Sometimes you have to start small before thinking big.
Jefferson sophomore Aaron Cisneros and Alameda senior Eddie Jaime did something Saturday night at Pepsi Center that gives future wrestlers at their respective schools hope. Both stood on the podium at the state wrestling championships and accepted medals.
“It’s been a long time since Alameda has had a state placer,” Jaime said after accepting his sixth-place medal at 215 pounds in Class 4A. “It’s nice, but I wanted to do a little bit better.”
Jaime used not qualifying for the state tournament last season as a motivator. He advanced all the way into the semifinals Friday, but a 3-2 loss to Skyline senior Jordan Martinez prevented Jaime from having the chance Saturday in ending the state championship drought for Alameda.
The last state champion from Alameda was Pat Gomez back in 1987.
“It was pretty frustrating losing in the semifinals by a point,” Jaime said.
Saturday didn’t go well for Jaime. He lost decisions to Air Academy’s Brian Gelston and Vista Ridge’s Quinton Riley during the final day of the three-day tournament to finish sixth. Still, Jaime knows he did something positive for his school.
“I want to turn the school around,” Jaime said. “I want to get more kids out for wrestling, more state qualifiers and more state placers.”
Cisneros made his second trip to the state tournament and became the first placer for Jefferson in 14 years. The sophomore won his final match of the tournament against Olathe sophomore Jacob Solseth to take fifth at his weight class in 3A. The Saints moved down from 4A to 3A in wrestling this season because of declining enrollment.
“It was pretty important to finish with a win,” Cisneros said. “I was in a pretty tough bracket this year. Every match I wrestled like it was my last.”
Cisneros said the experience of having been down at Pepsi Center helped him deal with the atmosphere. He can now focus on his goal of becoming the first-ever state wrestling champion from Jefferson.
“I just have to keep working and go for a state title next year,” Cisneros said.