Mountain View senior Bailey Janis, top, fought through some life struggles by focusing on being the best he could at wrestling. The results have been spectacular.
Photo by Jason Skoda
Bailey Janis' young mind wouldn't let him think anything else for the longest time.
As much as he was told otherwise, no matter how many times the front door didn't open, Janis never lost faith that his father would come home.
"You are so young you don't know what is going on," he said. "You just show up at home and then the next thing you know you are being told your dad has passed.
"When you are young, you are like ‘Yeah, right. He will be back tonight, he will be back tonight.' When he never showed up that's when it really hit."
His dad, a police officer, was gone after committing suicide. It was the first time Janis dealt with loss, but not the last.
It wasn't long after that, when he was in the fifth grade, that the
Mountain View (Tucson) senior chose to sever ties with his mother. Janis, who lives with his grandparents, Mark and Jody Janis, made the mature decision to break away from his mom, ending all visitation rights, because of drug use.
It's no wonder Janis gravitated toward a singular sport like wrestling. In a lot of ways, he's been battling on his own for a long time already.
"All throughout life you are going to have challenges and they are usually one-on-one decisions," Janis said after Thursday's action at Tim's Toyota Center. "With me and my dad and my mom I've had to deal with it. It helps me stay driven to overcome that one obstacle."
Janis cruised through the Division II state tournament, finishing off his second state title on Friday, at 113 pounds with an 8-4 win over James Zuckerman of Raymond Kellis.
"My expectations were the same," he said. "It's never easy. It is always a dog fight."
Janis, who is built like a boulder and as quick as an avalanche, is a four-time state qualifier and three-time state placer (he finished fifth as a freshman) with a career record of 170-20 and 98-1 over the last two seasons.
He might not get as much recognition as some of the state's other multiple state champions, but pound-for-pound there might be only one wrestler – four-time state champion Dalton Brady of Chandler – better than Janis in all of the state.
Janis said the new coaching staff at Mountain View (PJ Ponce took over the program last season) has allowed him to reach a new level.
"They have made a big difference in my life and not just wrestling," Janis said. "They've helped build character as well."
Add that support to what he gets in his realigned home life and it is easy to see that Janis never let the difficult course of his life harden his approach.
"Bailey is an incredibly strong person," Ponce said. "Wrestling gives you tools you can apply to life and I don't think there is an obstacle he can't overcome."
Sunnyside (Tucson) won the Division I team standings,
Ironwood Ridge (Tucson) took the Division II honors,
Thunderbird (Phoenix) won Division III and
Camp Verde won the Division IV title.
Below is a list of Division I and Division II individual champions.
Janis celebrates with the coaching staff after closing out his career by winning 98 of his last 99 matches, including the win over Raymond Kellis' James Zuckerman.
Photo by Jason Skoda
106 -- Jacob Reyes (VVista) 9-1 maj. dec. Alex Calderon (Mary); 113 -- Juaqin Olivas (SSide) 15-6 maj. dec. Kamden Krum 120 -- Efran Hernandez (CHay) 2-1 dec. Andres Gandara (Cib); 126 -- William Olivas (SSide) 2-0 dec. Tristan Moran (Chan); 132 -- Glenn Farina (CDS) 2-0 dec. Luis Nunez (Cib); 138 -- Dalton Brady (Chan) 5-3 dec. Dajour Reece (CChavez); 145 -- Michael Suwyn (Mtn Ridge) 8-6 dec. Curt Done (High); 152 -- Seth Monty (MeMtV) 3-0 dec. Richard Miranda III (WestV); 160 -- Ethan Tursini (CDS) 4-2 dec. Kordell Provchy (WestV); 170 -- Trey Ronayne (Basha) 7-1 dec. Jro Byrd (BCreek); 182 -- Alex Bambic (DVista) 11-5 dec. Joseph Miranda (Chan); 195 -- Gabriel Gonzales (SSide) 7-5 dec. Wes Westbrook (Cent); 220 -- Ben Andrew (Mesa) pin Bradley Burston (CChavez); HWT -- Keyley Ellis (Gilbert) 5-3 dec. Robert Schrock (Mesa).
