Windt Paces Wolfpack Wrestling With Flawless December

You can't spell Windt without win.

For West Morris Central’s Jesse Windt, the 2013-14 wrestling season has been nothing but winning, and the 220-pounder spent his mat time on the good end of a lopsided December.

Windt, a senior now wrestling in his 13th straight year is putting together a historical run in the early going, amassing a 6-0 record to go along with two tournament gold medals.

Because of his mat accomplishments in the early goings of the 2013-14 season, Jesse Windt is Long Valley Patch's Athlete of the Week. Windt was also recently recognized by the New Jersey Wrestling Academy for his flawless start. 

The 17-year-old is looking to help his team improve over last season’s best-in-school history 18-win season, which saw senior Nick Matthews take sixth place at the New Jersey State Wrestling Tournament in Atlantic City.

“As a team we’re always looking to do better than the year before,” Windt told Patch this week. “Once you accomplish a goal (you get to a point) you need to make higher goals in order to keep improving.”

Windt said his personal goal is to improve his record from last year and work his way to the state tournament to cap his high school career.

The undefeated grappler didn’t sit idly by in the offseason either, knowing what it takes to reach such a high level. Since the end of last season and the start of practice in 2013, Windt said he spent two to three days each week practicing with clubs in the area to get much needed mat time and improve.

Wrestling at 220 pounds is new to Windt, who came into high school 100 pounds lighter. It’s a growth that has helped him more than hindered his performance, he says.

“Since I wrestled at 119 (pounds) my freshman year and now 220 (pounds) my senior year, I’m quicker than most guys my weight,” he said.

Windt and his teammates will continue pounding through the competition with the hopes of besting last year’s mark and sending additional wrestlers to the state tournament.

For full West Morris Central Wolfpack wrestling news, visit David Yaskulka’s blog on Long Valley Patch here.