Hunting for a Title
November 20, 2009 03:40 PM | General
November 20, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Entering what could be his last hurrah as a West Virginia University wrestler, Donnie Jones is ready to leave his own imprint on one of the nation’s most storied programs.
The fifth-year senior has suffered his share of aches and pains since coming to Morgantown in 2005. He redshirted his freshman year in 2005-06, then missed his entire second season because of an ailing shoulder, causing him to have surgery and recuperate for the following year.
 |
|
| Donnie Jones, right, standing next to his brother, assistant coach Greg Jones, is looking to make this season a memorable one.
All-Pro Photgraphy/Dale Sparks photo |
Once he finally hit the mat in good health two seasons ago, the Slickville, Pa., native showed that patience pays off by qualifying for the NCAA Championships in his junior and senior seasons, putting together a 16-8 dual record at 165 pounds.
But this season, Jones is seeking to advance further in the NCAA Tournament and perhaps add a chapter to his family lore, which includes three-time NCAA champion and assistant coach Greg Jones and three-time All-American Vertus.
“I’ve been here four years now. I feel more mature and healthier than ever,” Jones said. “Now I’m more excited than ever – this year feels like it’s going to be a good year. The training has been very good; it’s been high-paced. Greg (Jones) and coach (Craig) Turnbull have stepped it up this year. Going into my fifth year, it feels like I’ve been here and done that and now it’s time to go big and win that national title.”
Jones, ranked No. 13 by InterMat, begins his quest this Sunday when West Virginia battles Wyoming at 11:30 a.m., followed by a 1:15 p.m. match against No. 22 Illinois. Both matches are part of the “Sprawl & Brawl” Tournament in Vestal, N.Y.
In order to accomplish his ambitious goal, Jones did whatever it took to make himself a better wrestler this offseason. Most likely facing a nationally ranked grappler in Wyoming sophomore Shane Onufer in his first match, the two-time NCAA qualifier will get to put his tireless conditioning to the test right away on Sunday.
“I think this offseason the focus, or one of the focuses, was to get my size and strength up. I never felt too overpowered or oversized, but that’s one thing I wanted to do and I think I did that. I wanted to improve everything overall, whether it was technique, conditioning or strength,” Jones added.
Often times, Jones is much quicker than his opponents. Many who watch him admire his ability to pull off several fakes before lunging at just the right time to earn a takedown. One opponent who has waged several good battles against Jones is defending 165-pound, 2009 national champion Jarrod King of Edinboro. Two years ago, King nipped him by a 6-5 decision in the Eastern Wrestling League finals, but Jones came back last season to defeat him, 5-3.
“It gives me confidence in some state that I beat him last year,” Jones said. “Looking at the NCAA Tournament, that’s all it is – it’s a tournament. It goes match by match, and he had an excellent tournament. Seeing that happen has given Greg (Jones) and the coaching staff the belief that I should be a national champion.”
Jones is coming off a season in which he went 11-5 overall and posted an undefeated 6-0 mark in the EWL. After finishing second in the EWL Tournament, he advanced to the NCAA postseason and nearly defeated No. 3 seed Ryan Morningstar of Iowa, losing, 6-4, in sudden victory.
To the multidisciplinary studies major, the losses to high-ranking opponents can be tough. But Jones knows that wrestling at a competitive school like WVU gives him a chance to face excellent grapplers each match, and credits coach Turnbull for his aggressive scheduling.
“That’s how you get better; you have to wrestle the best,” Jones said. “The way coach Turnbull has been scheduling with hard opponents, and the way he schedules with getting opponents from other areas, it definitely helps us out. When it comes down to EWL’s and nationals, the criteria you have is based on national competition. Although you might win some or lose some when you’re wrestling good guys, it brings that self esteem up a little bit and plays an important role in the long, tedious season of wrestling.”
In a season that lasts from mid-November to mid-March, the former Greensburg Salem High standout welcomes any support he can get from his well-accomplished brothers. He has learned an incredible amount from Vertus and Greg, and their success at WVU lay the groundwork for what Donnie has to follow with.
However, having two of the greatest wrestlers in Mountaineer history in your family tree can be somewhat overwhelming. The expectations are high to follow in their footsteps, but Donnie made it clear that that natural psyche never bothered him, even in the recruiting process.
“The expectations were always there coming up through high school with Vertus and Greg,” Jones admitted. “They always supported the fact that I was my own self and they never really pressured me to come here and I never felt pressured at all to come here. I was originally planning to take a visit to Arizona State until coach Turnbull and former assistant Zeke Jones came and visited me on a Sunday. Coach Turnbull sold me because he said he was recruiting me for me, and said things that I wanted to hear about the university and things that I wanted to do with my life. That’s what really sold me.”
Jones, one of five children, is more than thankful for being able to witness the day-to-day grind that his brothers showed in being among the nation’s best. The memories of seeing older brother Greg win three national titles at 174 and 184 pounds is something he uses as a teaching and motivating tool.
“I didn’t make as many NCAA trips with Vertus because at the same time I was in middle school and I was wrestling in the Junior Olympics and they conflicted. My dad had to sacrifice staying with me instead of watching him,” Jones said. “When I was in high school, it worked out for me to watch Greg wrestle at NCAAs. The best was watching Greg and seeing the intensity that he brought and the overall domination.
“Just rolling around with those two is a gift in itself, and not too many people can say they have two older brothers who are NCAA finalists. Once I became a college wrestler, I learned more because now it’s like I have both of my brothers as coaches.”
Jones admits that both of his brothers have distinguishing characteristics.
“Greg and Vertus are same but different, but they both lead ultimately to the same goal. Vertus is more fatherly; he’s older. Having those two in my corner, there’s very few people that have something like that.”
Watching his well-known siblings wrestle on the biggest stage came to fruition for Donnie when he reached St. Louis in 2008, the site where Greg won his third and final NCAA title. The moment was dreamlike in a way for Donnie, but he admits that he wasn’t fazed by it.
“I think the surreal moments dulled out in high school,” Jones added. “The Pennsylvania state tournament is a really big stage and that kind of prepared me a little bit. I qualified two years ago and the first time out it hits you a little bit, but then it comes back to reality.
“It says a lot about the coaching staff too, being able to help me and the team and calm us down and relax. Being on that stage, it’s an honor and it’s what I came here to do. I was glad to finally get there and disappointed that I didn’t get to do what I wanted to do.”
This season, Jones is ready to make his third NCAA appearance much different. Determined to reach the pinnacle of achievement in collegiate wrestling, he looks to write his own chapter and further distinguish himself as just the younger brother of Greg and Vertus.
As far as his future plans go, Jones is prepared for what life throws at him outside of wrestling. He plans to major in civil engineering after he gets his bachelor’s degree, and certainly wants to stay connected to a WVU program that has given so much to him and his family.
"Coaching is in my genes. My dad coached us throughout his own life, Vertus is teaching physical education and health up in Pittsburgh and Greg is coaching here,” Jones said. “But I’ve never really seen myself as a coach; although that doesn’t say that I can’t still be connected here. This place is a second home, so staying connected won’t be a problem. I will come out and support the program, because once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer.
"Whether that is coaching or what not, that’s still undetermined right now. I’ve got two degrees in the making, so I want to start my life and start working a little bit. I’ve been in college for five years, so it’s probably time to start paying some things back.”
