Jesse “Brock” Trueblood is a 6’7” 17yr old with an undefeated 16-0 record so far this season. COURTESY/Susan Kold
Trueblood stays undefeated on the mat
By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News Managing Editor PRESHO — The Mid-Dakota Monster is one of the toughest midseason wrestling tournaments that South Dakota has to offer. Its heavyweight champion this year is none other than undefeated Jesse “Brock” Trueblood of the Pine Ridge Thorpes. After coming off a dismantling of the #3 rated heavyweight in North Dakota at the Lakota Nation Invitational, Trueblood a senior from Pine Ridge, continued his dominance this weekend by knocking off the #3 rated wrestler in South Dakota’s Class B, Brody Larson of Lemmon. It would take three overtimes for Trueblood to secure the victory that upped his undefeated record to 16-0 but the All-State football player feels that the early test is good preparation for a run at winning the state title. “This was the toughest tournament of the year so far,” said Trueblood. The tournament featured wrestlers from traditional powerhouses Winner, O’Neill, NE, Stanley County, Bennett County, Phillip, and Spearfish as well as several other schools. Trueblood would be forced in to overtime twice in the tournament; once in the quarterfinals against the number 8th rated heavyweight in Class A Jerimiah Harmon of Pierre, then the triple overtime bout with Larson. “Tournaments like this get us ready for state because everyone gives it all they have at them and there are a lot of rated guys wrestling. Odds right now of me winning state I would say are about 50/50. I have rivalries with wrestlers at Rapid City Central and Pierre,” said Trueblood. The multisport athlete who is being recruited heavily to play football by the University of Wyoming, Colorado State, and Chadron State thinks that his conditioning needs improvement but his perspective on the sport is still pure. “I feel like I am in shape and I want to be in better shape so I can be ready for overtimes… It feels great to win any tournament but (Coach) Michaud tells us every time to just go out and have fun and that is what I try to do." At 17 years old, 6’7”, and 270 pounds Trueblood will be a handful for any wrestler come the end of the season. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com)
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