Mat Milestones

Two Randolph wrestlers surpass 100 wins

RANDOLPH - A pair of Randolph wrestlers reached career milestones on the mat recently as each gained 100 career wins.

Gavin Wortman and Gage Jensen each surpassed the 100-win plateau on their respective careers and looking back four years for the two seniors, the feat seemed unlikely as freshmen.

'Neither one of them won a lot of matches early on as freshmen,' said coach Mark Lech. 'But they are both hard working and easy to coach. I'm not surprised they made it.'

Wortman is sitting at 30-11 for the season heading into this week and Jensen is 39-4.

'Gavin has wrestled multiple weights this year and has been willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win duals,' his coach said. 'We have had a very successful dual season in a large part thanks to him moving around to different weights.'

The Cards ended the dual season with a 14-5 record.

'He qualified for state last year at 160 and has had to learn a whole new style this year at heavier weights,' said Lech.

Wortman says his match last year to make it to state was probably his favorite to date.

'That match to make it to state was very big and my favorite win,' Wortman said. 'My worst loss was to a kid from East Butler last year, but I beat him later in the season.'

His trip to Omaha last year has left him hungry for more.

'I want to get back there this year with my teammates,' he said. 'We have some very promising kids for this year and for the future of our wrestling program. We still have a lot to learn.'

Jensen has been the Cardinal rock this season according to his coach.

'Gage has been a steady winner for us this year,' Lech said. 'He's always competing hard and scoring a lot of points for us making it into the finals for most of our tournaments.'

Jensen missed most of his freshman wrestling season to injury which makes the 100-win milestone that much more sweet.

'(He) really turned it on in the past two years to get to 100,' said Lech.

Jensen gives the praise right back to his coach.

'Coach Lech does a great job of explaining moves and the mental things,' Jensen said. 'My goal is to place at districts and get down to state. I've been focused on that all season.'

Both have been mentors on and off the mat. 'They are both great leaders for the underclassmen, but also teachers as they have taken a couple of freshmen under their wing and trying to teach them the ropes,' Lech said. 'I have thoroughly enjoyed having them on the team this year and the last four years.'