State bound Piñon senior earns first-ever qualification

By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times

WINSLOW, Ariz. – How’s this for irony: At 229 pounds, Piñon wrestler Jobryant Charley is considerably underweight.

The 6-foot-2 senior grapples in the heavyweight division and he’s giving up at least 30, 40 pounds to his peers.

“I used to wrestle at 215, and now I’m at heavyweight,” Charley said.

On Saturday, Charley earned his first state qualification by winning the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division IV, Section II crown at Winslow High School.

He won three matches and improved to 16-3 overall. In the quarterfinals, Charley won by a fall over Tuba City’s Tyrone Wesley and in the semis the Piñon wrestler teched fall Joseph City’s Kameron Brooks. In the finals, he defeated Ganado’s Mark Wauneka with a 10-1 major decision win for the sectional crown.

“It feels good,” Charley said of winning. “I’m really excited about making state. Ever since middle school, I always wanted to make state and I finally made it my senior year.”

Despite being undersized for his weight class, Charley uses his speed and agility to outmaneuver his opponents.

“It’s all about speed,” Charley said of his strategy. “Most guys try to use their strength on me, but I try to keep running around them. I like to push them down and get behind them and so speed helps me out a lot.”

First-year Piñon coach Shyanne Tsosie-Hood credits Charley’s talent and determination for having a breakout year as the Piñon wrestler went 19-12 last season.

“He already knows what to do,” she said. “To be honest, it’s more of him trusting his instincts. Everything he’s done is on his own. He just has a lot of grit and determination. He’s just an all-around kid. He’s very respectful on and off the mat.”

Prior to sectionals, Bryant had an epiphany about his progress when he placed second at the 36th Annual Mogollon “Rocky Nelson” Invitational, which was hosted by Mogollon High School.

At that meet, Charley lost the finale to Division III wrestler Slade Wheaton of ALA-Ironwood by a fall in the second period.

“It was not close, but I think I’m the only one that went into the second period with him so that’s an accomplishment,” Charley said.

Looking ahead at the AIA Division IV state wrestling tournament, which starts on Friday and ends on Saturday at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Tsosie-Hood believes her pupil can earn a medal.

“Everyone has the potential to make the podium,” Tsosie-Hood said. “You know, it just comes down to who exercises at home and who really puts in that effort. It depends on how determined you are and Jobryant obviously showed that today.”

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