Grayslake Central’s Matty Jens lost in a state championship match last year. He keeps reminders close by.

Matty Jens hangs his second-place medal over his bedroom door so he can see it every day.

Anytime he wants, the Grayslake Central junior can also watch video of his 5-2 loss to Crystal Lake South’s Shane Moran in the 182-pound championship match at the 2022 Class 2A individual state meet. It’s on his cellphone.

Jens watches it a lot.

“I want to remember what it felt like to get all the way to the finals and lose,” he said. “I don’t want to feel that way again. I want to finish my high school career as a two-time state champ.”

Jens’ motivational strategy has worked so far. He will bring a 23-0 record and No. 1 ranking at 182 into the Grayslake Central Regional on Saturday.

“I feel really good — and anxious to get the tournament started,” he said. “Everyone usually has something bothering them at this point in the season, but I feel pretty solid.”

Jens and Moran, who has graduated, met on the mat numerous times before their final bout for the title at the State Farm Center in Champaign last February. Jens doesn’t have any one wrestler standing in his way this season. He’s the one in everyone else’s way.

“I know I’m the favorite and the hunted, but I look at it like I don’t have to worry about who I’m facing at this point in the season,” he said. “I need to do what I need to do to be successful against anyone I’m lined up against. Whoever is up next, that’s who I’m preparing for.

“I was a little nervous in a big arena like that facing Moran in the final last season, but now I have the experience to be ready for something like that.”

Grayslake Central coach Matt Joseph said Jens will concentrate on taking care of business and resting for upcoming matches.

“That means getting off the mat as quickly as possible (with pinfalls) without wasting energy,” Joseph said.

If Jens does have to stay on the mat a little longer than expected, he’s ready for the challenge with his conditioning, according to Joseph.

“Matty went all over the Midwest this summer trying to find the best competition he could no matter what state,” Joseph said. “I know that made him a much stronger wrestler mentally and physically. He has really grown a lot since last season.”

In the fall, Jens turned his attention to his second-favorite sport — football — and earned all-area and all-conference honors as a linebacker/running back for the Rams.

His success has some people wondering whether football is in his future in college.

“Football is fun, but I have fallen love with the sport of wrestling,” he said. “I’m getting some calls now about wrestling in college, but I have time to make those decisions.”

Jens has three teammates — junior Anthony Alanis, junior Tyler Weidman and senior Aaron Cramer — who also have hopes of earning their second consecutive berth to the state meet.

Alanis (106) and Cramer (170), who will continue his career at SIU-Edwardsville, were state runners-up last season too.

“I get to go up against a great wrestler like Aaron just about every day in practice, so I’m definitely a better wrestler for it,” Jens said.

A strong showing in their regional could also earn the Rams their first team title at that level in 25 years.

“That would really be something for our team,” Jens said. “We have ranked guys, but we also have a lot of young guys who are coming up who have been making an impact for us.”

Darren Day is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.