Goodrich-Isaac Jewell began his wrestling career at a rather dismal 0-23.
‘As a seventh grade wrestler at 75
pounds, I was getting pinned all the time,? said Jewell, now 18. ‘The coaches were throwing me out there against tougher opponents’they knew I would come back.?
He did.
On March 3, Jewell, 103 pounds, won an individual state wrestling championship at The Palace of Auburn Hills, defeating Collin Welcher of Hamilton 8-1.
Jewell finished fourth in the state as a sophomore and took second as a junior before the win on Saturday.
The win concluded Jewell’s four seasons as a Martian grappler with a 147-29 record.
‘I wanted to be the best,? said Jewell. ‘I kept working hard each summer and it paid off in the end.?
More than 100 local fans of Jewell rallied to the Palace on Saturday’counting off the final seconds.
‘I didn’t know I had that many friends,? he said.
Jewell’s road to the state finals included being part of the 2009 state championship team.
‘I wanted to be that good,? he said. ‘Being a part of the 2009 team pushed me to get there.?
Jewell plans to study criminal justice at Oakland University this fall. He is the son of Wanda and Jim Jewell of Goodrich.