The Jackson-Milton Blue Jays wrestling season has come to an end. The fighting Blue Jays wrestled a tough tournament at sectionals where at this point in the season if you do not place top 4 at a wrestling tournament you do not advance to next week.

Senior Nick Scarl had this to say when asked about the end of the season tournaments, “It is the point in the season where if you do not give it your all in your matches it shows and you fall short of the goal.” It is without a doubt that the Jays go to one of the hardest sectional tournament in the district and state, with powerhouse teams like Tuslaw High School and Rootstown High School bringing full teams.

Four wrestlers, who included Anthony Pizzuto, Jeremy Seka, Ryan Staton, and Nick Scarl, advanced to the district tournament hosted at Garfield Heights High School. In a hard fought tournament, Pizzuto and Seka both placing 4th at the sectional tournament and Staton and Scarl placing 5th as alternates. The team was excused from school that Friday and held practice before heading down for weigh-ins.

Head coach Brian Weidenthal had this to saw when asked about the importance of being excused from that day of school, “It is very important, it gives the wrestlers the opportunity to get a little extra rest and come in for a practice before we head up there. We go through a light drill to help get the wrestlers weight down and to get them a little warm-up before we head down there.”

Staton and Scarl did not make it as alternates, ending their season. Pizzuto and Seka both went 1-1 on the first day of wrestling. They returned on the second day battling for a win but both fell short of the goal. The team looks forward to this off-season to get in the extra work they need to get further next season.