Jefferson's Rashed trades one mat for another

CEDAR RAPIDS - P.J. Rashed went from doing flips to trying to flip opponents.

The Cedar Rapids Jefferson sophomore wrestler grew up with accomplished gymnast parents. He traded one mat for the other and now he's one of the J-Hawks leaders.

Rashed improved to 11-3, winning the final match to secure Jefferson's 39-30 win over host Cedar Rapids Washington in a Mississippi Valley Conference double-dual Thursday. The J-Hawks also beat Dubuque Hempstead, 60-15.

Rashed's parents, Annette and Patrick Rashed, were college gymnasts and own Cartwheels Gymnastics. He competed in gymnastics for more than 10 years. Gymnastics was in his blood, but wrestling won his heart.

“I started wrestling in seventh grade and loved it ever since,” Rashed said. “All the strength in gymnastics really transferred over to wrestling though.”

He praised his parents for their influence, including introducing him to gymnastics and it's effects on his wrestling career.

“I have my mom and dad to thank for that,” Rashed said. “My dad pushed me in practice every day.”

Rashed was an AAU state qualifier in eighth grade, but Jefferson Coach Dick Briggs recognized his potential. Briggs said Rashed is still raw and continues to make big strides in his ability. His work ethic is a key factor.

“I knew there was some potential there, but I also know it was really untapped,” Briggs said. “I've been coaching a long time. I've seen a lot of kids with potential, but never coming close. P.J. has the potential, the desire and the work ethic, so that's why you can't help but to be excited.”

The excitement grew when he was able to post a strong accomplishment in the first tournament of the season. Rashed claimed fifth-place at the highly-competitive Keith Young Invitational hosted by Cedar Falls. He was able to refocus his sights, aspiring to reach the state tournament and reach the podium.

“My confidence boosted a lot after that,” Rashed said. “It made me feel like I can go farther than I thought I could before that tournament."

Briggs said Rashed has a fun-loving personality, which Rashed attributes to his parents. He provides leadership to his teammates.

“He's very coachable and really a pleasant personality and character,” said Briggs, noting the sky is the limit if Rashed keeps working hard. “His teammates really like him and respect him.”

They counted on him against the Warriors. Washington needed a pin in the final match to force a criteria decision, but Rashed scored three takedowns to beat defending MVC champion Troy Neagle, 7-4, at 113. It was setup by Griffin Bollman's 6-4 overtime win over Dax Dills at 106, giving Jefferson a 36-30 lead.

“It was intense,” Rashed said. “I like having the team counting on me. Griffin did a good job helping us lock up the score, too.”

Shavez Butler scored a pin at 160, Kelly May (145) and Rashed's practice partner, 126-pounder Michael Moncivais, added a technical fall and major decision, respectively, for Jefferson (4-2, 4-2 MVC),

The Warriors (7-5, 6-2 MVC) handled Hempstead, 47-24, in the opening dual. Trey Schuler (120), Jordin Eicher (132), Drake Hickok (170) and heavyweight Tyler Burrell had pins for Washington. It wasn't enough to make up for three forfeits, giving Jefferson 18 points.

“We did all right,” Washington Coach Matt Hatcher said. “We did what we could with what we had and we just came up a little bit short.”

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120 - Trey Schuler (CRW) pinned Cody Hensel, 2:42; 126 - Michael Moncivais (CRJ) major dec. Kenan Newbold, 15-4; 132 - Jordin Eicher (CRW) pinned Spencer Brosseau, 1:29; 138 - Trevor Luebe (CRW) dec. Luke Sedlacek, 5-3; 145 - Kelly May (CRJ) tech. fall J.P. Mercado, 16-0; 152 - Kaiser Herz (CRW) dec. Tyler Boesenberg, 6-4; 160 - Shavez Butler (CRJ) pinned Tyler Burkle, 5:12; 170 - Drake Hickok (CRW) pinned Josh Allen, 3:37; 182 - Dalton Kuehl (CRJ) won by forfeit; 195 - Will Orr (CRJ) won by forfeit; 220 - Brandon Leary (CRJ) won by forfeit; Hwt. - Tyler Burrell (CRW) pinned Mic Vesey, 1:41; 106 - Griffin Bollman (CRJ) dec. Dax Dills, 6-4 (OT); 113 - P.J. Rashed (CRJ) dec. Troy Neagle, 7-4.

113 - Rashed (CRJ) won by forfeit;  120 - Hensel (CRJ) dec. Brandon Feldman, 4-2; 126 - Moncivais (CRJ) won by forfeit; 132 - Brosseau (CRJ) pinned Jacob Duccini, 1:37; 138 - Sedlacek (CRJ) pinned Deondre Brown, 2:57; 145 - May (CRJ), pinned Nathan Carpenter, 1:16; 152 - Boesenberg (CRJ) pinned Chris Dahlman, :22; 160 - Butler (CRJ) dec. DeAngelo Dochee, 8-6; 170 - Josh Allen (CRJ) won by forfeit; 182 - Layton Fritsch (DH) pinned Kuehl, 2:34; 195 - Leary (CRJ) pinned Kenneth Wilson, 1:57; 220 - Brett Hass (DH) won by forfeit; Hwt. - Andrew Luensman (DH) dec. Vesey, 5-1; 106 - Bollman (CRJ) won by forfeit.

106 - Dills (CRW) won by forfeit;

113 - Neagle (CRW) won by forfeit;

120 - Schuler (CRW) dec. Feldman, 8-2;

126 - Newbold (CRW) won by forfeit;

132 - Eicher (CRW) major dec. Duccini, 9-1;

138 - Luebe (CRW) dec. Brown, 6-2;

145 - Herz (CRW) pinned Cody Callahan, 2:54;

152 - Burkle (CRW) major dec. Dahlman, 10-0;

160 - Owens (DH) pinned Meshak Nyongere, 1:36;

170 - Hickok (CRW) pinned Dochee, 1:39;

182 - Fritsch (DH) won by forfeit;

195 - Wilson (DH) won by forfeit;

220 - Haas (DH) won by forfeit;

Hwt. - Burrell (CRW) dec. Luensman, 1-0.