BEST FOOT FORWARD
UCO's Jones ignored handicap when it came to sport
Central Oklahoma’s Earl Jones has learned to play the cards life has dealt him to best of his ability.
Jones, a two-time junior college national champion, competes at 133 pounds and has only one leg because of a horseback riding accident that happened at the age of seven. Jones took a year off and got right back into wrestling.
The handicap hasn’t slowed Jones down on any level. He was a three-time Kansas state champ, finishing 148-6. At Labette Community College in Parsons, Kan., he racked up a 56-6 record. After transferring this year to Division II power Central Oklahoma, Jones is off to a 10-2 start and finished second in the prestigious Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha, Neb., Nov. 19.
Jones has gotten the attention of the wrestling world by rolling through several top Division I competitors on his way to the finals in Omaha. He downed preseason No. 19 Jesse Sundell from Iowa State, Boise State’s No. 9 Scott Jorgensen and highly-touted Cyclone recruit Nick Gallick.
Jon
es then lost in the finals to Oklahoma State sophomore Nathan Morgan, 3-2. Morgan is ranked seventh. Wrestling is an incredibly pure sport which allows people with physical limitations like Jones to succeed. Recent wrestlers like Nick Ackerman (2001 Division III national champ and Dan Hodge Trophy winner) and Kyle Maynard (2004 Georgia state tournament qualifier) both were very successful without either of their legs. Maynard even competed without his arms.
It really irritates me when people say that wrestlers with physical handicaps have some type of advantage because other wrestlers are forced into their styles. That is only a sour grapes statement made because the handicapped wrestler beat a wrestler who you thought was more talented. All people like that do is try to blow someone else’s candle out to make theirs brighter.
If there’s a true advantage in forcing an opponent into wrestling a different style because a wrestler has a handicap, then ask wrestlers how many would choose to participate with one leg rather than two.
Obviously, wrestlers have to change their style against an opponent like Jones. He stays down on right knee from the neutral position, requiring his opponent to shoot towards his left leg that is on the mat. But, people need to remember to look at the big picture and understand that there are a number of disadvantages too. And, they far outweigh any “advantage.”
UCO coach David James said he’s heard those comments before.
“I totally disagree with that,” he said. “I’m overwhelmed that people would say that. I think it’s a little disrespectful.”
James points out there are a number of obvious disadvantages to not having the use of one leg, specifically weight cutting and a lack of mobility from the neutral position.
“He needs to stay in great position and hand fight. There are certain angles he just simply can’t let occur,” the Bronchos head coach said.
Jones said his style isn’t really that much different than other wrestlers.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an advantage,” Jones said. “My advantages are equaled by my disadvantages in any match.”
(You can read the rest of this article by subscribing to W.I.N. Magazine. Either contact our office at 1-888-305-0606 or subscribe through this website by selecting the “Subscribe” section on our front page.)