Jan.
31, 2008: The Salt Lake Tribune
Prep Wrestling: Heartbreak Kid
by Chhun Sun
Jaes Jones was 11 years old, and the
Jordan High gym was packed with screaming fans. And he got
inspired.
But this wasn't basketball. It was the
first All-Star Wrestling Classic. Jones' brother, Cameron,
was grappling in what is now considered one of the most
prestigious tournaments of the season.
Jaes wanted to do the same. Jaes got to
live the moment Tuesday of last week, in a Brighton
singlet as he wrestled North Sanpete's Keaton Cheney in
the 135-pound bout in the annual All-Star Classic at the
McKay Events Center in Orem. Jaes easily won with a pin,
and it was Jaes' second win against Cheney this season.
But Jaes wants more.
"I got plans," Jaes said.
When you're Jaes, you have to be
determined. The past two seasons are reminders that he
came so close but never got the one thing that only one
wrestler in his weight class achieve every season since
the sport was recognized in 1938.
The state title.
Jaes lost in the semifinals in 2006 and
2007.
"I'm very determined this year," he said.
"I had it my whole life to reach that goal. I think I can
get it done this year. I'm getting over [my past]. I'm
trying to get it done."
The senior has already accomplished enough
in his high school career to have the casual observer
utter the word "impressive." As a freshman, he won 22
matches and placed fifth at the region tournament. As a
sophomore, he complied a 37-5 record and finished fourth
at the state championships.
As a junior, he fell a spot below from the
season before in the state tournament.
Now, as a senior, he wants that state
title before he either attends M.I.T. or Stanford.
However, he wants to serve an LDS mission before he
studies to become a neurologist.
"He has a realistic chance," Brighton
coach Wade Brown said about Jaes' state title aspirations.
Last weekend at the Rocky Mountain Rumble,
Jaes made a solid run toward the tournament title. He had
two pins in his five matches, to eventually lose in a 5-2
decision against Mountain Crest's Jake Morrill in the
130-pound final.
But that loss probably won't deter his
plans too much.
Semis Tough
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Brighton's Jaes Jones has been
disappointed twice the last two seasons, as he's fallen
short of a state title in each try. Both times he lost in
the semifinals of the Class 5A state tournament in his
weight class.
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This season, Jones is determined to erase
his past and win a state title before his high school
career ends. He's coming off a win at the All-Star Classic
and a runner-up finish at the Rocky Mountain Rumble.
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