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Jamie Jameson making a name for himself
When high school wrestling fans in the Valley see the last name Jameson, they quickly think of Fitch’s Tony Jameson, who won four state championships from 2005-2008.
But with Tony off to school at Ohio State, there’s a new Jameson in town — and he’s starting to make a name for himself.
Jamie Jameson has placed in back-to-back tournaments, including last weekend’s Hephner. The junior took third at 171 pounds in his home gymnasium — his brother’s old stomping grounds.
“I put in a lot of hard work last summer and it’s starting to pay off,” said Jameson, who also placed at Top Gun two weeks ago. “My brother always told me that it’s not how hard you work during the season that matters. It’s what you do in the off-season that makes the difference. It feels amazing to place in tournaments like these.”
Jameson has shed the pressure he carried on his shoulders the previous two years, trying to live up to his brother’s accomplishments. The results have been impressive and he credits the new mental outlook for his improved performance this winter.
“Tony told me ‘You’re not me. You’re not going to be me, so just be you,’” said Jamie. “He told me that if I lose, it’s not going to give him a bad name. He said to go out and have fun and do it for myself and do what I do. The pressure is off now. It has really helped me mentally and wrestling is about being mentally focused. I’m finally wrestling up to my potential.”
Jamie competes at 171 pounds and is bigger than his older brother, who won state titles at 103, 119, 135 and 145. At The Hephner last weekend, he placed third. At Top Gun, he took sixth. His record now stands at 30-4 on the season and he seems to piquing as the postseason comes around.
“It’s like a fire is starting to burn inside me now,” Jameson said. “I’m getting myself together and I’m starting to earn some respect. I’m beating kids that were killing me last year and that is getting my mentally focused.”
Jameson was one of six wrestlers who placed at The Hephner. The Falcons scored 184.5 team points to finish ninth among the 30 teams in the event. Lake (354) won the tournament.
Cameron Rezapourian finished fifth at 160 pounds, Rick Ague (103) was sixth and Kyle Rocco (135) and Lennie McGeachy (285) took seventh. Korey Balog (189) finished eighth..
“At this tournament, you aren’t wrestling for yourself - you’re wrestling for the Hephners,” said Jameson. “Mrs. Hephner is the sweetest lady you’ll ever meet and she treats you like her own son, whether she knows you or not. This is the weekend of the year when she gets her son back. And she can watch us wrestle and say ‘Those are my kids out there wrestling.’”