Illinois Matmen - Illinois' Premier Wrestling Website

Illinois Matmen Blogs: Jeff Bybee

Coming off a season ending injury, 2x Class A State Champion, Jeff Bybee, has his eyes set on gold

Bybee's Blog 4

Posted by Jeff Bybee on April 15, 2007
» View Archived Blog Entries

My 8th grade year started in July. I began training for Kickboxing Nationals that were being held in September. I was training every day with 21-25 year old men(I was 13). In late August I took a kick to the nose and it broke, The Doctor would not let me fight in September, so the Kickboxing season ended early.

In September I was back to Overtime and practicing 3 times a week. My first Tournament was the Las Vegas World Championships in late October. My friend Eric Galka and I went together and we both made the Championship. Eric won at 89 then I wrestled Ross Lyba of Colorado, the score was tied in the third 7-7 and my dad made me cut him and give up the lead 8-7, I took him down with 1 second left to win 9-8. This was my first big National win and it was AWESOME.

Morrison, Precin, Hutter and my father decided that I should join The Tinley Park Bulldogs and we started practicing there the first week of November while still attending Overtime. I remember the first practice Coach Fessler pulled us aside and said he had a bunch of studs at my weight and he didn't think I could make their dual team. My dad told him as long as they had fair wrestle offs, that's fine. The first tournament we went to as a Bulldog was the Midwest Nationals. I made it to the Championship and beat nationally ranked Dalton Jenson in overtime. We left the tournament that night but a bunch of people stayed and I was told there was a big arguement because there were a couple parents that said I wasn't a Bulldog but a hired gun. Mr. and Mrs. Fessler, Augles, Morrisons, Rzab, Precin, and the Hutters stuck up for me. I was then a Bulldog 4life. I spent the whole season in practice going head to head with two of my best friends Josh Kratovil and Adam Heimer, it was brutal. I would then go from there and practice with numerous state placers at Overtime.

January 4th my sister left for Iraq, my parents and family were a mess. The only way to keep my dads mind off my sister was to practice, and that we did. There was a third National tournament in January and all I had to do was place in the top 6 to be National wrestler of the year, but that tournament was at the same time Tinley had a duel with Providence. I chose to go with my team and forget about that title. Leading to the IKWF State Tournament the 4th week of Febuary, I traveled to Naperville or Tinley 24 straight days for practice. I was ready to wrestle at State. I made it to the Championship Match against Jake Nelson whom I had beaten 12-2 earlyer in the season. I attacked the entire match and Jake new what I had so he didn't take a forward step in 41/2 minutes. I was losing 3-2 when we went out with 8 seconds left, the ref brought us back to the center and I grabbed him by the head and threw him down on his face, I spun and scored 2 at the buzzer.

Three weeks after State we went to the Reno World Championships. I took 3rd place in the 16 and under and was only 13, that was also awesome. For the rest of the off season we practiced at Overtime and went to camps

I'll be back,

Jeffery

IllinoisMatmen.com

Illinois' Premier Wrestling Website

Illinois Matmen Blogs: Jeff Bybee

Bybee's Blog 4