March 28, 2024

Mikkelsen caps special year with third-place finish

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DES MOINES — At times during the season, Jackson Mikkelsen could not wait for wrestling to be over.

Once he stepped off the mat Saturday after his 3-2 decision victory over Knoxville’s Matthew Landsperger for third place, it hit Mikkelsen that his career was over.

Mikkelsen capped a strong senior season with a third-place finish in Class 2A at Wells Fargo Arena.

Mikkelsen finishes his season 50-10.

“When you’re practicing, you’re thinking I can’t wait for wrestling to be done. I want to go home. I don’t ever want to go back in the room,” Mikkelsen said. “Then you get here and it’s done and you wish it was starting all over again.”

Mikkelsen chalked up one of the primary objectives for his season.

“It’s a big goal, at least getting a medal,” Mikkelsen said. “Getting a medal was huge.”

Mikkelsen went through a wild ride to reach third.

He lost by a 5-2 decision to Woodward-Granger’s Cody Fisher, who reached the final, 5-2 in the quarters. Mikkelsen stayed alive with a 3-2 win over Washington’s Karlton Skubal in the second round of consolations to stay alive. Mikkelsen dominated Ballard’s Seth Moore in the third round of consolations, winning by pin in 1 minute, three seconds.

“My offense worked really well the whole tournament,” Mikkelsen said. “It really came on halfway through the season. My offense, my shot defense was there most of the times.”

Up next was a date with a long familiar foe in Atlantic’s Zac Stork in the consolation semifinals.

Saturday morning’s tussle followed the form of so many others. Each scored an escape in regulation, then did likewise in the two 30 second tiebreaker periods.

Because Stork’s escape came to start the second period, he had choice for the ultimate 30 second tiebreaker and chose down.

Mikkelsen finally was able to stay on top of Stork long enough to hold on for the win.

“We both knew exactly how it was going to go,” Mikkelsen said. “Six out of 10 times, it’s come down the last overtime.

“It’s who has the most heart, and who’s going to fight for it the most.”

Mikkelsen was greeted as he came off the mat with a hug from teammate Chase Shiltz, Kadon Hulett and the coaching staff.

All of them have meant plenty to Mikkelsen the past four years.

“Everybody’s been great,” Mikkelsen said. “My teammates, the whole family. The bond we have has been great the past four years. I’m going to miss the team, miss everybody.”