Visiting Family in Arkansas

We enjoyed being with Jeff and Rochelle's family in their home in Arkansas and watching Zack and Jamen compete in the state wrestling tournament in Little Rock representing Bentonville West High School.  We flew from Salt Lake City on Wednesday, February 19th and returned on Monday, February 24. 

Arkansas State High School Wrestling Tournament

Little Rock 

February 22 - 23, 2020

Jamon wrestling at 126, won by a fall 4:21 in his first match.

Jamon is in 10th grade competing at state with a 24-13 record.

  Jamon wrestled well, but lost 11-3 in his quarterfinal match.

In the team line-up, Jamon is wrestling underweight,

with the only advantage being he can eat and doesn't have to cut weight.

Jamon easily won his next match, winning by a pin 1:51.



 Next Jamon won by a pin 3:21.

The next day Jamon lost 1-0 putting him in for 5th and 6th.

Jamon placed 5th with a technical fall, 17-1.

Zack had a bye the first round, and in the next round
he pinned his opponent in 1:45.
 Going into the tournament, Zack's record was 21-6.

The second day, Zack won 10-2 in his next match.

Introducing the wrestlers before the championship matches.
Zack and Jamon's team had 6 wrestlers in finals;
but Bentonville, a team who regularly travels to competitions
beyond regular high school tournaments,
went on to easily be the top-placing team
at this year's state tournament, scoring 283 points.
Bentonville West (Zack and Jamon's team) placed 2nd.

Zack, a senior and a returning 2-time state champion,
had a tough championship match.
Zack's opponent from Bentonville is the coach's son
and a formidable wrestler.

Zack had shared his goal of not getting pinned or tech falled;
and he did go the distance, losing 11-0. 

 Jamon placing 4th at 126 weight class.

Zack placing 2nd at 132 weight class.

Watching the wrestlers at the state tournament.

(Miles, Rochelle, Jeff, and Chance;
Kate not in this photo was with a friend.)

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Zack is scheduled for surgery on one hip a couple of weeks
after the state tournament,
and then three months later will have surgery on the other hip.
The doctor had approved his getting some relief with a cortizone shot
and waiting for the surgery until after the state tournament. 

Austin's broken arm is healing following the snowboarding trip to Utah.
He is to keep it at his side during this healing time. 

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Grampa Sam with Chance  
(Chance had fallen the day before and cut his head.)

Kate, Zack, Jeff holding Chance, Miles, Rochelle, Austin, and Jamon

 Kate is looking forward to welcoming a little sister next month!

Grampa and Gramma with Miles and Kate

With Jamon and Zack.


 
With Austin and Chance.

 The last time we were with Jeff and Rochelle's family in Arkansas, 
we took pictures of the autumn colors.
The scenery has a different look this time.
Their dog is a Catahoula breed and is very smart and well trained.

 A view of the front of their home.

Chance took Grampa Sam for a walk.
It was chilly the first day we were there, so Jeff loaned his dad a warm jacket. 

They have a large acreage with a wooded area,
and Chance led Grampa for a very long walk.



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We will be cheering for Weston this weekend as we watch his matches online.
He will be competing in the South Dakota State Tournament in Sioux Falls,
February 27, 28, and 29.
 
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Congratulations to Megan and Gabe on their engagement!