Don’t ask Jordan Goodarz to figure it out.
“I can’t explain it, I really can’t,” said the Steinert senior of his fast start in wrestling this year. “I don’t know.”
Known predominantly for being one of the top place kickers in Mercer County football over the past two years, Goodarz wrestled for the first time in his life on the Spartans JV team as a freshman. He went 2-2 for varsity as a sophomore, winning both matches in a tournament, then took last year off to focus on football.
Goodarz decided to return this year in order to stay in shape for what he hopes will be a college football career. He did a lot more than that in the season’s first three weeks, going undefeated in his first seven matches with four pins.
Since Goodarz had no explanation, the question was posed to Spartans wrestling coach Adam Jankos.
“He’s just an athlete,” Jankos said. “He’s a senior, he’s physical, and he’s very, very strong for his size.”
Jankos feels his work in football transcends to wrestling.
“He trains as a kicker, and he does a lot of legwork,” the coach said. “You can see, he’s got great legs and a midsection that’s all muscle. He knows where to place his hips, he knows how to position himself. Against Robbinsville, he went up against a kid who was jacked, a big muscular kid, and Jordan knew he could out-wrestle him.”
Steinert football coach Dan Caruso is quite familiar with Goodarz and the sport of wrestling. Caruso runs the scoreboard at wrestling matches, wrestled in high school and was a former assistant for Jankos.
“Jordan is a great athlete and he is incredibly strong,” Caruso said. “It does not surprise me he is going so well because he hates to lose. He worked so hard last year in the off-season to get strong and it has paid dividends for him in football, and now again in wrestling. He holds the school record for hang clean (lift) with 305 pounds.”
And while many coaches like when a player drops one sport to focus on the sport they are coaching, Caruso takes the opposite route.
“I honestly don’t like it when kids quit a sport to focus on football,” he said. “I think the best thing they can do in the off-season is compete in another sport as much as possible. I think another year with Jankos would’ve been great for him but that’s water under the bridge now.”
Fortunately, it has not been troubled waters, as Goodarz meant automatic points for Steinert through mid-January despite wrestling up at 182 pounds. Twice he gave the Spartans their only points (besides forfeits) in a match when he decisioned Hopewell’s Darrell Spencer and pinned Robbinsville’s Brian Nodine while wrestling at 195.
“I only weigh 175, I should be wrestling 170,” Goodarz said. “Districts I’ll probably be 170, maybe 182, it depends on what the coach says to me.”
It matters not to Jankos where Goodarz wrestles, as the coach always has faith.
“I actually have this weird confidence when he rolls out on the mat, that he’s gonna figure out a way to win,” Jankos said. “He’s a smart kid, he knows about wrestling, and he’s really strong. I think those three things can go a long way.”
One thing that can’t be overlooked is the strength. Unlike a lot of place kickers, Goodarz is not a slightly built guy who boots the ball then stays out of the way. As a linebacker/defensive back, he was one of Steinert’s hardest hitters on defense.
He is also very athletic, which helps offset some inexperience.
“I like wrestling neutral, definitely,” he said. “I’m not a fan of being on the mat. I like taking my shots. I don’t like being on top or bottom. I just feel I can use my athleticism. When I’m on the top and bottom, I’m not good with the moves in those positions, so I like getting my shots and then getting him on his stomach and throwing in a half or whatever I can do.”
One of Caruso’s biggest concerns was if Goodarz could wrestle hard for an entire six minutes. A 15-4 major decision over Ewing’s Cristian Roman-Deveney on Jan. 11 took away those fears.
“He has really great hips for a guy who has limited wrestling experience in high school, but to be honest I was worried about how he would fair later in a match, like in the third period,” Caruso said. “I got my answer (against Roman-Deveney) when I saw his match go into the third. I was highly impressed that he was able to wrestle at a high level for an entire match and finish.”
‘He’s 7-0 right now, and I know it’s building his confidence like crazy.’
Goodarz’s original reason for trying wrestling as a freshman was to stay in shape for football. That’s understandable in ninth grade, since he probably did not know how much work goes into it. But why would anyone return for the torture of the wrestling room as a senior?
Turns out, it was the same reason.
“Just to keep in shape,” Goodarz said. “I definitely gained strength. I knew I’d have a little advantage on that. I’m not the most technical guy, but my strength is what helps me out most of the time.”
He is doing a lot more than just staying physically fit, much to his surprise.
“It’s kind of weird. I wasn’t expecting to be doing what I’m doing now,” Goodarz said. “I thought maybe I’d only be on JV. I had a feeling I’d be on varsity a little bit. After these matches, I think I have a spot now.”
Caruso feels the sport of wrestling suits Goodarz’s personality.
“Jordan isn’t the kid that backs down from a challenge or backs down from pain and hard work,” he said. “Wrestling for him is not torture. He’s having fun out there. That’s just the kind of kid he is.”
Jankos said the fun may continue longer than anyone might imagine. If Goodarz continues to improve during the season, his coach feels he may surprise a few people at the county and district tournaments.
“I think he could,” Jankos said. “I’m very impressed with him. We’ll see as the season goes on. He’s 7-0 right now, and I know it’s building his confidence like crazy. I’m really looking forward to it.”
So is Goodarz, who said, “I’d like to at least win districts. We’ll see.”
If he does win, just don’t ask him to explain it.
Steinert’s Jordan Goodarz (right) makes a move to take down Robbinsville’s Brian Nodine Jan. 4, 2017. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.),
