Two Panthers wrestlers place at State

Justin Shotwell, a freshman at Saratoga High School went the distance against older and more experienced wrestlers, to take the championship in 106 pounds. His coach, Zach Schmidt, said the wrestler’s determination to win it became apparent as he watched the young man start the season at 117 pounds and drop to 106 pounds. Schmidt said that Shotwell had to wait for his body to get used to the drop, but once it did, Shotwell got better and better at each match.

“I was talking to my wife after the match and I told about a conversation I had with Justin on Jan. 5 and we were talking about him coming down to 106 and he was having a hard time,” Schmidt said. “We told his folks and Justin that although he was feeling weak now, Coach Stockwell and I believed he just had to ride it out and Justin did. So when State came around, me, Stockwell and Justin believed he was the wrestler at 106 even though rankings didn’t say it.”

Schmidt said Shotwell wrestled like a senior at State.

“He was perfect,” Schmidt said. “His decision making was flawless and there is not a single thing he could have done different as I watched the film afterwards.”

The other Saratoga wrestler to place was Jaxon King, who came in 5th at 120 pounds. It was a remarkable feat for the senior to even be on the mats wrestling because of injury he suffered some weeks back.

Schmidt said King had been dropped out of the rankings two weeks ago, but the wrestler gave one of the gutsiest performances he had ever seen.

“Considering a month ago, we thought there was a chance of Jaxon’s season being over, to come back and get the wins he needed to get to State and then place 5th with one arm, there are times we don’t win a state title, but it feels as good as a state title, this is exactly one of those times,” Schmidt said. “Jaxon’s last match had him win in the last three seconds and that is a pretty cool way to go out in your wrestling career. He climbed a bigger mountain than most people realize to get where he did.”

The Panthers had a few wrestlers get really close to placing.

“Preston (Dew) made what we call the ‘blood round,’ which is one match from placing,” Schmidt said. “He had the kid who was ranked number two on his back for what seemed like ever, but it was probably only five seconds and we thought for a moment we were going to semis, but the guy rolled out and experience won out.”

Schmidt moved Jerry Everett from 106 pounds to 113 pounds for Regionals and State and the wrestler was another who made the blood round.

“He was wrestling kids heavier and doing so well, he almost placed,” Schmidt said. “At Regionals he was a few short seconds from being in a regional final match.”

Schmidt mentioned the other wrestlers who had come close.

“Caleb (Bangs), Tristan (Gray) and Kagan (Gilbert) were one round from placing,” Schmidt said. “That is five guys who were one round from placing.”

Schmidt is excited for next year.

“I am really excited what is coming and it bodes well to have a freshman succeed,” Schmidt said. “This will probably inspire the freshmen of this year and I have some good eighth graders up the pipe.”

Saratoga came in 9th out of 22, but Schmidt said it could have easily been 7th if a match or two had gone different.

“We knew coming in we were young and they got that initial taste of victory at Soroco, so then I might have put too much on their plate when we went to Old Chicago, and they faced these 3A and 4 A teams and got our butts kicked,” said Schmidt. “Then we went back to wrestling 2A competition and the boys got confidence. They all climbed the mountain and I have to say I had an exciting group.”

He concluded, “It has been a long time since Saratoga has had a State champ returning and I want to say how appreciative we are of all our fans that come out and support us. It really means a lot.”