“It has been the least stressful group of guys I have ever had and the most stressful season–not because of them,” he said.

That sentiment is doubtless shared by many other coaches around the country.

The Jayhawks waited for weeks and months to find out if they would even be able to have a wrestling season in 2021, with the approval finally coming down the chain of command in early December.

Even after receiving that good news, there was still the matter of actually scheduling matches, as only Niagara County CC has joined Jamestown CC in resuming athletics this winter.

Jamestown Community College’s Taige Jones, left, is one of three sophomores on the Jayhawks’ roster this season. Submitted photo

The scheduling issues hit Schimek and company right out of the gate, as COVID-19 protocols forced the cancellation of Sunday’s home opener against Alfred State College.

Hopefully, that is all in the rear-view mirror.

Seven new freshman will join returning wrestlers Otto Davidson (157), Taige Jones (133) and Jesse Storch (174) for a bout against host Thiel College at 5 p.m. this Saturday to begin the year.

“At this point, I am excited to see every single one of them wrestle just because we practiced in the fall. Just with no competition,” Schimek said. “So I have been watching these guys wrestle each other for about four or five months now.”

The Jayhawks returned to the mat for practice on Jan. 25, and are looking forward to beginning their season despite all of the pandemic headaches.

“We’ve been going every weekday from 4:15 to … to about 6:30 p.m.,” Schimek said. “(The sophomores) were all here last year, they all wrestled in the regional last year. Davidson and Jones are returning national qualifiers.”

New this year are Ross Abram (184, Eden Central), Andrew Bungar (165, Hermitage, Pennsylvania), Alex Christy (197, Fredonia), Trenton Donahue (141, DuBois, Pennsylvania), Marcus Evans (125, Randolph), Collin Mower (heavyweight, Cassadaga Valley) and Dominick Rodriguez (149, Gowanda).

With so many different variables to consider early in the year, from practice schedules to online learning, Schimek has been happy to have three returning sophomores to guide his new talent.

“It is great to have those guys there, especially with everything going on, and I can’t be on campus most of the time,” he said. “A lot of the stuff is done online and I have never been a student at JCC so a lot of the online stuff is–I’m still learning–and they know it all. So every time we get an assignment for something we have to do in order to be eligible, some kind of school training through Blackboard, it’s like, ‘Hey, Taige, Otto, you’ve gotta walk everybody through this.'”

In addition to adding some of the area’s most talented high school wrestlers to his program, Schimek is happy with additions from outside of Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties, including Trenton Donahue.

“Donahue is really tough, a really solid wrestler,” Schimek said. “I would consider him a (Division I) prospect. He placed at the Pennsylvania states. The marriage just kind of came together, the stars aligned for him to come here and I’m obviously very happy about it. He’s a great kid, too.”

Sacrifices have been made early on across the roster, as student athletes have adjusted to online learning and–for some–commuting to practice.

“Alex Christy, my hat goes off to him,” Schimek said. “Even with all of the COVID stuff going on, he did not miss any offseason workouts. Not a single one or, if he did, there was always a well thought-ahead reason. I’m very proud of him, especially because he has one of the longest commutes on top of that.”

JCC will meet Garrett College, Thiel, Niagara County Community College and Lackawanna College during the month of March and Alfred Sate College on April 3 before hosting the NJCAA Eastern A District tournament on April 7.

SCHEDULE

Feb. 27 at Thiel College

March 5 at Garrett College

March 6 vs. Thiel College

March 14 at Lackawanna College

March 17 vs. Niagara County Community College

March 20 vs. Lackawanna College

March 24 at Niagara County Community College

March 27 at Garrett College

April 3 vs. Alfred State College

April 7 NJCAA Eastern A Districts at Jamestown Community College

April 21-22 NJCAA Wrestling National Championships at Council Bluffs Iowa