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Jack of all Trades: Bass heading to Azerbaijan for World Championships
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
When school commences Aug. 27, it will be one of the first days Allen junior Jack Bass has been in Texas this month.
The 152-pound Eagles grappler has been on a whirlwind tour leading up to the 2012 FILA Cadet World Championships, which are Aug. 21-27 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
"It's a great accomplishment because they only take one person at each weight and age for the entire country," said Jerry Best, Allen head coach. "And Jack has earned it; he wants to be the best in the nation and is always looking at videos online and training on his own so he can reach that goal."
"That match has definitely been motivation for me," Bass said.
Bass could take solace that advancing to state, which he also did as a freshman in Virginia, was an accomplishment after having surgery just before championship season.
"I had injured my left index finger during a match," Bass said. "And before district tournament the doctor told me I had to get surgery or risk losing its usefulness. I got three screws put in and wrestled not long after that, which was kind of scary because I knew if I broke the finger it was going to shatter."
Bass simply taped his fingers up and hit the mat.
"I knew I had to go because I wanted to get to state," he said.
Bass' runner-up finish and the performance of several teammates led Allen to its third straight UIL State Championship. One of the team's standout performances came from Bo Nickal, who won the 145 bracket. Bass and Nickal both moved up to 152 in late-May for the USA FILA Cadet National Championships in Ohio. And out of a field of the best 15- to 17-year old grapplers in the country, the finals came down to the two kids from Allen.
Bass won that match (4-0, 4-0).
"It was a good accomplishment," he said, "especially since last year I didn't even place."
The travel didn't stop there as Bass was in Fargo, N.D. last month for the USA Cadet Junior Nationals, placing fourth at 145 freestyle, started the month in Pennsylvania and is currently at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
"It's really cool up here," Bass said. "We've been working out with All-Americans and NCAA Champions."
Bass and his fellow FILA Cadet World Championship qualifiers will be in Colorado until Friday, flying to Dallas and then London en route to Azerbaijan.
"I wasn't sure where Azerbaijan was at first," Bass said, "but I looked it up right after I qualified. It's right near Turkey."
In addition to hitting the mats and weight room, Bass has been studying online.
"I've been watching a lot of the previous world championships," he said. "I've also been watching matches of a lot of the senior-level Russian wrestlers to see how they do things."
That level of preparation is vital given the lofty goals of the Allen junior.
"I'm plan on getting gold out there," Bass said. "And one of my other goals is to not get scored on."
Whether or not that comes to fruition, the grappler will have at least one friendly face watching on as Best, who Bass said was, "someone who constantly keeps me motivated," will be in attendance.
"I'm just going out there for support," Best said. "It's a little tough to just watch and not coach, but it takes a lot of stress off too."
Bass said he will attempt to update his world championship results on Twitter (@SuaveJack), but don't expect much description about Azerbaijan from Bass via social media.
"There won't really be too much time to go out and see the country," he said. "It's all about wrestling."
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