SPRINGDALE -- Kimble Jennings knows the competition is aiming for him after he won a state wrestling championship last year as a sophomore.
It was shown Friday when he lost a 3-2 decision in triple overtime on the first day of the Northwest Arkansas Duals tournament at Springdale Har-Ber High School. Team competition continues today with matches beginning at 9 a.m. at Wildcat Area.
Prep Wrestling
NWA Dual Tournament
WHERE: Wildcat Arena, Springdale Har-Ber
WHEN: Today, beginning at 9 a.m.
WHO: Springdale Har-Ber, Bentonville, Little Rock Catholic, Fayetteville, Rogers Heritage, The Colony, Texas, Little Rock Central, Pittsburg, Kan., Gentry, Springdale, Pulaski Academy, Springfield (Mo.) Parkview, Neosho, Mo., JV, Mountain Home, Russellville, Joplin, Mo.
NOTABLE: Action began Friday with each team wrestling two duals to determine seeding for today’s tournament. Teams will seeded into Navy bracket for the top eight and a Blue bracket for the bottom eight based on points scored from their two Friday matches. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. today with finals in each bracket slated to start at 3:30.
Jennings is Har-Ber's lone returning champion after winning the 113-pound weight class in Little Rock with a 1-0 decision over Austin Dye of Cabot. Jennings will mostly wrestle at 120 pounds this year after losing Friday to Michael Crockett of Pulaski Academy in the 126-pound weight class.
Har-Ber won the dual match over the Class 5A Bruins, 60-21.
"It's tougher going against these bigger guys, but I've had some good matches this year," said Jennings, who is 9-2 on the season.
Friday's close loss won't deter Jennings, who was 13-13 last year before he dropped down a weight class. He finished 36-13 after winning his last 23 matches.
"You've got to lose some to wins some," Har-Ber coach Nika West said after Jennings' match on Friday. "He's going to bounce back fine. He's not one to hang his hat."
Jennings got his first name from his mother, a Kansas City Chiefs fan whose favorite player was former fullback Kimble Anders. Jennings has an uncle who is a wrestling coach and that peaked his interest in the sport.
He's made a quick progression after joining the Wildcats as a freshman and winning a state championship as a sophomore. With two more years left, Jennings has set a goal of being a three-time state champion for the Wildcats.
"Ever since I was in the seventh grade, I practiced my (championship) celebration in the mirror," Jennings said. "Coming into the state tournament, I had beaten (Dye) before and I knew I could win if I put my mind to it. I was joking around in the tunnel before the match and that helped take some of the pressure off."
Har-Ber finished third place last year at the state meet behind Little Rock Catholic and runner-up Bentonville. The third-place finish was an improvement over the previous year when the Wildcats finished seven at the state meet in Little Rock.
Jennings spent a lot of time on the mat during the summer to prepare for this season. He trained regularly under the guidance of his uncle and he competed in tournaments throughout the country, including an elite event in Fargo, N.D.
"I did a lot of freestyle wrestling at McDonald County, where my uncle coaches and I went to the nationals in Fargo," Jennings said. "I've got better and w've got a really good team at Har-Ber this year. Winning a state championship is our goal and I definitely think we can get there."
Sports on 12/13/2014