BG youth wins national wrestling title

As she was growing up, Sierra Joner tried most of the usual sports most young athletes take a shot at and she quickly experienced success at each. However, it wasn’t until Joner got on a wrestling mat that she knew she had found her athletic home.

“It teaches you so many things,’’ said Joner, now 15 and a sophomore-to-be at Battle Ground High School, when asked about her affinity for the sport of wrestling. “It forces you to be disciplined.’’

Joner recently returned from the 2014 Cadet National Championship in Fargo, ND, where she was a member of the team from Washington. Joner claimed the national championship in the Cadet women’s 115-pound division, winning all four of her matches with first-round pins.

It was hardly the culmination of a young wrestler’s career. It was more likely, just the beginning.

“I was a little shocked with how well I did, honestly,’’ said Joner, who made the trip to the national event with the rest of the Washington team, which was coached by longtime Clark County wrestling coach Merle Crockett and also accompanied by her father Jim. “All of it was a great experience.’’

At the national tournament, Sierra got a glimpse of what her future in the sport could hold. Joner, who was named a co-captain of the Washington team by Crockett, was able to watch collegiate women wrestlers who were trying out for the U.S. world team.

“Those girls were pretty tough and big,’’ Joner said. “It made me want to get better so I could try to get a college scholarship and maybe someday end up being in the Olympics.’’

Those may be lofty goals for a 15-year-old, but considering what Joner has accomplished in her young life, it wouldn’t seem wise to assume she can’t accomplish what she sets her mind to.

Joner and her brother Chris were both born premature nine and 1/2 months a part, each weighing just a few ounces more than two pounds at birth. To say their early years was a struggle would be an understatement. After spending those early years in South Carolina, Sierra and Chris were adopted by Jim and Angie Joner and the family later moved to Amboy. Jim and Angie were former residents of the North Clark County area.

Somewhere along the way, Sierra and her brother developed a work ethic that is unusual for people their age. While Sierra was in North Dakota for the national tournament, her brother was in Alaska working as a commercial fishermen for the summer. The distance didn’t keep them from talking regularly as the older brother kept making his sister believe she had what it would take to claim the national title.

“He was coaching me from Alaska,’’ Sierra said of Chris.

While competing for Battle Ground High School this past year, both Sierra and Chris, who attend River HomeLink, qualified for the state high school wrestling tournament. Sierra placed eighth in the 112-pound division at the Class 4A level. Chris did not place, which just adds to the fuel of the friendly sibling rivalry.

“I wouldn’t say friendly,’’ Sierra said of their workouts together. “Sometimes, it gets pretty violent.

“On a rare occasion, we will actually have a good workout,’’ said Sierra, with a wry grin.

Sierra raised $1,000 to pay her way to the national tournament, performing odd jobs, doing car washes and cutting brush with her dad among other things. She trained diligently through the summer with Crockett, who serves as her youth wrestling coach.

During the high school season, Joner is coached by Jay Rogers, a North Clark County legend from his days competing at Prairie High School. Sierra also wrestles for the North County Bobcats, coached by Rogers.

Chris began wrestling before Sierra tipped her toes in the water. In fact, it was a chance meeting with Rogers that encouraged her to give the sport a try.

“My brother had started wrestling,’’ Sierra explained. “I was in softball at the time. I went to one of his practices and I shook Jay’s hand. I just had got done with softball practice, I had been playing for eight years. He said, ‘you have a pretty strong grip, maybe you should try out for wrestling.’ And, I did.’’

That was five years ago. Sierra didn’t quit softball immediately. But, after experiencing the work ethic necessary to be successful in the sport, more casual sports just didn’t satisfy her athletic appetite any longer.

“I eventually quit all other sports,’’ Sierra said. “I was just more focused on the hard work and being on the mat was just fun.’’