Northern Star: Justin Jobe

Jobe will have a chance to qualify for his third individual state tournament.

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.- “Pull the rope” is a mantra often used by the Grand Rapids’ high school wrestlers. It’s part of the reason why Justin Jobe treats wrestling as a team sport.

“Just because it sucks so much,” Jobe smiles, alluding to the hard work required to be great on the mats. “You know, it sucks, but it’s awesome at the same time, you know? Everyone’s in here grinding so hard, so when you look over and see someone grinding next to you, you just gain a lot of respect for them. Really you just got to grind. No reps off.”

Head Coach Mike Schauer would agree with Jobe’s assessment. “Justin is just a mean hombre, boy,” says Schauer. “He’s a great kid. He’ll run through a brick wall for the team. And he’s a great role model just to be mentally tough.”

On the practice mats, Jobe wrestles with senior teammate Alex Lehman. And while they may be friends, they don’t take it easy on each other. “They do get real physical at times,” says Schauer. “Sometimes we got to walk between them because it’s gets heated but that’s sort of good sometimes, too.”

“We train all the time,” says Jobe. “I mean, we weightlift and wrestle the summer together.”

“It’s awesome,” says Lehman in regard to wrestling with Jobe. “Having a friend in here and to be able to wrestle with someone (in) his weight class and (with) his speed and strength. Just makes me better every day.”

On Saturday, February 24, Jobe will have a chance to qualify for his third individual state tournament, where he’s hoping to avenge his previous two appearances.

“The State Tournament didn’t go as I wanted it to,” Jobe admits, lamenting his performance in 2023. “But obviously, we’re focused on bigger goals this year. I’ve made it to state a couple of times, and I’ve been so close to placing, so it’s really just each year, I’ve just been trying to grind harder and harder. I feel like I have a good shot this year to make it on the podium.”

Some of his teammates, including Lehman, will also be competing for a spot at state. Jobe says he’ll be ready to support them all the way to Saint Paul. “Like I said, we’re just going to have to pull the rope together and everyone’s going to have to go out there and just do their job on the mat.”