The East Jefferson Rivals Wrestling Team finds itself in its third week of practice the first week in December.
The athletes have been working hard in the practice room …
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The East Jefferson Rivals Wrestling Team finds itself in its third week of practice the first week in December.
The athletes have been working hard in the practice room and now it is time for them to step on the mat in competition.
“We currently have 52 athletes registered for our sport,” said coach Jim Wilcox. “I can’t recall ever having that many high school kids in our room.”
Wilcox has been around wrestling all of his life, having spent his youth wrestling in Eastern Washington and then much of the last 35 years coaching and helping other coaches to grow the EJ program.
This year, we are truly an EJ program, with wrestlers from all three public high schools in the room. Quilcene has two boys who will be competing alongside their Chimacum and Port Townsend teammates during the season.
“Mason Iverson and Kaden Faller are Quilcene seniors who have brought their great work ethic into our practice room,” said coach Joey Johnson. “Those two are making the room tougher. It’s great having them with us.”
Johnson is in the Washington State Wrestling Hall of Fame, having coached dozens of state-placers and more than 17 state champions over four decades in numerous teams throughout the state.
The season will kick off on at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, with the Jamboree at Port Angeles High School. The Jamboree consists of four teams and has been an annual event for many years. The teams at the Jamboree include Forks, Port Angeles, Sequim and East Jefferson.
The wrestlers will host a dual meet event against Sequim at 2:20 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. On Saturday, Dec. 7, all eligible wrestlers will travel to Seattle to compete in the Return of the Seahawk tournament at Chief Sealth International High School, featuring many larger school teams. Following that tournament, the grapplers will host their first Nisqually League dual meet of the season against Klahowya on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Action for that event should commence at 5:30 p.m.
The home event on Dec. 6 is being organized as a special event by coach Grimm, Principal Sean Moss and ASB supervisor Logan Stegner. Expectations are high that there is an exciting season ahead for EJ Rivals Wrestling. Credit is due to the school administration, teachers and staff for working to create an event designed to increase school spirit and support winter sports.
Ryan White is a wrestling coach at Port Townsend High School.
