Inside the Iowa City West gym, away from the freezing weather that engulfed the outside of the school, senior wrestler Campbell Janis stepped into the spotlight for his final match on home soil.
On senior night, the 165 pounder held a 5-0 lead entering the third period against his opponent from Cedar Rapids Kennedy before adversity struck.
Janis was taken down and his lead shrank with a minute and change left, but he stayed composed.
He countered with a quick reversal that iced the match.
Janis’ 7-3 decision win added to a strong night for the home team, as the Trojans secured a 55-15 victory over Cedar Rapids Kennedy on Jan. 22.
“I was kind of in control that whole match, I wasn’t really worried about that takedown,” Janis said. “I knew I needed to get my points up and I just had to do something that could secure the win.”
Janis walked out to the song “Animal I Have Become” by Three Days Grace. A track that captures the identity Janis has built on the mat.
Janis looked like a workhorse against the Cougars — a wrestler with an engine that stayed running. He wouldn’t be denied a win in his final match at West — imposing his trademark strength through six minutes of mat time.
He improved his season record to 23-5 with his latest win.
“I think after four years he’s learned to stay solid the whole match,” said West coach Nate Moore. “We stay basic, we ride hard, we move our feet and just basic wrestling, and he comes out on top.”
Moore added: “He’s really good on top — he’s good on his feet. He’s just a good basic, solid wrestler and if you’re going to beat him, you better have your A game.”
Janis has embarked on a revenge tour this season. He missed out of the 2025 state tournament after he placed fourth at districts as a junior last season.
Today, he has built a senior campaign worthy of being in the state tournament picture. He began his season competing at 175 and 190 pounds before he rang in the new year by becoming West’s premier wrestler in its 165-pound slot.
He stormed out to an 11-0 start and followed it with a 12-5 record in the second half of the season. Most of his matches since the new year have come at 165 pounds.
Janis’ success this season is backed by the example he sets in West’s wrestling room. He’s a versatile wrestler, having competed in three weight classes this season. He’s wired to do what’s best for the team — a standard-bearer who keeps everyone locked in.
“He brings leadership and he holds people accountable in the room and doesn’t let them slack off,” said West senior Alexander Pierce. “He’s got that tough love our room needs.”
While there’s still wrestling to be done in his high school career, Janis’ win on Jan. 22 was a snapshot of his resilience. He’s a tenacious wrestler with his sights set on a deep run in the state tournament.
“The goal for me this year is to place at state,” Janis said. “I should’ve went to state last year and it didn’t work out my way and this year I’m coming for something.”
Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at MARay@gannett.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Campbell Janis is a gritty wrestler at Iowa City West
Reporting by Marc Ray, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
