Joles strikes gold in third state wrestling final

MADISON — Garrett Joles was having fun long before he even stepped onto the mat last Saturday night for his third consecutive finals’ appearance in this year’s WIAA State Individual Wrestling tournament here at the Kohl Center.

The Boyceville junior wore a smile from ear to ear after watching his two teammates and friends – Brock Schlough and  James Palmer – win state championships while he waited his turn to take center stage.

“Once Brock won it and James won there was no greater feeling going on that mat before you even shake hands and have two champs, it was probably one of the greatest moments of my life,” said Joles.

That smile and exuberance didn’t go unnoticed by his head coach Jamie Olson, who told him to focus in on his upcoming championship match.

“He (Joles) was smiling  before the state final and I told him to get serious and focus.”

Joles’ reply was one for the ages.

Already well into the “moment”, He simply looked at Olson and said, “Hey coach I got this, I’m going to kill this kid.”

And he did!

Joles, who has been ranked number one in the weight class all season long, dominated his championship opponent, Tory Jandrin, a Riverdale senior that sported an impressive 41-4 record coming into the Division 3, 195-pound title match.

On a mission from the opening whistle, Joles accumulated eight takedowns and a reversal to score an 18-6 major decision to win his first state championship after finishing as a runner-up in the previous two state tournaments.

“Just getting to my stuff and being extremely offensive,” said Joles was the key to success. “I was able to get to my offense all the time, in all positions.”

“I wasn’t nervous at all!,” stated Joles following his first championship victory. “I was just having fun. It was so much fun just watching Brock and James win theirs, I didn’t have any nerves at all. I was just ready to go.”

“Joles, what can you say about Joles; holy cripe,” quipped Olson. “The guy was having fun out there tonight and showed what kind of wrestler he is.”

“Garrett just has phenomenal ability and works to make himself better and better each day.”

Joles is no stranger to the finals.

In his two previous state appearance, the junior made it to the finals only to come up a point short both times.

This year he would not be denied the gold.

Joles’ preparation showed throughout the tournament as he dominate in all three of his state match winning his quarterfinals match by technical fall and in the semifinals with another 12-point major decision.

Garrett Joles’ machine-like dismantling of Royal junior Noah Friedl (38-4) in Friday’s quarterfinal was impressive to watch.

A pair of first-period takedowns and a two-point near fall for a 6-1 lead after the first two minutes was just the beginning. Joles would tack on two more takedowns and a three-point near fall for a 14-2 advantage after two periods. It took the Boyceville junior just an additional 29 seconds to bring the match to a close on a sequence takedown and two-point near fall for the 18-2 win.

Some six hours after delivering that blistering opening, Joles was back for a semifinal’s match at 195 pounds that pitted him against second-ranked Bryce Holderman (45-3), a junior from Amherst.

It was no contest.

Joles cruised into the finals with a 15-3 major decision over Holderman.

The match started slowly as both wrestlers probed the other’s defense for an opening. Joles broke through for a takedown 46 second into the first frame to take the 2-0 lead.

The Boyceville junior added another takedown and a two-point near fall in the second two-minute period and led 6-1 heading into the third and final period.

In that final two minutes, Joles scored an escape and a takedown to up his advantage to 9-1. Holderman finally scored on an offensive move to get the takedown but Joles quickly escaped and added a final takedown along with a three-point near fall to win 15-3.

No one even came close to challenging Joles in this, the 74th annual state wrestling tourney.

“It feels amazing,” said Joles after the championship win. “To put all that work in after those two losses, finally all the work has paid off.”

And the work will continue.

Joles said that he will be participating in as many national tournaments as he can this spring just to “test” himself further and set the next goals and keep working harder.

Among those goals is adding a second state championship in the upcoming senior season.

“Don’t set your goals too low and if you don’t accomplish them don’t forget about them right away,” stated Garrett.

“Like last year, when I lost I could not forget about that forever,” added Joles. “I worked hard all last year but didn’t achieve my goal, so I worked harder. Don’t let go of your goals because it is going to help motivate you.”

Winning a state title was special but to be a part of three individual titles was even more significant for Joles.

“It was awesome, something really, really special,” said Joles. “A moment like this is one of a kind.”

Joles, who tallied a 44-1 record on his march to gold, is a motivated young man said Olson.

“He has dreams to go to that next level and that is why he is so good because he is always striving to be better and it showed tonight in the finals,” stated the head coach.

After the match, assistant coach Corey Day hit on the junior’s unique set of assets that make him hard to beat.

“For a big man, Joles not only has size and strength, but speed, unbelievable flexibility and limitless stamina,” stated Day.

And Olson concurred.

“He has it all,” concluded Olson.