Mohonasen graduate Jacob Deguire becomes All-American college wrestler

A wrestler has arm raised in victory as opponent walks off — PHOTOGRAPHER: - -

Springfield College's Jacob Deguire has his hand raised in victory at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships last weekend. Deguire, a Mohonasen graduate, placed third overall in the 157-pound class. (Springfield College Athletics)

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As remarkable a season as Mohonasen graduate Jacob Deguire had wrestling for Springfield College, there’s room for improvement. That should strike fear into his opponents.

Deguire, a sophomore, finished third in the 157-pound weight class at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships last weekend in Roanoke, Virginia. That earned him All-American status. He went 6-1 with six pins, which is an NCAA tournament record. Five of those pins came in the first period. He finished the season with a 37-6 record and a school-record 30 pins.

“Throughout the year, it was pretty good,” Deguire said by telephone. “I won the regionals before the NCAAs, as a 3-seed, so I had a lot of momentum going into it. And my goal was always to be an All-American.”

Deguire became Springfield’s first Northeast Regional champion since 2016. He and teammate Chase Parrott became Springfield’s first All-Americans since 2014.

Deguire said he couldn’t identify any one thing that gave him confidence entering the NCAAs.

“Just a couple of good practices and feeling good all-around,” said Deguire, who pinned the nation’s top wrestler, David Hollingsworth from Wartburg, in just 12 seconds in the consolation semifinals. In the third-place match, he pinned Loras’ Zeke Smith in 5:15.

“I’ve been wrestling my whole life, practically, so the stage wasn’t as big as it might have been for some,” Deguire said.

Deguire admits to having an unorthodox style, but it works for him.

“It’s what youth coaches will tell you not to do,” he said, chuckling. “My youth coach and a bunch of people said one of my moves, ‘Oh, it’ll never work at the next level.’ But it has.”

While he wasn’t fazed by the stage, Deguire did appreciate the atmosphere at the NCAA Tournament.

“It seemed like the whole arena was cheering for me, and a bunch of kids were giving me high-fives,” he said.

Deguire will participate in open mats and keep himself honed for next season, when he has bigger goals.

“My first goal was always to qualify for the NCAAs, then get as high as I can,” Deguire said. “I think it’s good I got [All-American] so soon, because now I can work on getting to the top.”

Contact Will Springstead at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @WLSpringstead.