Rollie Lane wrestling tournament championships | 2018 | Idaho Statesman

NAMPA

The old adage, “Do as I say, not as I do,” holds true in the Fagen household. But Jonathon Fagen couldn’t help himself.

His father, John Fagen, used to celebrate big victories and pins when he coached the Fruitland High wrestling team with a post match backflip. So when Jonathon won his first Rollie Lane Invitational title Saturday at Nampa’s Ford Idaho Center, he strolled up to John and proved he’s not the only one in the family capable of acrobatics.

“He doesn’t like me being cocky like that,” Fagen said with a smile. “But emotion came over me, and I hit it. He’s not disappointed at all.”

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Fagen scored an 8-3 decision in the 182-pound final over Preston’s Ben Seamons, a reigning 4A state champ, to capture the only tournament title that’s eluded him so far. Fagen won every tournament he entered last year, including a Cadet Greco-Roman national championship, except Rollie Lane.

He finished third at one of the Northwest’s premier tournaments as a sophomore and fifth as a freshman. But the two-time state champ erased those memories with Saturday’s victory and celebratory backflip.

“I put it above state on my pedestal because after taking a couple losses here, it felt good to battle back and finally climb the mountain,” Fagen said.

Fagen admits football was his first love, and he’s drawn plenty of honors as part of the Grizzlies’ back-to-back state championship teams. The junior is a two-time, first-team 3A All-Idaho offensive lineman, and he earned first-team All-Idaho honors as a linebacker this fall too.

But after winning the 170-pound state title as a freshman, wrestling has taken over his life. Even during football season, he and grappling partner Jasson Gissel arrived at the school at 6 a.m. each day for a 90-minute workout before school.

Gissel fell in overtime during the 195-pound title match at Rollie Lane.

“He works harder than anybody in the room,” Fruitland coach Isaac MacKenzie said. “He puts a lot of time in in the offseason. This is paydirt for what he’s put forward the entire year.”

The national title has opened doors for Fagen at Division I programs across the country. None have extended an offer yet, but MacKenzie said six called on the first day of the recruiting period this season.

“He doesn’t get fazed by anything now,” MacKenzie said. “He’s a kid that is a gamer. He expects to win when he steps on the mat.”

CALDWELL’S HUDSON GETS REVENGE

Lakeland’s Larry Johnson edged Caldwell junior Christian Hudson for the state title last season. But Hudson took the rematch with a come-from-behind, 4-2 decision in the 145-pound championship at Rollie Lane.

Hudson, who’s finished third at Rollie Lane the past two years, trailed 2-1 after the first period. But a second-period escape and takedown gave him the lead, and he rode out the final period before letting out a rare bit of emotion when the final buzzer rang.

“Most of the time, you don’t see me really emotional after matches,” Hudson said. “But that one was special.”

Hudson (25-0) was also named the meet’s most outstanding upper weight wrestler.

BORAH HEAVYWEIGHT BREAKS THROUGH

Borah’s George Barrera finally captured that elusive major tournament title with a 3-1 decision over Gooding’s Jake McGinnis for the Rollie Lane heavyweight championship.

Barrera (22-1) finished third at district and state last season, and took third three weeks ago at the Reno Tournament of Champions. The largest tournament he’d previously won was the Red Halverson at Minico.

But the 6-6, 275-pound senior with football scholarship offers from Idaho State and Portland State shrugged off the title, saying the most nerve-wracking part was figuring out which camera to look at while standing atop the podium.

“I’m happy,” he said. “I got it, now on to the next one.”

POST FALLS FOUR-PEATS

Post Falls added another Rollie Lane title to its trophy case, winning the tournament for the fourth time in a row with 252.5 points, 38 points ahead of Oregon’s Crook County.

“It shows that we’re doing things the right way, reloading, reloading and reloading,” said Post Falls assistant coach Jeremy Zender, who took over the team while head coach Pete Reardon recovered from back surgery.

Ten Post Falls wrestlers placed and two won individual titles — Ridge Lovett (126 pounds) and Braydon Huber (160).

Lovett nearly lost his perfect career record when he was penalized for stalling, forcing overtime against Trent Baun of Colville, Washington. But the junior extended his career mark to 104-0 with a takedown at the overtime buzzer for his third straight Rollie Lane title.

Lovett was later named the meet’s most outstanding lower weight wrestler.

“That Colville kid is tough,” Zender said. “It just shows that Ridge has what it takes when it’s on the line.”

Columbia was the top Treasure Valley finisher at the tournament in third place at 151 points, 101.5 points behind Post Falls. Four Columbia wrestlers placed: Angel Rios (third, 132), Kekana Fouret (fourth, 145), Michael Cox (fifth, 195) and Skylar Hughes (fourth, 220).

This story was originally published January 06, 2018 9:06 PM.