Three East wrestler competed at state on Feb. 27: freshman Ethan Woltkamp, sophomore Ethan Jenkinson and junior Jahir Contreras.
Substate was on Feb. 20 and included Ethan Woltkamp wrestling weight 106lbs, Ethan Jenkinson wrestling 120lbs, Jahir Contreras wrestling 126lbs, junior Brady Fankhauser wrestling 145lbs and junior Max Franklin at 220lbs.
Wrestlers were required to finish in the top eight in their weight class at substate on Feb. 20 before moving on to state. The wrestlers prepared for state with daily hour-long practices to work on their stamina and number one move, meaning the move they can do best, because their main goal is to avoid tiring out.
Coach Chip Ufford had the team watch previous competition films and do lots of conditioning to prepare.
“The night before is very nerve-racking but exciting. Contreas said “I try to just focus on state and what I need to do the next day and sleep well,” Contreras said.”
Both Jenkinson and Woltkamp qualified for state but did not place. Contreras entered state as the number six seed, which meant he had to beat the first, second and fourth seed before claiming his title as state champion for the 126lbs weight class.
Contreras beat the number four seed 7-2, the number two seed 8-2 and the number one seed 2-1 before being announced state champion. After the match, he immediately ran to his coaches for a celebratory hug as well as pointing to the stands at his family.
“I am overwhelmingly grateful for my coaches and everyone who supported me and helped me with this victory,” Contreras said.
According to Coach Ufford Contreras wrestled really well and it was very impressive that he was unranked all year. Ufford says he likes kids who are not ranked that can make it to state because they are not looking at the ranking and those things and focus more on what they need to do in practice.
“The main goal is to go one and 0,” Ufford said. Overall it was Jahir listening to his coaches and doing what he needed to win was what coach thought.”
Ufford says that next year they plan to try to use this event to help them and motivate not just Jahir but the guys around him to be the best and be a champion.
“Being a champion means a lot of different things from winning a state title to just finishing the season and working hard.” Ufford said.