Williamsburg senior Gavin Jensen ‘thankful’ to be advancing at state wrestling again after injury last year

DES MOINES — Gavin Jensen’s been in the spotlight.

He’s basked in the glow of a Class 2A Iowa high school boys’ state wrestling tournament title match and he’s also been stopped short in the quarterfinals because of a torn meniscus.

So the Williamsburg senior 120-pounder’s last almost-three seasons on the mat have taught him one thing: Humbling setbacks can deepen one’s sense of confidence, not shake it.

“After (the torn meniscus) happened last year, it really got me down because I think I had a pretty good shot to make it to the finals again,” said the sixth-seeded Jensen, who pinned No. 3 Ethan Skoglund of Sergeant Bluff-Luton in the closing seconds of Thursday’s state quarterfinal. “But I realized that I had a year left and I knew I needed to try my hardest to be able to get back there again this year. Hopefully we can get that done.”

Jensen’s head coach, Grant Eckenrod said the battle with the meniscus issue lasted all of last season. Finally at state — and one win away from reaching the podium — it “locked up” and Jensen had to injury default. He’d narrowly finished second at 106 the previous season.

“He could not get unlocked,” Eckenrod said. “We tried and tried, even for the wrestle back, and couldn’t get it done.”

That painful moment could have shaken Jensen. Instead it spurred him to greater growth. Now he’s ensured of at least a sixth-place finish after Friday’s semifinal bout, but he doesn’t plan to stop.

“Yeah, it definitely did teach me to be humble,” Jensen said. “And just be thankful for the opportunity to be here again.”

Several Gazette-area grapplers in the Class 2A field made the most of Thursday’s quarterfinal-based opportunities:

South Tama’s top-seeded 195-pounder, Gavin Bridgewater, trailed KJ Fry of Clarke/Murray, 4-2 early, but quickly countered to finish with a flourish and win, 11-6.

“I felt him starting to break at the beginning of the third and I knew in that instant that no one can hold up with my conditioning,” said Bridgewater, the runner-up at 220 last season.

North Fayette Valley’s fifth-seeded 132-pounder Nick Koch won by decision over No. 4 Bo Koedam of Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 6-0, to ensure a top-six finish after placing eighth at 126 last year.

“I just do what I do and really go with the flow,” said Koch, who also excels at football and golf. “I aim to be high, but at the end of the day it’s just a sport to me. I just like doing it as a fun hobby.”

Union Community’s top-seeded duo of Brayden Bohnsack (106) and Jace Hedeman (113) won by identical major decision scores, 10-1, to advance to the semis. Hedeman won the state title at 106 last year and is 90-0 as a freshman and sophomore.

“Consistency and discipline,” Hedeman said. “That’s what it all comes down to.”

Colin Cassady of West Liberty (113), Amare Chavez of South Tama (126), Jase Jaspers of Mount Vernon (126), Brady Stille of Decorah (145), Cooper Sanders of Vinton-Shellsburg (152), Carter Straw of Independence (160), Cameron Geuther of West Delaware (285) and Korver Hupke of Independence (285) also all advanced to the semifinals.

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