Jorns has sights set on return trip to state
Jeremy Jorns plans to enlist in the Air Force and become a member of its Special Operations unit.
The Sevastopol senior still has one more mission to complete before his high school athletic career ends.
Jorns is aiming for a return trip to the WIAA individual state tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison, and this time earning a spot on the podium.
Obtaining a medal at state would be the perfect way for the 182-pounder to end what has already been a successful senior year, which included helping the Pioneers win the 8-player football WIAA state championship in the fall.
“I wish everyone could experience what I went through, winning a state championship in football and now trying to make another state run in wrestling,” said Jorns, who is ranked No. 3 in Division 2 for his weight class by Wisconsin Wrestling Online.
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Jorns became the Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol co-op program’s first state qualifier since 2013 last year. He was also the first Sevastopol wrestler to advance to state since 2007, when Derek Flok qualified at 145 pounds.
Jorns is aiming to become the team’s first state medalist since Jonas Flok placed sixth at 145 pounds in 2005.
“I just want to beat my dad,” Jorns said about his father, Jeff, who placed fourth at state for Sevastopol in 1985. “I want to beat his fourth-place spot. It would be fun. There is a lot of pressure down there, but it’s a nice experience.”
One thing Jorns has consistently faced throughout his high school career is competing on a small team.
Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol had a handful of wrestlers this year and only four competing at regionals.
“With a smaller team, it’s just harder to get more work in practice,” Jorns said. “For me, I wrestle with a heavyweight. It’s harder to practice, but it makes us closer as a team. With the four guys we have, we’re like brothers.”
That tight-knit philosophy worked well in football.
The 6-foot-1 linebacker earned all-state honors from the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association after racking up 71 solo tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception to lead the Pioneers to the inaugural WIAA 8-player state championship.
The MONLPC 8-player defensive player of the year was a key factor in Sevastopol’s 38-30 upset of top-ranked Luck in the championship game held in Stanley on Nov. 3.
Jorns is hoping to have similar luck during the wrestling postseason to make it back to the big stage of the Kohl Center.
After pulling out two overtime decisions to win a second straight regional title, the 182-pound senior will face a tough road to claim a second consecutive sectional title. The Wrightstown sectional also features Little Chute senior Bryce Schumacher, who is ranked No. 2.
Regardless of how his season ends, Jorns is going to enjoy the remaining time he has left on the mat and in school before following in his mother’s footsteps and enlisting in the Air Force.
“I started wrestling in kindergarten, so ever since then I’ve just been sticking to it,” Jorns said. “It would mean a lot to end with a (medal).”
