All-Region Boys Wrestler of the Year JJ Schoenlein is pictured at Skyview High School on Monday afternoon, March 3, 2025. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
As someone who hopes to become a pilot, JJ Schoenlein’s favorite part of flying is the takeoff.
The Skyview senior loves the thrill of overcoming gravity’s limits. It is, in essence, clearing an obstacle.
Elevating himself over challenges also describes Schoenlein’s wrestling career. Before his junior season he was hospitalized with myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord that can lead to temporary paralysis.
In a span of six months, Schoenlein went from wondering if he’d wrestle again to winning his second consecutive state championship.
Skyview senior JJ Schoenlein is The Columbian's All-Region Boys Wrestler of the Year.
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Schoenlein’s senior season was also thrown into doubt. When he was diagnosed with mononucleosis in December, a doctor recommended he avoid contact sports for at least three months.
Two months later, Schoenlein capped his high school career by becoming just the fifth three-time boys state wrestling champion from Clark County. He finished his career with a record of 127-10 with 87 pins.
“Every year that I’ve won, I’ve had obstacles that I’ve had to overcome,” Schoenlein said. “I’m grateful for all the trials and tribulations I’ve had to go through.”
For securing his place in rare company as a three-time state champ, and for overcoming health obstacles along the way, Schoenlein is The Columbian’s All-Region boys wrestler of the year.
Schoenlein first started to feel ill at the Rose City Championship on Dec. 14. Still, he pushed through to win the tournament’s 175-pound division.
His symptoms got worse from there. After one week of barely being able to get out of bed, Schoenlein tested positive for mono.
While mono usually clears on its own after a few weeks, patients are told to avoid contact sports because of a heightened risk that the spleen can rupture. That was the advice Schoenlein was given upon his diagnosis.
“Immediately my mom looks at me and starts bawling,” Schoenlein said. “I was like no, no. I walked out of the doctor’s office because she was telling me I was done for the season. I couldn’t accept that.”
Schoenlein made a follow-up appointment with his primary care doctor. A plan was made to minimize what risks they could. Then there was the residual fatigue and lack of fitness that came with missing nearly a month of wrestling.
Enter Jackson McKinney. As a senior in 2018, he became Skyview’s first state champion before wrestling at Oregon State.
That year, McKinney also overcame a mid-season bout with mono. An off-season training partner with Schoenlein, he crafted a plan with a state championship in mind.
“I had a lot of people telling me I need to rest,” Schoenlein said. “Jackson was that hard-headed guy who said nah, we’re not resting. You’ve recovered enough. We’re getting in the room and I’m going to take it to you. We’re getting you back in shape.”
Schoenlein showed that strategy was working at the District 4 championships on Feb. 8. He won a hard-fought match 8-6 against Camas senior Simon Jarrell, who was ranked No. 2 in the state at 175 pounds.
Two weeks later at Mat Classic, Schoenlein blazed through the bracket with two pins in less than a minute followed by two dominant technical falls. In the state championship match, he beat Adriano Perez of Tahoma 4-1 after a decisive escape and takedown in the second period.
“I think I stayed in really good position that whole match and kept everything in my control,” Schoenlein said. “When my shot opened up, I took it and finished. It was pretty much game over after that.”
Schoenlein said he never took time to really enjoy his two previous state championships. This time was different. He credits that to a reinforced sense of gratitude to the family, coaches and teammates who supported him along the way.
Those obstacles along the way? Schoenlein said those have given him a sense of calm and the ability to give up control to a higher power.
“It’s hard to force things that don’t want to be forced,” Schoenlein said. “So when you can loosen your grip and let things fall into place as they should, it gives you more sense of control because you feel things are unfolding how they should.”
Schoenlein will wrestle at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a prestigious college in Prescott, Ariz. There, he will pursue his dream of becoming a professional pilot.
Schoenlein said his career wouldn’t take off without being grounded in a lifetime of wrestling.
“I attribute almost all of my success to the lessons wrestling has taught me,” Schoenlein said. “I truly feel like I would be a completely different human being without wrestling.”
The Rest of the All-Region Boys Wrestling Team
Isaac Chromey, La Center: Senior was 1A state champion at 175 pounds. Clark County champ lost just three matches all season.
Connor Crum, Seton Catholic: Sophomore was 1A state champion at 126 pounds. Runner-up at Clark County and Pac Coast tournaments.
Jonas DesRochers, Skyview: Sophomore became two-time state champ, winning the 4A title at 132 pounds. Lost just once this season.
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Mason DesRochers, Skyview: Sophomore completed an undefeated season with his second state title, winning the 4A crown at 138 pounds.
Simon Jarrell, Camas: Junior placed third in 4A state at 175-pounds. Pac Coast and Clark County champion and Gut Check runner-up.
Noah Koyama, Union: Senior was state runner-up at 144 pounds. Won fourth Clark County championship and repeated as Pac Coast champ.
Kingston McPherson, Mountain View: Senior placed third in state at 3A 165 pounds. District champ and runner up at Pac Coast and Clark County championships.
Zackery Motzkus, Battle Ground: Sophomore placed second in state at 4A 138 pounds. Runner-up at Pac Coast, Gut Check and Clark County tournaments.
Nolen Nelson, Castle Rock: Junior was 1A state champion at 157 pounds, helping the Rockets place 3rd as a team. Hammerhead and district champ.
Harrison Suzara, Kalama: Junior was 1A state champion at 120 pounds, winning five of his last six tournaments this season.
Cooper Williams, Castle Rock: Junior won 1A 132-pound title to become a two-time state champ. Overcame injuries to win last five tournaments.
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