Jed Kraft is a senior this year with an astounding wrestling record in his high school career. Jed Kraft has been the captain of the wrestling team for two years now. Jed Kraft won the SCCAL league his sophomore and junior year thus far. Jed has made it to the Central Coast Sectional his Freshman, Sophomore and Junior year, but his greatest feat so far is making it to state last year.
Jed’s first tournament this year was the tournament known as The Coast Classic held at Aptos High School, where Jed Kraft wrestled in the 145 weight class. He won his first three matches advancing him to the second day of wrestling. Sadly, in his third match he injured himself early. Jed convinced his coaches (Todd Kraft and Ken Pollastrini) to let him finish the match. Jed came back and ended up pinning his opponent leading everyone in the stands to give him a standing ovation.
Jed’s latest tournament was the Apple Cider Invitational where he wrestled four matches and won all of them leading him to a defending championship title. Jed also won the outstanding wrestler award at the Apple Cider.
Jed hyperextended his knee early in the season before competitions began. Jed had been experimenting with braces to find out what best let him wrestle without hurting his knee. Jed has also been wrestling around to find the moves that hurt his knee the most so he knows not to perform that certain move.
Jed has been wrestling since middle school and has been working hard every year to get better and better. Jed says, “My greatest accomplishment so far is making it to state last year.” Everyone on the wrestling team looks up to Jed as he is their captain and obviously their best wrestler. Jed, in fact, teaches a lot of moves and special techniques to the whole team. If someone is lucky enough to wrestle Jed one-on-one during practice, he will teach and correct techniques.
Jed’s favorite thing about wrestling is his team and the people you meet. Jed says, “Wrestling brings people together, it’s a smaller sport compared to others, but the people that wrestle are some of the best people. Even after I wrestle people we become somewhat friends.”
Jed’s advice to the students of SLV is: “The way to balance sports and keep good grades is knowing the material and spending your time wisely” Jed is choosing between Cal Poly and William-Jessup for college. Jed will miss his team very much, when he leaves for college. Jed will be missed by his teammates.
By Wyatt Atchley
The Claw 