Wrestling notes
This season has been quite a journey for the Jackson County Central wrestling team.
That journey has seen the Huskies wrestle duals against teams from five states (Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, South Dakota) and wrestle in five states (Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota)
And for the third straight time and 13th time in 26 seasons as JCC that journey has resulted in a trip to the state tournament for the Huskies.
That doesn’t mean there haven’t been some bumps along the way.
Two Huskies in particular have had some challenges.
Junior Nolan Ambrose, a two-time state champion, has been out of the lineup since late January with a hip injury. Senior Matt Haley has been out of the lineup even longer as he has been out since late December.
Both took the mat in JCC’s 67-6 win over Adrian Area in the championship match of the Section 3A tournament Saturday in Lamberton and the Huskies finally look like they have all the pieces in place when they wrestle in the state Class 1A team tournament a week from Thursday at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Ambrose was the first back on the mat as he won by fall in 51 seconds at 132 pounds. Haley was on the mat a little longer as he won by fall in 1:33 at 195 pounds.
“The plan to wrestle those guys was kind of last second,” said Jackson County Central Coach Nate Hanson. “They wanted to go. They were feeling ready so it was yeah, now is the time I guess.”
Next week’s Section 3A individual tournament had been the unofficial target date to return to the lineup, but Nolan was happy to get back to competition.
“It felt really good to get back out there and get a match in before section individuals,” said Ambrose.
He’s been biding his time, trying to follow the guidance of his doctor and coaches to make a healthy return.
“Listening to the doctor and doing everything I can do to get back out there on the mat has been my main goal the last few weeks,” Ambrose said.
Now that has made his return, he can look ahead to the individual tourney. “I’m going to work hard this week and make sure I do everything right so everything goes well with my hip next week.”
Haley was also very happy to be back in the lineup.
“It feels to awesome,” he said. “it’s probably one of the better feelings I’ve had in high school sports.”
A two-time state qualifier, Matt wasn’t sure he’d putting on a singlet and competing for a spot in St. Paul again.
“At the beginning of the injury I didn’t think I was going to be able to wrestle at all so it feels really good to get back out here at the end of my senior year.”
JCC dominant
In their three matches in the Section 3A team tournament, the Huskies outscored their opponents 212-9 (an average of 70.6-9) and won 39 of the 42 matches.
JCC won 24 matches by fall, four by forfeit, three by technical fall, five major decisions and three decisions.
State Class A wrestling team qualifiers:
1A: Caledonia/Houston
2A: Medford
3A: JCC
4A: Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted
5A: Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa
6A: West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansville
7A: Royalton/Upsala
8A: United North Central
State Class AA wrestling team qualifiers:
1AA: Kasson-Mantorville
2AA: New Prague
3AA: United
4AA: Simley
5AA: Totino-Grace
6AA: Becker
7AA: Mora
8AA: Pequot Lakes-Pine River-Backus
State Class AAA wrestling team qualifiers:
1AAA: Rochester Mayo
2AAA: Apple Valley
3AAA: Hastings
4AAA: Stillwater
5AAA: St. Michael-Albertville
6AAA: Waconia
7AAA: Anoka
8AAA: Willmar
