Thomas Jefferson wrestling improves to 3-1 on the mat

Team captains Kayle Bearson and CJ Trevino prove victorious.

By Benjamin Ray • January 5, 2022 3:30 pm
TJ captain CJ Trevino wrestling to help the Raiders take down the Chargers. Ben Ray/ The Mirror
TJ captain CJ Trevino wrestling to help the Raiders take down the Chargers. Ben Ray/ The Mirror

Inside the Raiders’ gymnasium, Thomas Jefferson boys wrestling took down the Kentridge Chargers on Dec. 4 by a score of 41-30. The Raiders record in duel matches this season is now 3-1 on the year.

There is a different mindset for wrestlers who wrestle in a duel versus a large scale tournament.

“It can bring up the nerves a little bit, but at the end of the day wrestling is wrestling,” said TJ senior Kayle Bearson.

TJ won five of the 14 matches on the night, three via pin. The Raiders started off on the right foot winning the 106-pound class with a forfeit. The next two matches also went the way of the red and gold with a pin. Sulaiman Naseri, 113 pounds, and 120-pound Leeandre Breshers helped put the Raiders out to an early 18-point lead.

Kentridge would only win one match before 132-pound CJ Trevino got the Raiders back on the winning side, going three rounds and winning via decision 12-4. “I take a lot of pride in my wrestling,” said CJ Trevino.

Right after, at 138-pounds Kayle Bearson won his match with an incredible reversal and pin in the first round for Thomas Jefferson. Brandon Morse, 145 pounds, came out victorious in his match as well, in a brutal and hard fought match. Morse left the mat with a bloody nose, but that didn’t stop him from toppling his opponent.

Kentridge continued to fight, after the loss in the 145-pound division. The Chargers won the last five matches, wrestled in a row. But at weights 195 and 220, Kentridge was forced to forfeit, essentially conceding the duel to the Raiders.

The two captains, Trevino and Bearson, are also training partners due to their close weight classes. Both challenge and force one another to improve every day, Trevino said.

“He [Bearson] is the best training partner I have ever had … We train and battle everyday and get each other better every day,” Trevino said.

For Bearson, he said he sees his partner as important as a coach. “If you don’t have a good partner, you’re not going to have a good season, year or even career,” Kayle said.

Thomas Jefferson is competing in the Gut Check Tournament Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7-8.