Jacob Syster, a senior at our school, competed in the Fargodome earlier this month in a high school sanctioned wrestling tournament. Rumble on the Red is the largest tournament of its kind in the nation, so this was a huge deal. The Sudhian has asked Syster about his experiences competing alongside 1100+ other wrestlers. Here is what he has to say.
What was it like wrestling in the Fargodome?
Wrestling at the Fargodome is always a privilege. The feeling is surreal, you always see all this stuff go on at the Fargodome (NDSU games, Fargo marathon, etc), so it’s really cool getting to see it set up for your sport that you compete in.
How would you describe the event as a whole?
The setup for the Fargodome during the Rumble on the Red is 22 38’X38′ mats with one mat raised for final matches. The Rumble is made of 64-man brackets, although mine had 20 additional people, so we had a preliminary round which I was included in. The Rumble is a national tournament with 66 teams from 6 states. I was at the Fargodome from 6:30-10:00 that first day of the tournament, and then had to be back by 7:00 am the next morning.
How far did you get in the competition?
I placed 8th at the tournament in my weight class at 152lbs.
What does this award mean to you?
Placing at the Rumble proved to myself that I am advancing in wrestling, which is really satisfying to me, considering that I started freshman year. It really goes to show that a lot of hard work can go a long way and that giving up is never an option.
What is your other experience in wrestling?
I placed first at the 2024 Jamestown tournament, and for the last two years I’ve also went to State. I was injured for the first year and didn’t place the second, so I am hoping to place again this year.
How did you mentally prepare for the competition?
Mentally preparing for the competition for me is getting in a calm headspace where I can focus on my moves and prepare to get my body warm. before each match I like to take a little time to close my eyes and envision how I want my match to go.
What advice do you have for other students trying to get where you are in wrestling?
I would tell these students to push your body hard. A lot of new guys would be surprised to know how hard you can push your body. I’m talking about 2-3 workouts a day (weights, wrestling, running), 6 days a week. On top of that, watching wrestling and trying to understand the pros and cons of each position can really help develop bodily awareness.
South High once again gives Jacob Syster a huge congratulations for this achievement!
