On Monday, Osceola High School Senior Jaekus Hines was joined by family, friends, fellow teammates, and Osceola High School staff as he signed for a wrestling scholarship on his way to Appalachian State.
Hines, who recently repeated as State Champion at 140, last year at 132, said he chose Appalachian because they are a school filled with great tradition, and that he’s been told it will remind him of Osceola High School with regard to staff and the camaradarie he has experienced with Kowboy teammates and staff.
“I’m hoping when I get to Appalachian State I can really get everyone’s attention and stand out as a Freshman,” Hines said at his signing. “It’s been tough deciding on a college because of COVID-19. “It’s been hard, I really haven’t been able to visit any of the schools in person, there have been a lot of Zoom calls, so it’s been tough,” Hines explained.
Jaeksu Hines, who will major in Business at Appalachian State, isn’t the only member of his family who has excelled in wrestling for Osceola, his old brother Malyke, also won numerous state titles with the Kowboys.
When asked who has been his inspiration in life, Hines responded that its been his dad. Of course, Osceola’s Coach Jim Bird was quick to point out at the signing that Jaekus actually meant his dad, AND, mom.
From here Hines and the rest of the Kowboys wrestling team will head into districts in Class 3A where they’re expected to win, and then move onto qualifying their wrestlers for regionals a week later.
