Wrestler finds success on and off the mat

Like a lot of top-tier high school athletes, Adarios Jones used to see his life solely through his sport.

Success on the wrestling mat equated to success in life.

But a life-threatening scare with stage 4 cancer three years ago refocused his priorities.

Jones had been a scholarship heavyweight wrestler at Division-I Northern Iowa, building on an Illinois high state championship career at Moline High School.

Following his unexpected recovery from cancer, Jones transferred to Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, in part to be closer to home. He¡¯s found the fit even better than he ever expected.

¡°I used to want to go to college just to wrestle,¡± he said. ¡°But Augie has made school something I want to do because I love learning and want to excel in whatever I do.¡±

Jones brings a No. 7 national ranking at 285 pounds and 34-3 record into the NCAA Division-III national meet March 10-11. He¡¯s also midway through a college journey that¡¯s set to make him the first in his family to earn a bachelor¡¯s degree.

A sense of belonging at Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø has been a key factor.

¡°The minute I stepped on campus I felt at home,¡± Jones said. ¡°The beautiful campus and the staff made me feel like I was doing something for me, and not just to get a degree.

¡°I was going somewhere to build a life, and not just sit in a class.¡±

Jones is still debating a career in law enforcement or teaching. His double major in business and philosophy is providing him the well-rounded balance to have a flexible skillset upon graduation.

Steady progress could also lead to Jones¡¯ goal of wrestling internationally, ideally in the Olympics. Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø coach Eric Juergens sees that determination on a daily basis and helps reinforce that drive.

¡°Adarios always comes to practice ready to get better,¡± Juergens said. ¡°He always is focused and does all he can to prepare to win.

¡°We are simply trying to help him achieve his goals while preparing him for life, and I'd like to think we are helping him in both areas.¡±

Jones¡¯ greatest reward so far at Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø has been a shift in his feelings toward academics. Jones approaches his coursework with much the same intensity as he finds on the wrestling mat.

¡°The professors here have been amazing in helping me understand the coursework,¡± he said. ¡°As long as you go in and see them and make the effort, they are always there to help.

¡°I'd pretty much just say that they¡¯ve done nothing but ensure I was set up for success.¡±