I have known Jake and his family since he was 8 year old. He has worked extremely hard to get where he is and I couldn't have more respect for anyone. He has always been a good sport in every wrestling event I have witnessed. He has always been very focused and very intense. At the same time, off the mad he is a very friendly and good person. I have also known Cole Garcia and his family for many years. There never could be better sportsmanship than they have displayed in every situation I have witnessed. BUT, wrestling is a very emotional sport. When you step on the mat, your friend who you respect and enjoy off the mat, becomes your opponent and you do your best to beat him. On the mat you do not excuse yourself for throwing someone down or for making them feel very uncomfortable. What is said between wrestlers on the mad while they are still very emotionally charged should be left on the mat. If someone had himself in a situation to hear something spoken between competitors on the mad, they would probably not know the history between the two competitors and may not take it the same way the competitors take eachother, so an intelligent observer would leave those comments unmentioned and on the mat.
If Jake physically stands 5'9", his comeptitive heart stands about 10'6". Obviously, the same is true for Cole. It would be very difficult for anyone to defeat Jake unless he was first rendered unconscious. Cole came from behind at the regionals and tied the score without much time for Jake to do anything about it. In the overtime Cole got a quick takedown and ended the match. I am sure that had to burn Jake, because he had no opportunity to counter. So, in the finals he won. If he said something to Cole I am sure it would have had to do with him feeling like he had a chance to win when he had the opportunity. I am certain the Jake and his family respect the Garcias and the Garcias respect Jake and his family. But, at the end of the Bahe vs Dawson match when Bahe won, how many people heard the lady stand up in the Goodland crowd and shout at the Abilene crowd in the next section, that they were all "SONS-OF-BITCHES"???
My congratulations go out to both Jake and Cole!