A local young wrestler earns title at multi-state championship

By BETHANY ROLFSON

The Western News

Editors note: Doug DeShazer recently wrote in an email to The Western News, the story of his son, Jace, coming home from the King of the Mountain Dual, a multi-state, divisional wrestling tournament in Denver.

“Champion of the Mountain” is a title you’d expect for royalty, but after years of dedication, a local, young wrestler, won that title in an event that surprised everyone but himself.

Libby fifth-grader Jace DeShazer was invited to be part of team Montana Elite, which is an “all-star team” of the best kids across Montana to attend a Tour of America wrestling tournament in Denver.

According to his dad, Doug DeShazer, the tournament was a great opportunity to compete against the best young grapplers in the U.S.

Doug wrote in an email that the coaches were very clear that many state champions competing may not win a single match.

Jace, 11 who is a six-time state champion was excited to compete as this would be, by-far, the most prestigious tournament he had ever attended.

Doug said that he was trying to keep Jace’s expectations in check, so he wasn’t disappointed.

“I had many coaches and other parents explain to me that winning a single match is a huge accomplishment at this kind of tournament,” Doug wrote in an email.

Also, the team needed a wrestler at a weight class above Jace’s normal weight.

Jace found out that he was going to need to lose, seven pounds, almost 10 percent of his body weight, in order to compete in the 85 pound weight class.

Jace, his grandfather Jack and Doug left Libby on Dec. 7 for practice in Billings with the team that was spread out all over the state. The next day, they had to drive from Billings to Denver for another practice and weigh-in.

“Jace was really enjoying the camaraderie and practicing with other kids from Montana,” Doug wrote in an email. “He is lucky to have many great coaches in Libby that help him during the Little Guy and the freestyle wrestling season, but does not have access to a club or those coaches for any early season wrestling.”

According to Doug, Jace practices in the basement, doing drills and wrestling his older brother, Luke after Luke’s basketball practice.

On Friday, Dec. 9, Jace and his team competed in their first dual tournament, but with a intimidatingly large venue, new coaches, high competition and the fact that he was underweight, Jace had a long day ahead of him.

He lost his first three matches in a row. He then won one match when his opponent wasn’t able to make his weight and had to forfeit.

In his last match of the day, he ended up pinning his opponent.

“I was happy that he was able to end with a win, because he was disappointed with how the rest of the day had gone,” Doug wrote in an email.

The next day was the individual tournament.

Doug said that Jace seemed more comfortable and relaxed during the day, during which he was surrounded from kids from California, Texas, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska and Alaska in his bracket.

While Doug said Jace is usually seated first or second in the bracket, during that day he was seated last.

So, Jace knew because of his position, he would have a very strong wrestler right out of the gate.

But Jace had an advantage — he was widely unknown and overlooked.

In his first match that day, as soon as the whistle blew Jace “shot” in a double-leg and pinned the kid he was wrestling in seven seconds. His opponent and his coaches were shocked.

“It was great and I was really happy for him,” Doug wrote in an email. “I told him, ‘No matter what happens today you should be very proud of that match,’ as I knew it could very easily be his only win that day.”

Then, something took everyone by surprise.

In a redeeming and vengeful streak, Jace kept knocking off the other wrestlers and advancing.

Pretty soon, he was in the position where he would place.

With his teammates, coaches, father and grandfather all rooting for him, his semifinal match was tied five to five.

That meant sudden death overtime — the first takedown wins.

After he circled his opponent, he shot in and picked him up and scored the takedown.

Now, he was in the championship.

“Everyone was shocked, except Jace, who told me before his championship match that he was nervous but knew he could win,” Doug wrote in an email.

His next match was against a Wyoming wrestler who had several national tournaments and over 100 wins under his belt from the last year.

Jace, focused and in control, ended up winning by a pin in the second period.

While they were announcing winners and handing out awards, Jace was asked what team he represented.

Instead of Montana Elite, he said Greenchain in Libby.

Announced over the speakers everyone in the venue heard, “Jace DeShazer, Champion of King of the Mountain, from Libby representing Greenchain.”

Jace said in a phone interview the following week, that he wants to wrestle, his favorite sport, for as long as he can.

Bethany Rolfson is a reporter at The Western News and can be reached at 293-4124, or by email at reporter@thewesternnews.com.