Columbus North’s Jared Slocum II, left, competes against Seymour’s Hunter Wick in a 182-pound wrestling match at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022.
The Republic file photo
Jared Slocum II hasn’t taken the conventional route to semistate.
The Columbus North senior wrestler qualified for regional as a freshman, but then a couple of setbacks the past two years kept him from advancing or competing all together. This year, Slocum has made it to the Evansville Semistate for the first time.
“It was exciting,” Slocum said. “It’s sad that I couldn’t wrestle last year. Last year was kind of the hope of making it to semistate and possibly state, but it’s definitely exciting never having been there before.”
Slocum injured his shoulder in the sectional his sophomore year and fell one win short of advancing to regional. He underwent therapy on the shoulder that summer in hopes of being fully healthy for his junior season. But then last year, he could not compete because of grades-related issues.
“It was definitely tough on me, obviously not being able to wrestle, but watching everyone else,” Slocum said. “I was still trying to be in the room last year and work hard. It’s definitely a lot better being able to see the rewards from all that work.”
Over the second half of last school year, Slocum got his academics in order. He has continued to improve in the classroom, ensuring that he would be eligible to compete this season.
“A lot of it was kind of getting after it,” Slocum said. “I would get a little anxious with the buildup and wouldn’t necessarily want to tackle it. Now, I’m just trying to getting in a better mindset of just getting it done.”
“He’s had a really good bounce-back season,” North coach Matt Joyce added. “He didn’t get to wrestle in the state tournament last year, but he’s recovered, and he’s done all the right things and he’s wrestled really well. He’s been a leader all year, and it’s really fun to see seniors have a really good year like that.”
Slocum won the Conference Indiana title at 182 pounds. He finished second to Columbus East senior Jaden Durnil in both the Jennings County Sectional and Jeffersonville Regional to qualify for semistate.
“I’ve always kind of told myself that I’m able to make it this far, and whenever you don’t make it that far, it’s always a little defeating,” Slocum said. “Just to be able to finally make it there is pretty good.”
Saturday morning at Ford Center in Evansville, Slocum (32-7) will face 17th-ranked Owen Valley senior Jerry McBee (30-3) in the opening round. If Slocum wins, he would face Evansville Mater Dei junior Clay Martin (23-9) or 24th-ranked Mooresville senior Luke Bullock (29-8) in the quarterfinals, or “ticket round,” meaning the winner would be in the top four and guaranteed a spot in the state tournament.
“I think his style is going to be a mismatch for any one of those three kids, so I really like his chances of making his way through,” Joyce said.
Slocum will be one of five North wrestlers competing on Saturday. They are trying to become the first Bull Dogs to qualify for state since Brigham Kleinhenz in 2017.
“I think if I wrestle solid and prepare every match and I just wrestle how I did at regional and sectional, I think I should have a pretty good chance at making it,” Slocum said. “That would be huge personally for me to be able to make it. I’ve never made it before, and if I can make it now, that would be amazing.”
Evansville Semistate
When: 9 a.m. EST (8 a.m. CST) Saturday
Where: Ford Center, Evansville
Who: 16 wrestlers in each of 14 weight classes, including the following:
Columbus East: Liam Krueger (113 pounds), Noah Lykins (120), Bo Wagner (126), Nate Anderson (132), Reece Fisher (138), Kenton Wilson (145), Eli Pollitt (152), Kade Law (160), Tristan Statler (170), Jaden Durnil (182), Josh Schrader (195), Tommy Morrill (220), Ashton Hartwell (285).
Columbus North: Liam Curfman (106), Justice Thornton (126), Liam Phillips (152), Keller DeSpain (170), Jared Slocum II (182).
Jennings County: Lane Kirchner (120), Teagan Trotter (170), Gage Gasper (220), Peyton Hayden (285).
Admission: $10 (final session only) or $12 (season ticket)
