Information
/ Sports activities
/ Prep Sports activities
Senior overcame well being obstacles on his method to a 3rd state title
Printed: March 22, 2025, 7:05am
All-Area Boys Wrestler of the Yr JJ Schoenlein is pictured at Skyview Excessive College on Monday afternoon, March 3, 2025. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
As somebody who hopes to turn into a pilot, JJ Schoenlein’s favourite a part of flying is the takeoff.
The Skyview senior loves the fun of overcoming gravity’s limits. It’s, in essence, clearing an impediment.
Elevating himself over challenges additionally describes Schoenlein’s wrestling profession. Earlier than his junior season he was hospitalized with myelitis, an irritation of the spinal twine that may result in short-term paralysis.
In a span of six months, Schoenlein went from questioning if he’d wrestle once more to successful his second consecutive state championship.
Skyview senior JJ Schoenlein is The Columbian’s All-Area Boys Wrestler of the Yr.
Video
Schoenlein’s senior season was additionally thrown into doubt. When he was recognized with mononucleosis in December, a physician advisable he keep away from contact sports activities for not less than three months.
Two months later, Schoenlein capped his highschool profession by turning into simply the fifth three-time boys state wrestling champion from Clark County. He completed his profession with a file of 127-10 with 87 pins.
“Every year that I’ve won, I’ve had obstacles that I’ve had to overcome,” Schoenlein mentioned. “I’m grateful for all the trials and tribulations I’ve had to go through.”
For securing his place in uncommon firm as a three-time state champ, and for overcoming well being obstacles alongside the best way, Schoenlein is The Columbian’s All-Area boys wrestler of the 12 months.
Schoenlein first began to really feel ailing on the Rose Metropolis Championship on Dec. 14. Nonetheless, he pushed by way of to win the match’s 175-pound division.
His signs received worse from there. After one week of barely with the ability to get off the bed, Schoenlein examined optimistic for mono.
Whereas mono normally clears by itself after a couple of weeks, sufferers are informed to keep away from contact sports activities due to a heightened danger that the spleen can rupture. That was the recommendation Schoenlein was given upon his prognosis.
“Immediately my mom looks at me and starts bawling,” Schoenlein mentioned. “I was like no, no. I walked out of the doctor’s office because she was telling me I was done for the season. I couldn’t accept that.”
Schoenlein made a follow-up appointment together with his main care physician. A plan was made to reduce what dangers they might. Then there was the residual fatigue and lack of health that got here with lacking almost a month of wrestling.
Enter Jackson McKinney. As a senior in 2018, he turned Skyview’s first state champion earlier than wrestling at Oregon State.
That 12 months, McKinney additionally overcame a mid-season bout with mono. An low season coaching associate with Schoenlein, he crafted a plan with a state championship in thoughts.
“I had a lot of people telling me I need to rest,” Schoenlein mentioned. “Jackson was that hard-headed guy who said nah, we’re not resting. You’ve recovered enough. We’re getting in the room and I’m going to take it to you. We’re getting you back in shape.”
Schoenlein confirmed that technique was working on the District 4 championships on Feb. 8. He received a hard-fought match 8-6 in opposition to Camas senior Simon Jarrell, who was ranked No. 2 within the state at 175 kilos.
Two weeks later at Mat Basic, Schoenlein blazed by way of the bracket with two pins in lower than a minute adopted by two dominant technical falls. Within the state championship match, he beat Adriano Perez of Tahoma 4-1 after a decisive escape and takedown within the second interval.
“I think I stayed in really good position that whole match and kept everything in my control,” Schoenlein mentioned. “When my shot opened up, I took it and finished. It was pretty much game over after that.”
Schoenlein mentioned he by no means took time to actually take pleasure in his two earlier state championships. This time was completely different. He credit that to a bolstered sense of gratitude to the household, coaches and teammates who supported him alongside the best way.
These obstacles alongside the best way? Schoenlein mentioned these have given him a way of calm and the power to surrender management to the next energy.
“It’s hard to force things that don’t want to be forced,” Schoenlein mentioned. “So when you can loosen your grip and let things fall into place as they should, it gives you more sense of control because you feel things are unfolding how they should.”
Schoenlein will wrestle at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College, a prestigious faculty in Prescott, Ariz. There, he’ll pursue his dream of turning into an expert pilot.
Schoenlein mentioned his profession wouldn’t take off with out being grounded in a lifetime of wrestling.
“I attribute almost all of my success to the lessons wrestling has taught me,” Schoenlein mentioned. “I truly feel like I would be a completely different human being without wrestling.”
The Remainder of the All-Area Boys Wrestling Group
Isaac Chromey, La Heart: Senior was 1A state champion at 175 kilos. Clark County champ misplaced simply three matches all season.
Connor Crum, Seton Catholic: Sophomore was 1A state champion at 126 kilos. Runner-up at Clark County and Pac Coast tournaments.
Jonas DesRochers, Skyview: Sophomore turned two-time state champ, successful the 4A title at 132 kilos. Misplaced simply as soon as this season.
Keep knowledgeable on what is occurring in Clark County, WA and past for less than
$99/12 months
Subscribe
Mason DesRochers, Skyview: Sophomore accomplished an undefeated season together with his second state title, successful the 4A crown at 138 kilos.
Simon Jarrell, Camas: Junior positioned third in 4A state at 175-pounds. Pac Coast and Clark County champion and Intestine Examine runner-up.
Noah Koyama, Union: Senior was state runner-up at 144 kilos. Gained fourth Clark County championship and repeated as Pac Coast champ.
Kingston McPherson, Mountain View: Senior positioned third in state at 3A 165 kilos. District champ and runner up at Pac Coast and Clark County championships.
Zackery Motzkus, Battle Floor: Sophomore positioned second in state at 4A 138 kilos. Runner-up at Pac Coast, Intestine Examine and Clark County tournaments.
Nolen Nelson, Fort Rock: Junior was 1A state champion at 157 kilos, serving to the Rockets place third as a crew. Hammerhead and district champ.
Harrison Suzara, Kalama: Junior was 1A state champion at 120 kilos, successful 5 of his final six tournaments this season.
Cooper Williams, Fort Rock: Junior received 1A 132-pound title to turn into a two-time state champ. Overcame accidents to win final 5 tournaments.
