Lassen High School freshman Kenny Jones approaches the head table prior to his first match in the CIF State Boys Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield, Calif. March 1.  Photo submitted

March 11 — As the wrestling season comes to a close, Lassen High School’s Kenny Jones has a lot to be proud of. Jones, along with Lassen High School wrestling coach Errin Montgomery, traveled to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Boys Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield, Calif. Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2. Jones finished his freshman season in the top 24 in the state in the 113-pound weight division.

In order to qualify for the CIF State tournament, wrestlers had to place within the top three in their weight class at the Master’s tournament in their section. Jones won third place in the 113-pound weight class during the North Section Masters Tournament, making him the only LHS wrestler and only freshman in the North Section to qualify for the state tournament.

Forty wrestlers from each of the 10 sections in California participated in each weight division at the CIF tournament, meaning 560 wrestlers in California, spread between the 14 CIF weight classes, qualified.

The CIF State Wrestling tournament began in 1973 at Cal State University, Hayward and was approved on a one-year trial basis. It is now considered one of the best high school state tournaments in the nation.

Looking back on the wrestling season and the state championship tournament, Jones was happy, yet humble. “I was happy to make it there … I was two matches away from placing, so I did good, but I think I could’ve done better,” he said. Jones reflected on his coaches and teammates, saying that they did well, better than previous years. He is looking forward to the next wrestling season and hopes to get another shot at the state championship tournament.