Jefferson High’s wrestling team opened the season at the Badger Invitational Tournament in Cascade Dec. 5 and 6. The Panthers are a very young team, and their inexperience showed at times — but they also showed flashes of promise, as eight athletes finished the two-day event among the top six in their weight classes.
Jefferson brought numbers to Cascade, with 17 wrestlers competing through the weekend, a good showing. In the opening round, Panther winners were Emma Jurkovac at 100 pounds, Emma Good and Daxton Terry at 110, Maysa LaFromboise at 115, Russell Douglas at 126, Mike Richard at 144, Cooper Mikesell at 157, Tellon Simanton at 165, Blake Nordlinder at 175, Madison Neely at 190 and and Brayden Tarr at 285.
Jurkovac, Terry, LaFromboise and Nordlinder won their quarterfinal matches, moving into the semis. All four lost their semifinal matches, meaning they’d have to fight their way back in the consolation rounds – but their early success had already guaranteed them spots on the awards podium the next day.
