Enochs’ Jones and CC’s Jackson – prep wrestling’s tag team

Sariyah Jones and Tiana Jackson, shopping together at the mall, liked the Dr. Seuss-inspired shirts reading “Thing 1” and “Thing 2.”

The “Cat In the Hat” aside, they had just one question: Could we change the word to “Champ?”

Today, they wear their matching “Champ 1” and “Champ 2” shirts like, well, champions.

Jones, a senior at Enochs, and Jackson, a junior at Central Catholic, form the oddest of group entries – teammates, though they attend different schools. Their shirts, however, weren’t selected by accident.

They won their respective state weight-class titles within a magical 15 minutes last month at Visalia: Jones (106) 2-1 via two escape points over Aleeah Gold of Canyon of Anaheim, followed by Jackson’s dramatic 7-6 victory in triple overtime over top-seeded Lauren Mason of Woodcreek for the 111-pound title. Mason was the only wrestler to beat Jones this season, a fact not lost on Jackson.

“I told Sariyah, ‘You did it through me,’ ” Jackson said. “She’s become my big sister.”

Jones and Jackson, an unlikely tag team, are The Bee’s selections as Girls Wrestlers of the Year.

Jones, 67-1 over the past two years, has claimed back-to-back state titles. Her experience on the junior national team has served her well against the state’s best. Only an ankle injury early in the season slowed her.

“I trained hard every day and stayed true to my diet,” she said. “I knew what to expect. I knew a lot of wrestlers would be coming after me, so I pushed the pace.”

Jones already was known as the hub of the four Enochs wrestlers who in 2015 took the first state title clinched by a Modesto City Schools team in more than three decades. This year’s Eagles were the fourth.

One of Jones’ best breaks, however, happened not long after the 2015 state meet. Jackson, eliminated in the consolation bracket last year, sought improvement, and she admired the success enjoyed by Jones.

Jackson did two things: She approached Ruben Jones, Sariyah’s father and coach, with the hope that she could train with Jones, and to do so, she eliminated all other sports interests – track, water polo, soccer and jiu-jitsu – and focused solely on the mat.

“I was told it had to be total commitment,” Jackson said. “I put all my hard work into one (sport).”

Jones liked the idea from the start. The two became workout partners during the offseason.

“I’ve been waiting for a partner that I could train with every day,” Jones said. “When I met Tiana, I was really excited. I knew she could be really good.”

They were good for each other, in fact. Jones brought immense technique and experience. Jackson brought strength and a willingness to learn.

Jackson (34-4) illustrated her stunning improvement at the state meet. She overcame a brutal draw by defeating four section champions, including Mason, who had twice beaten Jackson. In the final, she muscled free for the escape point that eventually gave her the title.

“It was amazing to walk onto the mat and be confident in myself,” Jackson said. “I knew I could score with my shots and takedowns, and whatever problem I’d have out there, I could get out of it.”

Her decision, though not easy, turned out to be right. Looking back, Jackson could not have achieved the success in the other sports that she earned in wrestling.

Jones and Jackson offered only one caveat to their agreement: They would not face each other in competition. They didn’t.

“It would have been really boring,” Jackson said. “I’m pretty sure it would have been an injury-default on both sides.”

No, they reserved their work for practice. Championships soon followed.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Enochs’ Jones and CC’s Jackson – prep wrestling’s tag team."