With the home crowd cheering him on from the stands, Warrenton wrestler Jacob Ruff earned a pair of wins on Senior Night to join the 100-win club. 

Ruff, who came into last week’s dual matches against Lift for Life Academy and Wright City with a 98-19 record, earned a pair of wins by fall to earn win No. 100 of his high school career. He pinned Wright City wrestler Quincy Rice in less than a minute into their match. 

“I just hit him with a double leg I guess,” Ruff said. “I was just more happy I hit that spladle because I never drill spladles and I’m like, you know what, I’m just gonna go for it. It works. So I was happy about that.”

Ruff was able to earn win No. 100 of his career at home with the home crowd supporting him in his quest. Ruff said he appreciated the support from his football teammates who came to the match. 

He said he did not know until a day before the match he could reach win No. 100. 

“To be honest, it kind of flew by,” Ruff said. “I was just told yesterday that I was going for 100. But yeah, it’s cool. State’s the next thing. I got my mindset on that. That’s really what it’s about.”

Warrenton Head Coach Clayton Olsson said while most wrestlers only get two years to get varsity matches, Ruff has had “three high quality years.”

A two time state medalist and a state runner-up last season, Ruff did not pick up wrestling until his freshman year of high school. Ruff was encouraged by his uncle to try wrestling. Ruff credited his family support for his growth as a wrestler over his past four years. 

“The reason I picked it up so quickly was because of my family,” Ruff said. “It might look like I’m the one that’s good, but my family is the one that provides the practices and the training for me to be good. So, all credit to my family to get me to where I am. And Jesus of course.” 

While it is a challenge for a wrestler to reach a high level without experience heading into high school, Olsson said it can be done if a wrestler is dedicated and a hard worker.Olsson cited Ruff’s participation in camps and tournaments, saying he “just started pushing and pushing and pushing every summer.” 

“His sophomore year, he really picked it up,” Olsson said. “He went to state. That was his first time at state and he made it to the bubble match. He was one win away from being a state medalist. And so that was a big jump from freshman year where he didn’t really wrestle varsity to sophomore year being almost a state medalist. But then his junior year he jumps again and not only is he a state medalist, but he’s in the finals. So, yeah, he’s made the progress of the big jumps and I mean, it shows. He’s 24-0 right now. So he’s really putting it all together this last year.”

With the 100-win milestone reached and his experience last year advancing to the state championship match and earning his first state medal, Ruff is focused on winning a state title. 

“I know I got some good competitors at state so I respect my competitors at state,” Ruff said. “They’re good. But just go in there with a positive mindset.”

Ruff and Olsson both think Ruff’s experience competing in the state championship match in his weight class last season can help him if he can get back to the title match this season. 

“He’ll admit, I think a little bit, if you get it out of him, that last year was a little bit nervous going into that big match,” Olsson said. “But now,it’s like, ok, wait a minute, I’ve been here before. There’s nothing new. Time for another big match.”