|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
SJSU Wrestling Archives The Spartan Daily 2-16-73 |
||
|
|
||
|
Jackson's No. 1 |
||
|
by Paul Stewart |
||
| If you ask Donnell Jackson his formula for becoming the No. 1 ranked collegiate heavyweight wrestler in California,
he won't answer: A) A diet of soy bean yogurt. B) Fat or C) Meditating on the eternal cosmic furd. He'll matter-of-factly reply, "I'm meaner than the rest of them." Jackson, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound heavyweight grappler for San Jose State University, is one of the main reasons the Spartans are co-favored (along with Fresno State University) to win the PCAA crown this year. "Don is a fierce competitor," said coach Terry Kerr, "I've been impressed with him." Jackson's season record is currently 36-2-0 and, says Kerr, "He should take the PCAA heavyweight championships." "Donnell has really emerged as a team leader and he's a real strong competitor," said Tim Kerr, one of his fellow wrestlers. "I've seen him really improve over the last semester," he added. "The coach has helped me by planning a tougher schedule for me. I've already wrestled 35 matches this year, as opposed to 15 all last season," stated Jackson. "He's helped me especially in refining my wrestling technique." Jackson prepped at Mt. McGill High School in San Diego before coming to SJSU on a four year football scholarship. "I chose San Jose over other schools because they would allow me to wrestle as well as play football." A starting offensive tackle for the Spartans, Jackson injured his back two seasons ago and red-shirted this year, recovering from an operation that fused a disc in his back. The junior math major was the PCAA heavyweight division champion last year, and went two rounds in the NCAA finals before being defeated by the heavyweight wrestler from Oklahoma. "I enjoy wrestling very much. I feel that wrestling is more my sport because it's more individual, but i enjoy football just as much," said Jackson. Kerr added, "I feel he's going to be an All-American." "Most heavyweights are cry babies. They depend on their weight to win. In a match i overestimate my opponent, it helps me mentally," said Jackson. "Sometimes though, i overestimate him too much and it prevents me from beating him earlier than i should in a match." "I don't start getting mentally prepared until about five minutes before my match. If you start preparing mentally two or three days before a match, there is a tendency for it to have a draining effect on you," stated Jackson. If Jackson does make it to the NCAA finals he will (in all probability) have to face Chris Taylor, the 406 pound behemoth Olympian from Iowa. "I haven't talked about Taylor formally with the coach, but we've discussed it a little bit," commented Jackson. "I've got to be careful to avoid his weight and at the same time, be aggressive." "I don't see how 400 hundred pounds can be in that good of shape," said Kerr. "Don will have to be careful not to make any mistakes and give Taylor an advantage." Right now though, Kerr feels his toughest foe will be the heavyweight wrestler from Long Beach State University. Jackson has faced him only once and beaten him in a meet at the Naval Training Center in San Diego two weeks ago. His only two losses have been to the heavyweight wrestler from Southern Oregon in the Doc Peterson Invitational meet, and the heavyweight from UCLA in the finals at the Naval Training Center. The loss in the Doc Peterson Invitational he avenged by beating the same opponent in a meet with Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, and Chico State University on Jan. 19 and 20. "I'm mostly concerned with being in shape," said Jackson. "Don has a fantastic weight lifting program going for himself, he's in great shape. And you've got to remember he got a late start because of his back," said Kerr. Donnell Jackson believes that you can do anything if you work hard enough. Right now he's the No. 1 ranked collegiate heavyweight wrestler-- and he got a late start. |
||
