

Cavalier has grown accustomed to drawing plenty of attention on the line, often facing double teams. However, he has learned various techniques to help him get to opposing ball carriers.

“I throw some swim moves in there,” Cavalier said. “My coaches really love when I throw the swim moves, because I do it so well. I just get through there.”

Cavalier is also an accomplished wrestler and won more than 40 matches a year ago in qualifying for the state tournament. He has even used some of his wrestling moves out on the gridiron.

“I started to put more wrestling moves out on the football field this year and it started to work out,” Cavalier said.

While is he has experienced success in both sports, he definitely likes one better than the other.

“I like football at lot better, just because it’s a team sport,” Cavalier said. “It’s not all yourself. After you lose in a team sport, you’re like well, we can get better next time. In a sport like wrestling, it’s like you’re on your own.”

Not only has Cavalier been a cornerstone of the Warner line during his time with the team, he has managed to gain the ultimate compliment from opposing coaches whenever the Monarchs take the field.

“I’ve heard from so many opposing teams,” Cavalier said, “their coaches are like, number 55 is your guy. You need to watch that guy.”

Make no mistake, Cavalier is the consummate teammate, but he is also comfortable being in the spotlight.

“I love to make the plays,” Cavalier said, “and it’s OK for my teammates to make the plays, but I love making the plays for my team. It’s exciting.”

The Monarchs, who have not lost a game since 2022, are known for their physical play up front and that starts and stops with one particular player, who never goes unnoticed on game night.

“Preston is a tone setter,” Hoellein said. “He’s one of those kids that you just know what you’re going to get from him every day.”