Jackson wrestling sends eight to state

The Jackson boys wrestling team will be sending eight grapplers to the Class 4 State Tournament on Friday in Columbia.

Half of the squad will be looking to finish their careers on the podium.

“It would mean a lot to me, because I haven't yet, and honestly, I've never even considered placing at state, said senior Gavin Hicks, who qualified for his third state tournament. “Each year, I've qualified but this year I am so excited about it.”

Seniors Griffin Horman (190), Tyler Beyatte (215), and Hicks (144) will return to the tournament, while Noah Gibson (285), will be going for the first time.

“I think we're a tight group,” said Gibson. “I think we've bonded a lot throughout this year wrestling. I think after the Ste. Genevieve meet, I think we all became just a little bit closer in a way that our unity, we’re pretty defined in what we want to do as a team. Our team goals got a lot stronger since then. We just want the best for each other, and I think we will improve to be the best for each other.”

“We're not as tight as most senior classes, but we all get along well,” Horman said. “It's nice to see each other succeed. It's nice to see each other work hard and get far in the wrestling world and be successful. It's cool to see. I enjoy that.”

Horman placed third in the Class 4 District 1 Tournament. He feels the improved competition has also led to his improvement.

“I've wrestled a lot better competition this year. We've gotten harder tournaments. I've also done better so I've got to wrestle more of the higher-level kids, so that's always nice.”

The Indians have spent nearly the entire season traveling north of the state participating in large tournaments. They went to only two duel meets, both were home, and one of which was against Illinois schools.

“Going up to the big tournaments get you to see some of those kids that you're going to see like state championships,” Horman said.

“I think as long as I believe in myself, I can I can dictate how I how I do in the tournament,” He added.

Hicks placed second in districts to make his third appearance at states. He has also crossed the 30-win benchmark on the season and reached the 100-win milestone.

“This past weekend at district I have wrestled the best I've wrestled all year for sure,” Hicks said. “That gave me a confidence boost for state.”

Hicks said he has taken a different mental approach since failing to place in the Kyle Thrasher Tournament last month.

“Ever since Thrasher I have had a better mindset,” Hicks said.

Gibson placed second in his first district tournament and is looking to see how far his talents and the teachings of assistant coach Derek Gohn, and his former practice partner, Liam Bryant, can take him.

“It would mean so much,” Gibson said. I mean, that's the goal, to be a champion. But really, at the end of the day, you want to wrestle to the best of your ability and never give up. So that's what I want to do.”

Beyatte's chicken and rice diet and summer training paid off as his boosted leg strength led to more explosive wrestling and ultimately a district championship.

Beyatte (37-3) feels less pressure this time around and that this state tournament is ‘my time.”

“There's less pressure because it's my last year,” Beyatte said last week. “I feel like I can just go all in and not have to worry about anything else.”

Junior Landon Vassalli (113) won the district title to lead the Jackson underclassmen. Freshman Kade King (120) placed second, sophomore Matthew May (138) finished third, and freshman Kadon Shaw (106) placed fourth. The younger version of the Indians' "Fantastic Four" represents the present and future of this proud program.

“Honestly, I think our young kids kind of leads the room,” Hicks said. “They definitely have a better attitude than most of us, but I think it's gotten better as the year went along. We've improved.”