Jeffrey enjoys success in wrestling
By ERIC CLARK
Sports Editor
Standing just a little taller than the average countertop, eight-year-old Colton Jeffrey is using his height, weight, and strength to become one of the best young wrestlers in the state of Kansas. Finding inspiration from the legend and stories of his uncle, Les Jeffrey, who died prior to his birth, Jeffrey in many ways, is wrestling in his uncle's honor, according to his parents.
"He's small, and knowing that his uncle was just three inches and 31 pounds at age eight (shorter and lighter than Jeffrey), it makes him feel special or unique," his mother Diane Jeffrey said.
"We try and talk a lot about (his uncle), so he knows who he was," his father Mike added. "Wrestling is a good sport for his stature that he could get into and have some success. When he wrestles, it brings back a lot of memories."
Mike and his brother Les, Jeffrey's uncle, used to wrestle competitively when they were younger. In fact, Jeffrey's dad said he runs into previous acquaintances.
"When we go to a lot of these events, I'll notice that I've wrestled some of the other dads who bring their kids to the same event," Jeffrey's dad said.
Jeffrey found success March 27-28, finishing fifth at the USA Kids state wrestling meet in Topeka. With the fifth-place finish, Jeffrey solidified himself as the only wrestler from Marion to place higher than sixth place at any state wrestling competition.
"He's really competitive and he hates to lose," his dad said. "He competed in eight to 10 meets this season and he's the kind of kid who gets fired up."
On his way to picking up a fifth-place plaque at the state meet, Jeffrey came through a 16-athlete bracket. He won his first match but lost his second, and was forced to come up through the losers' bracket. And indeed he did. Jeffrey knocked off four wrestlers in the final day of competition to come back and claim the fifth-place title. His parents duly noted his resilience throughout the competition.
"Wrestling teaches kids responsibility," his father said. "If you coach them the right way it changes the way the boys respond in everyday life and tough situations."
"When you win at wrestling it's all about you, but when you lose, there is no one to blame but you," his mother added.
Next season, Jeffrey will move into the 10-and-under category for the Marion junior wrestlers, and his parents said he will need to gain 50 pounds. But according to Mike and Diane, Colton's hunger for winning is equal to his everyday hunger for food — a possible solution to a future weight gain dilemma.
"Colton's best thing next to winning is probably eating biscuits and gravy after weighing in and eating at Taco Bell on the way home from a meet," his mother said.
