Junior Co-captain Conner Herman made an early run at the championship final before yielding in the semi-final round and finishing with a sixth place medal around his burly neck. It is also noteworthy he finished the season with eighteen falls. Four other varsity grapplers earned twenty plus victories on the season. They were senior Co-captain Steven Settlage, juniors Blake Carson and Riley Welsh, and senior Vince Mulnix, who finished his career just shy of the 100 win club.

Before the Kennedy home dual in late January, a 50th anniversary reunion occurred when each state tournament finalist through the years was invited back to be publicly recognized for their contributions to J-Hawk wrestling. This included 90 year old historian Russ Daniels, as well as Jefferson’s second head coach Jack Fisk who passed away nine months later at the age of 84.

When the dust settled on a Class 3A 215 pound finals match at the Bank in Des Moines, Conner Herman was the man with his hands in the air, and Jefferson High School had a new member added to the now 30 state champions totaled during its rich wrestling history.  In a see-saw dramatic effort that had J-Hawk fans, teammates and spectators on edge, Herman overcame a late two point deficit to tie with an unlikely takedown at the end of regulation.  Once in overtime a defensive takedown ended the sudden victory scenario in Herman’s favor and sent Wells Fargo Arena into uproar, and one excited head coach Dick Briggs into an exalted hooray as Conner strode from the mat into the arms of first year assistant and former J-Hawk State Champion Matt Orton.  Herman said he drew strength from the following who cheered from his corner not to give up and go for the tying takedown.  His extra effort paid off and all where smiles well into the evening as long time assistant Rob Martin put the gold medal around Conner’s neck atop the Wells Fargo Arena podium.   What a night to remember!

And what a great journey it was to reach that magical night.  J-Hawk wrestling welcomed back one of its own in Matt Orton who left a decorated and talent laden Iowa City West Program to rejoin his Alma Mater in their resurgence as a wrestling force.  Orton brought a unique delivery and energy to a room that was eager to embrace his winning ways.  A gritty group of wrestlers where led by Seniors Blake Carson & Conner Herman, each with over 30 wins, and Dylan Moenck & Junior Griffan Bollman, each who tallied over 25 wins.  The resilience of the team was evident from the very first dual of the season right on through to the district tournament where they scratched out a second place finish qualifying them for the regional dual.  Helping them along the way where state qualifiers Blake Carson (135), Riley Welsh (189), and Conner Herman (215).  Although they were dropped in the regional dual by State Runner-Up Iowa City West, the dual marked the second time in three seasons that the J-Hawks qualified for post season competition.  Coaches and those closest to the team possessed the feeling that the future is looking better all the time thanks to a nice mix of seniors who inspired a young and talented group of returning letter winners.