HEM student sets national wrestling record

HEM High is now the proud school of a national record holder in the sport of wrestling.

Senior Justin Irene of Medicine Bow was recently honored with the national record for the fastest wrestling pin in the 285-pound weight division by the National Federation of State High School Association. Irene achieved the record-breaking pin in only four seconds at the Southeast Duals in Yoder on Feb. 2, with a victory over Donald Red Nest of Alliance, Neb.

Principal Dale Kari honored Irene at an early morning school assembly last Friday, which also honored the school’s wrestling team, boys basketball team, and girls basketball team with scholastic achievement awards for grade point averages above 3.0. Irene was awarded with a special plaque and honored with a framed photo, both including his achievement in written form.

“I’ve had students place or be a national winner, like in FBLA or FCCLA or FFA, but I’ve never had a student set a national record like this or even known one who has,” Kari said. This is quite an accomplishment, and Justin is a strong kid. If you’re not paying attention he’ll pin you real quick.”

Irene said he was also quite surprised after finding out he set a record back in February.

“It was shocking because I just went out there and wrestled hard, and it just happened to happen that way,” he said. “It’s cool and I’m really happy about it, and I’m glad that I could put in all that work from freshman to senior year. I’m glad the coaches pushed me and that the teammates were there for me for all four years.”

Wrestling coach Lyle Richardson said the record-setting pin was researched and determined through the Wyoming High School Activities Association, with help also given by HEM Activities Director Russ Wiggam.

“Justin talked to Russ about a state record for the fastest pin, and Russ called Trevor Wilson, who handles the wrestling stuff, at the activities association,” Richardson said. “Trevor said they didn’t have any state records, but he contacted someone at the national level to see what the national record was. We knew about it for a long time that it might be a record, but we didn’t want to say anything until it was verified for sure.”

Richardson was also amazed by Irene’s quick triumph over an Alliance, Neb. team member, as that school’s team proved to be successful during the tournament.

“It was surprising because Alliance had a very good team and was actually in the finals,” Richardson said. “There were 16 teams at the dual tournament, and we had taken some lumps during the dual itself. When it came up to Justin’s weight class I wasn’t sure what we were up against, but Justin just got out there, snapped the kid down to the mat, rolled him over and pinned him.”

Irene, who also plays football and has wrestled since sixth-grade, said building strength through weightlifting was a major factor in, not only his quick pin, but also his overall success as a wrestler.

“I started lifting as a sophomore and have had pretty much two weight classes since sophomore year,” he said. “A big part of heavyweight wrestling is being really strong, and you’ve got to know how to keep a good balance. One sudden move can end a match, and once you’re on the bottom under another big dude like yourself, it’s pretty hard to get out of that.”

Richardson, assistant coach Leah Stoner, and volunteer coaches Brandon Stoner and Brad Baker were also credited by Irene for helping him become a better wrestler. As a high school senior, he is now thinking about his post-high school plans.

“I want to work for the first year after high school, but I have had a few offers to wrestle in college from Dickinson State (Dickinson, N.D.), Bacone College (Muskogee, Okla.), and a school in Montana,” Irene said. “I’m still deciding what I want to do right now, but I think I could compete at that college level. In the future I want to be a P.E. teacher, or a coach for wrestling, football or weight training.”

In addition to holding the national quickest pin record, Richardson said Irene also has the current school record under his belt. Irene scored 32 pins in a season for 2013, breaking the school’s old record of 30 from 1997 or 1998.

“Justin is like a pinning machine, and he broke Cody Austin’s record of 30 pins,” Richardson said. “Justin now also holds the heavyweight school record for the quickest pin, which was previously seven seconds and held by Wayne Maddox. Justin deserves accolades and has a put a lot of work toward sports, and he’s deceivingly strong.”

Irene’s teammates have also expressed gratitude for his presence on the team. Junior and fellow wrestler R.J. Seaman said Irene definitely deserved the award, and that he has been a great inspiration to other teammates.

“I look up to Justin, and he’s a great friend and a great teammate,” he said. “He also makes everyone laugh and is a hard worker too. He’s probably the best wrestler in our school right now, and I’m proud of him.”