Amazing Grace

The Grizzlies sent a total of nine wrestlers to the state tournament this past weekend.  Of the nine, two were girls participating in the fastest growing sport for girls in the nation.  Bella Eddins wrestled in her first ever state tournament and represented Caribou County well.  Bella would win her first match then come up short in her next two and be eliminated.  Josie Newby would be the other girl from Grace competing.  Josie had a very good season and was expected to compete well.  Unfortunately for Josie she would get ill during the week before state.  Still not back to 100% she still competed when some may have dropped out.  Josie would lose her first two matches and be eliminated.  Both girls will undoubtedly work to return to state next season.  

Of their seven boys competing Grace placed five on the podium.  The non-placers were Jayden Lunt and Brett Hobbs.  Lunt had entered state on a wildcard after just missing placing high enough during districts.  Lunt’s time at state would be short as he would lose his first two matches and be eliminated.  Hobbs would battle hard and go all three rounds in his two matches but would fall short and be eliminated.  

Cael Newby wrestled in the 106 pound weight bracket.  Newby would end up taking the long road to the fifth place match where he would win, claiming his spot on the podium and finishing with a state record
of 4-2.  

Jack Eddins wrestled in the 138 pound weight class for the Grizzlies.  Jack won his first match by fall, and from there would go on an improbable run.  In his second match Jack faced the number one seeded wrestler, who is nationally ranked.  At the end of the second period it appeared as though Jack may lose by technical fall as the score flashed 15-0.  That is when Coach Jorgensen stepped in and helped correct a fault in the scoring.  The match entered the final round at 14-0.  During that final round Jack scored a couple of points but still looked destined to lose until the other wrestler made a misstep and Jack capitalized and pinned his opponent.  It is very likely that was the biggest upset of the tournament, but Jack wasn’t finished.  He went to the next round with similar results.  Trailing against a wrestler he had never beaten, Jack once again pinned his opponent late in the match, moving him to the championship match.  There Jack would once again be trailing when he got his opponent in a cradle and appeared to be set for yet another upset.  However the ref didn’t see it that way and time would run out for Jack as he would lose in a tight decision 8-7 and claim second place.  

Kole Younger represented Grace in the 98 pound weight class.  Kole dominated in his first three matches, winning by a fall and two major decisions.  Kole entered the championship match with confidence.  Kole would control most of the match and when the time ran out he found himself up 11-7 and claimed a state championship.  

At 113 pounds Grace had returning state champ Carter Kimball.  Carter was the favorite to win state going into the tournament, but they don’t just hand out championships.  This wouldn’t bother Carter at all as he would roll through his opponents making it back to the championship round.  In the final Carter would be in complete control and end the season with a pin and a state championship.  Carter made it through the entire tournament without allowing a single point to be scored against him.  

The Grizzlies final wrestler to compete was be Wyatt Cutler at 170 pounds.  Wyatt was also heavily favored to win his second consecutive state title.  Wyatt started off by winning by technical fall 21-5 before pinning his next two opponents.  Wyatt had made it back to the championship round.  In the match for the first minute the wrestlers would circle the mat sizing each other up.  With some coaxing by the official for some action, Wyatt finally took a shot on his opponent.  It appeared as though he would have a takedown and score the first two points, however as the wrestlers went to the ground he landed hard and the referee determined the move to be an illegal slam.  Everyone watching waited to see if the other wrestler would get up and continue.  Unfortunately, he would not as he was deemed too injured to continue.  As a result Wyatt’s dreams of being a two time state champion were dashed as he was disqualified for the illegal move and would have to settle for second place.  Visibly upset Wyatt would leave the mat in a hurry eventually find himself sitting on the astroturf ground behind the spectators watching the action still taking place on center stage.  That is where his coaches found him still visibly upset and distraught.  Several of his fellow competitors would stop in passing and try to give words of encouragement but many would not be able to understand his feelings at
that moment.  

Some that might be able to were a few of his friends who were also on the varsity basketball team.  They had, like Wyatt, seen their senior season come to an abrupt end less than twenty-four hours earlier.  They each filed past Wyatt giving him their support.  Perhaps the most remarkable sight was that of Coach Newby, who through all of this stood straight up next to Wyatt looking very stoic.  It was a great visual example of a coach standing by their pupil ready to lead and guide them through a difficult time.  I am sure there was much more said between them but all the public got to see was coach Newby ask Wyatt if he was ready and the two walked to the awards stand to collect Wyatt’s second place medal.  

When you come from a school named Grace it is inevitable that you will have several articles titled Amazing Grace.  Most would refer to a great accomplishment made by a sports team and that could apply here with the great placings of the individual wrestlers as well as the team claiming its fourth top scoring 1A school award.  However, in this case the “Amazing” part wasn’t about sports at all.  It was about the support shown by the Grace community both in triumph as well as defeat.  Proving that the Grizzly faithful truly are Amazing Grace.