BENTONVILLE -- Cash Jones said at one point last year he didn't want anything to do with wrestling or his teammates. But the Bentonville junior has bounced back stronger physically and mentally from his first major injury.
Following knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, Jones separated himself from the sport and the Tigers team near the end of last season.
At A Glance
CASH JONES
SCHOOL Bentonville High
CLASS Junior
WEIGHT CLASS 145
NOTABLE Has returned strong from a knee injury last season to be a top contender for the 6A-7A state title at 145 pounds . … Has a current career record of 154-11. … So far this season he’s won tournaments at Seneca, Mo., Branson, Mo. and Springfield, Mo., went undefeated at the Bentonville Tiger Classic and NWA Duals. … Was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Tiger Classic. … Won 6A-7A state wrestling title at 106 pounds as a freshman. … Suffered a season-ending knee injury near the end of his junior season.
At A Glance
Arkansas High School Wrestling Coaches/Wrestling Association Dual State Tournament
At Claire Bates Arena, Van Buren
First Round 10:30 a.m.
Match 1: No. 1-West Bentonville vs. No. 4-Central Litle Rock Catholic
Match 2: No. 2-Central-Conway vs. No. 3-West Rogers High
Match 3:No. 1-Central-Searcy vs. No. 4-West-Rogers Heritage
Match 4: No. 2-West-Springdale Har-Ber vs. No. 3-Central-Bryant
Tournament finals slated to begin at 4 p.m.
On The Web
For more on this story, see the video at nwadg.com and arpreps.com.
"I kind of made myself a stranger to wrestling a little bit," Jones said. "I kind of shut it out for a little while. I was still pretty positive about coming back a couple weeks after the surgery, but as state got closer and guys on the team started winning, I guess it was just jealousy. I didn't want to hear about wrestling. I just wanted to do my own thing for a little while."
As his knee healed though, his mood brightened and he was soon back on the mat. Jones was medically released just four days before the freestyle wrestling state tournament, but returned in style -- winning his weight class and defeating a high school state champion in the process.
Jones, who won a state title at 106 pounds as a freshman, is back stronger than ever and will help lead Bentonville into today's Arkansas Coaches/Officials Association Dual State Tournament as the favorites. The event is not sanctioned by the Arkansas Activities Association, but put together three years ago by the coaches from Class 6A and 7A schools as a supplement to the state tournament, which is now in its ninth year.
The eight-team tournament matches the top four dual teams from the West conference against the top four from the Central and begins this morning at 10:30 at Claire Bates Arena in Van Buren. Bentonville, the top seed from the West, comes in at 35-6 -- undefeated against in-state competition.
Jones' injury is now a distant memory as he's enjoyed a strong season and will likely head into the Class 6A-7A state tournament in two weeks as the top seed at 145. He's currently 57-4 and won tournaments in Seneca, Springfield and Branson, Mo.
Jones, who recently turned 17, said the time off turned out to be blessing in disguise.
"I had doing wrestling pretty much nonstop since I was nine or 10," Jones said. "I came in this year, stronger, fresher. I jumped a couple weight classes, but I came in more excited to compete than I was back then."
Bentonville coach James Rappe, who is in his first season with the Tigers, has been impressed with Jones' ability, attitude and work ethic.
"He may be one of the quickest kids I've ever seen or go to coach," said Rappe, who came from Tahlequah, Okla. "He changes levels so quickly and so smoothly. He's tenacious, never goes into cruise control. It's exciting to get to watch him and coach him. He's got a bright future ahead."
Coming from Oklahoma which has a rich wrestling history, Jones will be one of the wrestlers to help put Arkansas wrestling on the map, Rappe said.
"Within the next four or five years, you'll see Arkansas wrestling break out on its own and take its place on stage among its counterparts like Oklahoma, Missouri," Rappe said. "It's a lot closer than people think. It's young me like Cash that will help get us to that. They are looking to go to that next level and wrestle."
Jones is focused on helping his team win a dual state title this weekend, but he's never taken his eyes off a second individual title either. Just before his knee surgery, he told his parents that he wouldn't get a hair cut until he wins another title. A little more than a year later, Jones sports long, curly blonde locks that he hides under a cap when he wrestles and occasionally gets grief from his teammates about. But he acknowledged there are benefits.
"The girls like it, so that's nice," Jones said with a grin.
But it's also a reminder of his goal to be state champion again.
Sports on 02/04/2017