JAMES ‘JAKE’ ROGERS of Battle Ground takes the first-place award in freestyle wrestling competition at the ASICS Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Tournament in Utah. Photo courtesy of Jodie Rogers
James “Jake” Rogers of Battle Ground finished his wrestling season with a national championship and national runner-up at the ASICS Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Tournament in Orem, UT, June 23-25, in the schoolboy 120-pound division.
Thirty-eight states were represented by wrestlers. Rogers lost his only match to Logan Jensen of Utah in Greco-Roman and wrestled his way back to a second-place finish. He returned the following day wrestling freestyle and met Jensen again in the finals. This time Rogers was determined to win a national title and defeated Jensen in a close match for first place.
Just days before he had wrestled in Pocatello, ID, to qualify for Orem, at the West Kids and Cadet Regional Championships June 15-21, then went straight to Orem to continue wrestling. Wrestlers from 13 western states participated in this qualifying event. Rogers went 15-0, winning all three styles: folkstyle, freestyle, and Greco-Roman to take the Triple Crown. He also received the outstanding wrestler award for his division.
He will move from Schoolboy Division to Cadet Division next year, and probably at least one or two weight groups higher also. He will be in the eighth grade when returning to school this fall.
Rogers wrestles for the North County Bobcats in Battle Ground. More information is available at www.northcountybobcats.com.
