State Champion

Poplar’s Gorder Captures Title At Montana’s First Ever Girls’ All-State Wrestling Meet

When Poplar’s junior Jazmin Gorder was heading to the first ever girls’ all-state wrestling tournament in Billings, she didn’t have winning a state championship on her mind.

“It didn’t matter if I won or lost, as long as I did my best,” Gorder said of her feelings before her last two matches at the state meet.

Her mindset, however, changed the night prior to the semi-final and title matches held Saturday, Feb. 20, at Lockwood High School in Billings.

“We spent Friday evening going over game plans for her matches on Saturday,” Poplar coach Jason Frederick said. “We went over her support from her parents and others that night. I saw a switch turn on that evening. At that point, I knew I had a state champion!”

Gorder won each of her two matches on Saturday on pins to earn the state championship at 113 pounds.

“Jazmin was on a mission this weekend,” Frederick said. “No one was going to stop her from accomplishing this goal.”

The honor roll student remembers the excitement she experienced after winning that championship match.

“I jumped in the air and said, ‘yes,’” Gorder noted. “After my hand was raised, I jumped into my coach’s arms.”

Frederick said, “When she ran to me after the match and jumped into my arms, it was a great feeling. But, truthfully, all I could think was where is her dad. She should be jumping into his arms.”

They then spotted Chris Gorder in the stands. He earned a state championship when he was a wrestler for Poplar in 2003.

“He was excited,” Jazmin said of her father. “He believed in me so much.”

“All I could do was point at him and tell her to go get him,” Frederick said. “I watched as her mother hugged her with tears. I and the rest of the staff are very proud of her.”

Frederick said that Chris Gorder served as a volunteer coach for Poplar’s wrestling program for several years.

“Chris has been her biggest supporter and, as a former state champion himself, he has inspired not only her, but the entire team and coaching staff,” Frederick said. “Chris is always there, warming her up, getting her ready for her matches. I saw how proud he was of her and how much that meant to her.”

During the first day of action at the state meet, Gorder won matches on a pin and technical fall.

Frederick expressed appreciation to his coaching staff including Jeff Berger, Morgan Norgaard, Zane Wofford and Jeffrey Berger for all their hard work.

Gorder appreciates the support of the coaches, her family and her friends.

She started the sport when she was in eighth grade. She adds that her two younger sisters wrestle at the AAU level.

“It took a while to start winning matches,” Jazmin said. Her first victory finally came during an AAU meet held in Glendive.

She has gotten used to being a winner since that time. Her record this year was 16-3.

Her hope now is to become a two-time state champion and have Poplar’s girls be in contention for a team trophy. “We will have a lot more girls next year,” she said.

Along with wrestling, Gorder competes in volleyball and track. Her events in track are the 800, 1600, javelin and long jump.

“It means a lot to bring a championship home for our team and our town,” Gorder said.