High School News

Driven to Win by a Hatred of Losing – Chase DeBlaere

Athletes say they hate to lose more than they like to win, so it is often almost like a cliché. I don't always believe it. I feel like some athletes say it because it is what they think they are supposed to say. When I talked to two-time state champion Chase DeBlaere, I didn't get that feeling. When DeBlaere told me how much he hates losing – I believed him.

Wrestling is in DeBlaere's DNA.

"My dad wrestled in high school in Arizona," DeBlaere said. "By the time I came around, he got me into wrestling. We moved to Michigan, and I started wrestling."

DeBlaere didn't just stroll onto a mat and start winning. He found out about losing early.

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Dan Jinks is no Jinx in the Rassling Business

By Jeff Bro Olsen

He’s never been small!

Well, maybe as a baby.

Still, his old friends who haven’t seen him for a few years don’t initially recognize him.

“Say it ain’t you, Jinksie?” they are thinking after they bump into retired Grand Rapids wrestling coach Dan Jinks – some as recently as his induction into the Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame in Benson on Saturday, October 3.

Continue reading →

Shakopee Coach Jim Jackson to Retire

After five seasons leading the Sabers, Jim Jackson has chosen to retire from the head wrestling coaching position for Shakopee High School. Jackson’s long career is well-known in Minnesota wrestling with numerous conference and state wrestling championships on his resume. In Shakopee, he led the Sabers to four conference championships, three section championships, one 2nd place state finish and two state championships.

In September (2020), Jackson started a new career in the private sector and since then has been splitting time between coaching and his new job. “Trying to juggle both is not fair to our student athletes or our entire program, nor is it fair to the company I work for,” said Jackson. “With this change in my life, I feel like it is the right time to focus on my next chapter.”

Taking over the wrestling program in an interim position for this season is assistant coach Marcus Levesseur. Levesseur has also been with the Sabers for five years and has been an integral supporter and mentor of the team. His dedication will allow him to seamlessly lead the present program. Continue reading at www.shakopee.k12.mn.us →