Warsaw wrestlers perfect their craft with the best of the best looking down on them on state championship banners. Those banners including not one, but two pairs of brothers.
“It’s pretty cool, actually, you know, just seeing both my boys up there,” said one of the Warsaw varsity assistant coaches. “There’s been a lot of good brother wrestlers in Warsaw’s history.”
Senior Jayce Estes is the only active wrestler of the bunch. He is following in the footsteps of his biggest role model and older brother, Kolby.
As a sophomore, Jayce took to the top of the podium in the 113 weight class.
“I was sick the whole season, I had mono, so I just, I didn’t think I could come that far,” the 2-time conference champion, 3-time district champion and 3-time state qualifier said. “Then I got into districts, beat the number one kid, and I knew I could end up doing it.”
It’s a special accomplishment for Jayce and a huge moment to witness for the assistant coach mentioned earlier…his dad, Lance.
“I don’t think I could wrestle without him in my corner,” Jayce said”
“As soon as he got that last takedown, I knew that he was going to win it,” Lance said.
As an assistant coach, Lance Estes gets a front row view of his youngest son putting in the work to be great. With 89 career falls, Jayce’s go-to pin series is a cross wrist and a wing.
“I go under their arm and like put my fist right under their shoulder.”
And there’s still plenty more cross wrists and wings to show as Jayce wants redemption. His junior season, Jayce’s undefeated record came to a halt at the state semifinals, finishing 41-1.
“It was hard losing at state last year,” he said. “Came in the state undefeated and lost a kid I beat it twice. “
“It may not be the perfect ending to his junior year campaign, but the fire that it lit in him, you can see it all over his commitment over the summer and the offseason stuff,” said Warsaw assistant coach Charlie Daleske. “He went out of state several times to some high-level camps.”
Jayce reached the peak as a Sophomore and is chasing the greatest feeling one more time to end his high school career.
“Winning state, it was the biggest accomplishment of my life,” Jayce said. “Hopefully I can get another one, another title this year. That’s what I’m shooting for.”
