It would have been easy for Las Lomas High wrestler Jason Welch to buckle under the weight of what people expected of him this season.

He was expected to win a third state championship. He was expected to win every match and to dominate as he did the previous season when he went 50-0.

Sound unfair? Perhaps. Then again, nobody was honestly surprised when he actually went out and did it.

Welch capped his high school career in the only way he knew how, going 49-0 and winning his third state championship.

For meeting everyone's expectations — including his own — and doing so with the class and grace that befits a true champion, Welch is the 2008 East Bay Wrestler of the Year.

It was another storybook year for Welch, who will go down as one of the best high school wrestlers in East Bay history.

"He doesn't really have a cap in terms of his potential," Welch's coach, David Yi, said in February. "He's wrestled at the collegiate level already. I see him doing extremely well."

Early season titles at the Reno Tournament of Champions and Tim Brown Memorial Invitational set the stage for what became a historic postseason.

Then at the Mission San Jose Invitational, his technical fall victory over Clovis' Josh Esparza in the 160-pound championship made Welch the first four-time champion in the 18-year history of the tournament.

He went on to win his fourth Diablo Foothill Athletic League title and fourth North Coast Section

Advertisement
title, joining Campolindo's Nikko Triggas and his cousin, James Logan's Jesse Reta, as the only four-time NCS champions.

The real magic happened in Bakersfield where, in front of a crowd that included about 30 friends and family members, Welch defeated Central Catholic-Modesto's Steven Vasquez 18-8 to win his third state title. He became the fifth wrestler to reach four state title matches and the 13th three-time champion.

"I don't know how to describe it," Welch said. "It was one of the best feelings, knowing that all my family was there and all my close friends, and that they really support me."

The 2007-08 season was about something more for Welch though, as he was constantly faced with questions about his legacy. The spotlight, which has always shone bright on Welch, was even brighter as he etched his name in the history books.

"I like it," Welch said of the added attention. "It's an honor to have people come from wherever they live just to watch my match. It's nice being the highlight."