Wrestling is a staple of the Eric and Rona Challen family of Jefferson. Eric is an assistant coach for the Greene County High School program and both their sons are successful wrestlers. Oldest son Jake graduated from Greene County HS in the spring of 2014 while younger son Jordan is a senior for the Rams and is a two-time state tournament qualifier who is currently 14-1 and ranked fifth at 138 lbs.

Jake Challen has continued wrestling and is at 133 lbs. in his first season with the Central College (Pella) Dutch. He told Raccoon Valley Radio there are quite a few differences between high school and college wrestling. “It’s a lot more intense in college. The coaches expect a lot more from you and there is a lot more competition in the wrestling room.” Challen is one of six Central wrestlers at 133 lbs. “It’s fun because there are six of us and when we go back and forth. When we go to open tournaments, we’ll wrestle each other a lot of the time, and have a competition to see who can place higher, so it’s always fun.”

Jake said he’s been able to watch some of Jordan’s high school matches this season, and he’s hoping to keep abreast of his brother’s season once it resumes in January.