Jase Jaspers was the 2025 boys’ wrestling state champion in the 144-pound weight class. Accomplishing this was no easy feat for Jaspers. After getting second two years in a row, he was finally able to take the 144-pound state title.
“The feeling after finally winning was surreal; all I could think about was the years before and all the training I put in just to achieve that moment.” This season, however, has taken a turn for the worse.
This football season, Mount Vernon had high expectations for its football team. Jasper’s being a key part of the team made the team focus on him. In week two, Mount Vernon played Benton, a heavy-hitting and physical team that always makes for a fun matchup for Mount Vernon. It seemed like every other game to Jase, get taped and watch the fresh/soph for a little.
“It seemed like every other game to me, I was just gonna go out there and play freely and have fun.” During one of Mount Vernon’s first drives, Jaspers got a jet sweep in the backfield. He made a man miss, then another guy. Jase got to the sideline and had one guy to beat.
“I tried to lower my shoulder, but he went way lower. He hit me, and immediately I went down.”
Everyone was still cheering; the sideline covered him up, so only people on the field could see him. Jaspers didn’t get up right away, so something was wrong. Whistles blew, and trainers gathered around him. The stadium fell silent, and everyone in the stadium was thinking the same thing:
“Please don’t be a bad injury.”
After some time, Jaspers was able to hobble off with the trainer and get to the table to get checked out. After the first quarter, he was carted off and taken to the E.R. Mount Vernon ultimately won 30-20. Sophomore wide receiver Holden Hlavacek stated, “Seeing Jase having to leave the game was unreal, he helped me out all summer with learning the plays, so seeing him leave was unreal.”
“When I got hit, I didn’t even know what to think; it felt unreal,” said Jaspers. After the game, Jaspers came back to the field on crutches, surrounded by people. Everyone was wondering what happened. “Did you break your leg?” Jaspers had to let everyone know that he won’t find out for at least a few more days. About a week after Jaspers found out, he tore his ACL and would be out for both football and wrestling. This news was devastating, considering his significant roles in football and wrestling.
When coming back to practice, Jase was not able to do really anything, so he called it his “social hour.” If he wasn’t talking to someone, he would mess around with people during individual group drills. Football was just a filler sport for Jaspers; wrestling is where he excels. Jaspers had visits to schools like Virginia, Air Force, Northern Illinois, and many more. Jasper recently signed to wrestle at St. Cloud State.
“I feel as though this injury did influence some of the coaches to step away from me, and it’s hard for them because you don’t know how someone will come back from this,” stated Jaspers
Ever since Jasper started his high school wrestling career, he has qualified for state every year. Freshman year, Jaspers placed second, the following year had the same result, finally, junior year, Jaspers came out on top, winning at 144lb.
Senior Stanley Krob, also a 144 lb wrestler, said, “With Jase being out, I think I’m gonna be the one who has to take his spot; those are some massive shoes to fill, so I’ll try my best.”
While Jaspers may be hurt, this doesn’t mean he can’t be involved in wrestling. With the season starting up, Jaspers knows that he can contribute to the team by helping out others and teaching them techniques to get them better. While Jaspers isn’t able to wrestle this season, he has better plans and is going to attend St. Cloud State. Jaspers said, “I didn’t intend this would be how my senior year would go, but I have bigger things ahead of me, so all I can do right now is help those around me.”
