Panther wrestlers recognize senior Jaydon Busch
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
Jaydon Busch, the Panthers sole senior wrestler, was recognized during Senior Night on Tuesday, Jan. 10. (Steven Spencer/Jersey County Journal)
By Steven Spencer
“It’s not like any other sport, it’s like a community. My teammates are my family,” JCHS senior wrestler Jaydon Busch said of the team after being honored during senior night on Tuedsay, Jan. 10.
The sole senior wrestler this year, Busch, is at an 18-1 record with all 18 wins by pins.
“It has been fun watching Jaydon wrestle this season, his matches are electric,” head coach Frank Speidel said while remarking on Busch’s resilience. “Part of what makes Jaydon so exceptional is that he is never out of the match.”
This year’s 18-1 record follows last year’s 28-8 record and a qualifying for the sectional tournament at Mahomet Seymour.
Having competed in three tournaments so far this year, Busch placed first at the Steve Bradley Tournament at Civic Memorial and at the Lincoln tournament. His lone loss was at the Macoutah Tournament, finishing third.
Placing in tournaments isn’t the only thing Busch is focused on, he’s set goals for this season to try and win the school pin, record, qualify for state and win state.
Busch became interested in wrestling when Tony Chin encouraged him to wrestle.
“He was a dad watching a soccer game that I was playing,” he said. “When I walked off the soccer field, he stopped me and said I should wrestle. So I signed up.”
Busch didn’t start wrestling his freshman year and even then only wrestled two exhibition matches.
“My first match was my first win. It was a tall guy and he gave me a bloody nose,” he said.
Even after the bloody nose Busch still encourages others to try the sport.
“Joining wrestling is one of the best decisions I ever made,” he said. “It teaches discipline and builds character. You really learn a lot about yourself on the wrestling mat.”
