July
28, 2007: Provo Daily Herald
Jason Chamberlain Story
by Russ Lyman
After three high school wrestling state
championships in three seasons, a title at the prestigious
Reno Tournament of Champions, an undefeated season and
countless other tournament wins, it would seem as if
Springville's Jason Chamberlain had very little left to
accomplish at the high school level.
And now he has even less.
The senior-to-be crossed off yet another goal from his
lengthy list recently, this time it was the grand-daddy of
wrestling, the USA Wrestling National Tournament in Fargo,
N.D. On Thursday he wrapped up his first ever national
freestyle championship in the 135-pound weight class.
"I've won different national tournaments but this is the
toughest one. It's been known as the toughest HS
tournament in the nation," Chamberlain said. "I think for
the most part this is pretty much the most you can do in
high school."
Not only did Chamberlain get the monkey of winning the
tournament off of his back, but he did it by finally
beating longtime nemesis Norman Richmond from Oregon in
the final. Prior to Thursday, Richmond had won four
matches in a row against Chamberlain, including the
championship match in Greco-Roman earlier.
This time around, not only did Chamberlain beat Richmond,
but he did so easily, winning 5-1, 5-0, in the best 2-of-3
rounds freestyle scoring format.
"Before I wrestled him, my coach said this is what we've
worked all year for," Chamberlain said. "I figured out how
to wrestle him a little bit better. Before, I was
cautious, but this year I just did what I do best and wore
him out. The kids that know me know that I lose to that
kid a lot, so the Utah kids kind of mobbed me after the
final."
Although defeating Richmond in the final proved to be
easier than expected, getting to that point was anything
but easy.
In his first match of the unseeded tournament, Chamberlain
had to face off with Matt Bryan, an All-American from
Oklahoma who took third in the tournament last year. After
beating Bryan, Chamberlain cruised through to win his next
eight matches to advance to his pool final against New
Jersey's Max Shanaman, which proved to be his toughest
match.
In the first period Shanaman got the first takedown, but
Chamberlain fought back to get a last-second takedown to
win the period 1-1 (tiebreaker goes to the wrestler who
scores last). Shanaman dominated the second period and
took it 4-1 to force Chamberlain's only three-period
match. In the deciding third period, Shanaman once again
got the first takedown, but Chamberlain returned the favor
with a minute left to tie it at 1-1. Chamberlain held on
to win the match and advance to the final.
"I just kind of wore him down and squeaked it out,"
Chamberlain said.
The championship fulfilled a lifetime goal of
Chamberlain's, one he for which he has worked tirelessly
year around.
"I wrestle probably 8 or 9 months out of the year and if
I'm not wrestling I'm running or lifting weights to get
ready for when I do have to wrestle," he said. "I work all
year long, mostly for this tournament that I just won.
Sometimes I tell people I'm going to tournaments and
they're like, 'I thought wrestling was over,' and I tell
them that it's just starting."
Although Chamberlain was ecstatic with winning the
tournament, he almost didn't go at all. In the months
leading up to the Fargo tournament, Chamberlain lacked the
funds it would take to go. However, financial donations
flowed in from Springville, Mapleton and throughout the
state which enabled him to compete.
"I don't know how we made it happen, but I guess enough
people helped me," he said. "I'd just like to thank all
the people that helped me. There were a lot of people I
didn't even know who sent money anonymously."
The tournament win goes to further enhance Chamberlain's
already illustrious resume, which by February could also
include four-time state champion. With every tournament
win and state championship, Chamberlain further entrenches
himself as one of the state's best wrestlers ever.
Other honors: Chamberlain wasn't the only local wrestler
who did well at the national tournament in Fargo.
Wasatch's Jake Salazar brought home a third place finish
in Greco-Roman, good enough for All-American honors.
Utah's contingent had two other wrestlers win national
championships with Alta's Carson Kuhn winning the 91-pound
title and Mountain Crest's Ethen Lofthouse winning at 160
pounds.
Despite having far fewer wrestlers than many of the other
states competing, Utah finished in 14th place in freestyle
at the tournament.
|