TOM’s National High School Wrestler of the Week 1-19-10
Jan 21st, 2010 | By viratas | Category: High School Wrestling, Open Mat Originals
Jake Sueflohn has officially arrived.
The Junior from Wisconsin made waves last year when he upended nationally ranked Jesse Thielke in a qualifying leg of the state series. Sueflohn would ultimately end up as a runner-up to Thielke a few weeks later at the state meet.
This year, wrestling 135, he further confirmed his ability when he won the Cheesehead Tournament in a bracket featuring three other ranked wrestlers: Brandon Kingsley (TOM #16), of Apple Valley, Alex Dieringer (#15) of Port Washington, WI, and Wyoming Seminary’s Simon Kitzis (#20).
His success continued over the weekend as he captured the Geneseo (IL) Title in the tournament’s premier finals bout. Wrestling Fargo National Cadet Champ, Edwin Cooper of Providence, IL, Sueflohn outlasted him 7-5 in OT. Cooper is TOM’s #6 at 130lbs.
These recent feats have earned Jake a #14 spot in our weekly rankings and our National HS Wrestler of the Week Award.
Arrowhead head coach, John Mesenbrink, who has coached his share of national caliber wrestlers, including, among others, the Askren brothers and Nicke Hucke, sees improvement in Sueflohn, and attributes it to his work ethic.
“Jake has made tremendous progress since last season. Most notably, his leg attack defense. Jake has superior mental toughness and is very coachable. He has the ability to set and maintain a pace that crumbles most of his competition.”
Sueflohn is the whole package, says Mesenbrink. “Jake is a very dedicated student-athlete. He excels in the classroom and on the mat. He is extremely dedicated, training and competing year round with the Advance School of Wrestling and Coach Brad Owens out of Madison, WI.”
No rest for the weary, though. Coach Mesenbrink will lead Sueflohn and his Arrowhead teammates back into Illinois this weekend for the Oak Park-River Forest Tournament. This sets up another potential test for Sueflohn with OPRF’s Chris Dardanes (TOM # 7) as his likely opponent and another chance for title and to keep moving on up the rankings.
Congrats to The Arrowhead Wrestling Family, Coach Mesenbrink, and Jake Sueflohn, TOM’s National High School Wrestler of the Week!
By Willie Saylor, Editor