DIVISION II: 106 pounds -- Nathan Mendivil (GRidge) pin Jason Ayala (Cienega); 113 -- Bailey Janis (MaMtV) 8-4 dec. James Zuckerman (RKellis); 120 -- Austin Gerber (GRidge) pin Branden Edwards (AJ); 126 -- Jacob Swift (DValley) 3-2 dec. Anthony Wokasch (QC); 132 -- Troy Vandall (Gold) 3-2 dec. Jesse Morales (MDN); 138 -- Tate Sandifer (IRWR) 15-0 tech fall Chase Meade (Marana); 145 -- Troy Taylor (IRWR) 3-0 dec. Isaac Saenz (GRidge); 152 -- Matt Filbert (IRWR) pin Emanuel Pjetrushi (NDame); 160 -- TJ Guderman (Cienega) 4-3 dec. Eli Callahan (Marana); 170 -- Hayden Moore (QC) 7-3 dec. Tristan Mordecai (IRWR); 182 -- Austin Gaun (Flag) pin Cameron Nelson (IRWR); 195 -- Scott Simmons (IRWR) 5-1 dec. Adam Berry (Liberty); 220 --Derek Crain (MDN) 9-0 maj. dec. Danny Reyes (Gold); HWT --Kyle Jividen (Sahuaro) pin Elijah Williams (South).
DIVISION III: -- 106 pounds: Josh Kramer (Verr) 16-8 maj. dec. Cole Mortensen (Snow); 113: Ted Rico (Combs) 3-1 dec. over Ryan Felipe (TBird); 120: Gabe Galaviz (Coco) 8-5 dec. Zach Sobarzo (DEdge); 126: Isaiah Gomez (TBird) 8-3 dec. John Michael Stib (Salp); 132: Ryan Vandall (MoonV) pin Sergio Chavez (Cool); 138: Eric Jeong (Rio Rico) 3-2 dec. Geovanni Payan (Amphi); 145: Mark Lopez (Rio Rico) 10-0 maj. dec. Donsel Seldon (RiverV); 152: Jesus Berrera (Amphi) 10-6 dec. Hank Goettl (Mingus); 160: Conner Anderson (Payson) 7-4 dec. Andrew Capirchio (FHills); 170: Felipe Nava (Sierra Linda) pin Parker Keime (BlueR); 182: Jorge Robles (Sahuarita) 5-4 dec. Oswaldo Barajas (Youngker); 195: Jacob Badger (BlueR) 7-3 dec. Milton Cabezas (MoonV); 220: Patrick Penniston (Rio Rico) 16-4 maj. dec. William McKay (Salp); HWT: JT Bradley (Snow) 3-2 dec. Jared Krall (Coco).
DIVISION IV: -- 106 pounds: Matt Mejia (CV) pin Joe Guerra (Morenci); 113: Alex Casillas (CV) SV1 4-2 Bryce Castagna (Willcox); 120: Ross Ens (Benson) 5-4 dec. Ethan Workman (Round V); 126: Eli Frazier (StJ) SV-I 8-6 Isaiah McReynolds (CV); 132: Ryan Allred (CV) 4-3 dec. Dallyn Despain (Mogoll); 138: Ryan Shatto (Parker) 12-3 maj. dec. Smiley Beecroft (Mogoll); 145: Tyler Crosby (StJ) 8-6 dec. Joel Lobaugh (CV); 152: Alex Anzar (CV) 16-3 maj. dec. Sherod Bride (StJ); 160: Heath Carroll (CV) 9-1 maj. dec. Brock Crosby (StJ); 170: Jared Anderson (StJ) pin Joey Simpson (Benson); 182: Garrett Davis (StJ) pin Jeremy Jesus (Window Rock); 195: Ben Miller (Willcox) 6-2 dec. Baylend Stephens (Mogoll); 220: Jake Lee (San Tan FH) TB-I 4-3 Frank Ogas (Morenci); HWT: Santiago Robledo (Morenci) pin Jensen Tyler (Thatcher).
Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee Foothills News staff writer, is a 18-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.
