<p><strong>J</strong>ackson Heaston wishes he could say that he started wrestling as a 5- or 6-year-old and has been progressing in skill and reputation ever since, much like most of his Indian Creek teammates.</p><p>He would like to, but he can’t.</p><p>“I’ve wrestled since sixth grade. This is weird. I was at my girlfriend’s basketball game, just sitting there watching, and the (middle school team) needed a 70-pounder,” Heaston recalled. “I was, like, 68 pounds at the time, so they just pulled me in the room.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>“When I first went in, the practice was really hard, but after the first couple matches I saw how fun it was. I went 16-1 my sixth-grade year and decided to stick with it. With wrestling, it’s on you. It’s your responsibility whether you win or lose.”</p><p>The unusual introduction to the sport began what’s already become an impressive high school career for the fearless 5-foot sophomore.</p><p>As a freshman last season, he advanced to the Bloomington South Regional as a 106-pounder before losing to Jasper junior Jainier Milanes in the opening round and finishing with a 23-10 record.</p><p>Heaston is off to a 14-2 start in the same weight class this season. Earlier this month, he was the lone Brave among the 14 individual weight-class champions at the Johnson County meet.</p><p>“Jackson is still learning. He’s realizing now that he can wrestle with some of the better kids in the state,” Indian Creek coach Pat Dowty said. “His confidence is slowly growing. He’s lost to two ranked kids this year (Toby Billerman of Perry Meridian and Crawford County junior Donnie Feeler), so he’s doing really well. Jackson has his goals set high, and he’s going to keep working.”</p><p>Heaston did not make the jump to a higher weight class this year, but he plans to during his final two high school seasons.</p><p>“Jackson is just smaller-framed, but he’s really a strong 106-pounder, too. He’s explosive and catches a lot of guys off-guard because he’s so explosive,” Dowty said. “He planned on being at 106 this year, but his eighth-grade year he wrestled 85. We knew we were going to really work to get some weight on him so that he could be a solid 106 last season.”</p><p>Heaston is a more polished product this season as a varsity wrestler. As a result, his postseason goals this winter don’t stop at regional.</p><p>“I feel I’m a lot better with my top and bottom stuff, because last year it was just hard for me to get off the bottom,” Heaston said. “This year it’s gotten a lot easier. This year I’m starting to get points on top and stuff like that. My goal is to wrestle 113 next year, then 120 my senior year.</p><p>“I’m just trying to get heavier to prepare me for college.”</p>
