Juhl: Only 4-time Panthers champ

PACKWOOD - Mason Juhl knows the key to becoming a four-time conference champion. Winning a conference title every year of high school is an astonishing feat, one that only Juhl and eight others in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference have been able to accomplish. Juhl became Pekin‘s first four-time conference champion Saturday at Louisa Muscatine.

Juhl's key to achieving the incredible accomplishment takes dedication. His key taxes the body. While his key can unlock potential, it is requires a lot of effort. The key can consume time, but it was revealed by Juhl in just two words.

'Hard work.”

Juhl's freshman and sophomore titles were won at 195 pounds, and last year was 220. His senior year title was secured at 182, the weight Juhl has been ranked at throughout this season.

'Being a four-time champion never crossed my mind because I'm always focused on wrestling the best I can,” Juhl said.

That focus has Juhl as history's best Panther, atop the career pins list with 82. Ryan Vogel had the all-time pin record at 81, set back in 1996.

The ankle pick is Juhl's favorite move and he has registered most of his pins with the lateral drop.

Juhl needs two wins and his 143-29 career record will surpass Vogel's win total of 144. Vogel established the record win in 2006. He was a three-time state qualifier and a two-time placewinner.

'Being the all-time wins leader is a goal, but it's not one of my top goals,” Juhl said. And what is his top goal? 'Top of the podium at the state tournament.”

Juhl qualified for state as a freshman, but lost his first two matches. Third-place finishes at districts the last two years prevented a return trip.

'Since this is his last year, we remind him not to think about qualifying his freshman year,” Pekin head coach Chapman said. 'Instead, remember how it felt the last two years not making it to State and don't let it happen again.”

In the effort to get to state, Juhl has changed his base and his offense. 'I used to be a big thrower, but this year, I told myself I have to learn to shoot. In big matches, you can't throw all the time. I'm still not 100 percent, but I've gotten better.”

In addition to the physical changes, Juhl has created a method that allows him to get 'into the zone” for competing on the mat.

'He'll go through his own mental routine, whether he is taking a forfeit or facing a state qualifier,” Chapman said. 'That cannot be coached, unfortunately. Each wrestler has to find out what makes them ‘tick' and Mason has found that.”

Juhl has a record of 36-2 and the two losses came to ranked wrestlers. One loss was by a point when he moved up to 195 to wrestle. The other loss was to Ty Dennison of Woodbury Central, currently ranked sixth, in the title match of the Riverside Invitational Dec. 12.

When Chapman handed Juhl the second-place medal, he said 'it's going to be the last silver medal I hand you.” That has been an accurate statement to this point. It doesn't matter how many losses he has as long as he survives the next two tournaments - sectionals and districts. While he would love to return to the state championships, that is not yet his goal.

'I can't think about that today because I have to think about these next two weekends,” Juhl said. 'If all things go good, then I'll have the big weekend.”

That weekend was a very big one for Juhl in 2018. As an upper weight freshman, Juhl flew under the radar. As the season progressed, he started getting noticed.

'Other teams realized what great (wrestling) hips he had, so many began to forfeit to him,” Chapman said.

Juhl developed those hips and other attributes from an early age. He started wrestling at the age of four in Washington before moving to the Pekin school district. 'I have just thoroughly enjoyed it throughout the years.”

Most teenagers move up in weight as they age. but Juhl recognized the fact there were unnecessary pounds.

'I was chunky, especially over the summer, so I knew I had to lose,” Juhl said. 'I have gained a lot of muscle, so I feel pretty good.”

A title crowned in February is actually won in the offseason.

'With his maturity, he realized he would be a stronger force dropping down to 182 and doing it the right way in order to keep his body at his highest level,” Chapman said.

The experience gained from three years of wrestling larger opponents gives Juhl an edge. An additional advantage is the talent on the Panthers.

The 2021 class at Pekin can become the first to have three wrestlers above the century-win plateau. Cael Baker (28-7 this season) has 116 career wins and Michael Jones (32-11) needs two more victories for 100 in his career. Juhl is also pushed by his 170-pound sophomore brother, Blake Juhl (28-17).

Brothers wrestle regardless of being in the sport, but younger has never defeated older.

'That's always a big thing in practice,” Mason Juhl said. 'He's young, he's good, but it's just not quite there. We do bounce ideas off each other and that helps us both become better.”

He must perform better at folkstyle wrestling for his career to culminate at Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines Feb. 18-20.

'If state happens, then great I'm at the big tournament and that's when I will think about that,” Juhl said. 'If I can't get through these next two weekends, then there's no point in me talking about the state tournament. I have not given it any thought as to a strategy or anything. My main focus right now is these next two weekends.”