Jensen overcomes a life of trial to triumph on the mat

by Armondo Borboa

After years of bad choices and wrong turns, Richard Jensen has turned his life around by rediscovering a familiar pastime

The most remarkable characteristic that all great athletes share isn't how often they win. Rather it is how often they pick themselves up after each fall.

Clackamas wrestler Richard Jensen knows how to lose, and he has lost big-time. He lost 17 hazy years of his life to alcohol and meth addiction, as well as 13 months spent in prison for drug-related crimes.

"I just can't believe I'm here (on the team)," said Jensen about making a spot for himself on the Clackamas wrestling team "I used to wrestle in high school; I loved it. But then I just threw it all away."

Jensen has been clean and sober for approximately four years, and he plans to remain that way. He has enrolled in a certification course and is now learning a legitimate trade in the college's automotive program.
He is finally learning what it means to win. After two seasons of competing, he has won back his self-respect and earned the admiration of his teammates. Most important, however, he came back from the devastating edge over which too many drug addicts fall.

Despite being 37 years old and competing in a sport dominated by men in their early twenties, Jensen placed second in his weight class at this month's regional finals. With his team making third place overall in the Region 18 Championships, he is already a winner in the eyes of his teammates and fans for the long road he has traveled.

"Not everyone can do this (competition sports), and especially not at his age," said Men's Wrestling Coach Josh Rhoden at the teams' final practice before the championship match. "This guy has heart like you wouldn't believe."

But Jensen's goals involve more than simply wrestling. He aspires to secure a career through the automotive program and perhaps receive a scholarship.

In addition, he hopes to become a motivational speaker and be able to share his insights on drugs and redemption. He wants the opportunity to counsel younger people facing their own hard choices.
"Once you hit bottom, you have to decide for yourself that you want something different," he said. "Nobody can decide for you, and nobody can make you do it."

It is this drive gained from his experiences that makes Jensen push himself to achieve. Despite a misspent youth, the scars still visible on his face and body, he has an indomitable will and a positive attitude that cannot help but motivate those around him.

"We have a lot of exceptional students in our sports program," said Athletics Direction Jim Jackson. "Some of them stand out in more ways than one."

To be fair, not all attention is positive attention. According to Jensen, now that he has received so much coverage from the local media, it sometimes feels like he had a target on his back during competitions.

"Some of these guys I'm facing, I just know they want to take me down hard," Jensen said with a laugh.