For James Kramer, a senior at Laguna Beach High School, wrestling has never been just a sport but a test of character, discipline, and mental strength. A senior standout and fierce competitor, Kramer’s journey is defined by one principle: relentlessness.
In 8th grade, James, or as his teammates call him, ¨Jimmy¨, started jiu-jitsu because he was already competing at a national level and was planning on doing it as a PE credit. However, he realized wrestling was an option at his school, and he was interested because it was similar to jiu-jitsu, but it was more fast-paced and competitive, so he did jiu-jitsu on the side and switched his focus to wrestling. When James joined his freshman year, the program had just started, and he was actually the first person to ever join. He was immediately thrown into varsity, and it was nerve-racking for him. James won his first-ever match and was hooked from then on. His freshman year, he placed fourth at league finals and was competing against senior wrestlers, who were top 40 in the state.
A Memorable Match at Cossarek
Ask James about a moment that stands out in his high school wrestling career, and he’ll take you back to Cossarek, one of California’s most competitive tournaments.
It was his junior year. He was cutting weight to compete at 157 pounds, going head-to-head with his rival from Marina High School, a rematch with the emotional intensity of a title bout.
“I had beat him in a duel before,” James recalls, “but that match was close. This one felt even more important — it was for the blood round, and we were tied almost the whole time. I thought it was 13-13, but I was actually up by one.”
With the match hanging in the balance, James executed a stand-up for a crucial escape point, winning 14-12. “It was huge,” he says. “We both knew how evenly matched we were. That win mattered.”
Mind Over Muscle: The Mental Game of Wrestling
While physical training is key, James believes wrestling is won in the mind.
“The conditioning has to be insane, sure. But mentally? You’ve got to push through when your body feels like it’s shutting down,” he says. “Sometimes your vision blurs, your arms stop responding — and still, you have to keep going.”
James credits his mental growth as a major difference between his earlier seasons and his final year.
“As a senior, everything clicked. I wasn’t nervous. I didn’t hesitate. I wasn’t worried about making mistakes. I just went out there and performed.”
That clarity led him to a standout moment at CIF, where he tech-falled his opponent, a dominant 15-point win that left no doubt who controlled the mat.
Support on and off the Mat
Behind every great athlete is someone who believes in them, and for James, that person was Barron Zapada, a teammate and mentor.
“He called me Jimmy,” James says, smiling. “He’d remind me that I had nothing to be scared of. He believed in me, especially when I didn’t believe in myself.”
Barron’s encouragement helped James find his footing and confidence, particularly in high-stakes moments.
A Legacy of Growth
James doesn’t plan to continue wrestling in college, but he knows the lessons he’s learned will stay with him forever.
“Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy,” he says, quoting a popular wrestling mantra. “The sport teaches you how to suffer, how to push through, and how to win — even when everything in your body tells you to stop.”
His advice to future wrestlers? Don’t obsess over cutting weight. Instead, focus on finding a balance that keeps your energy high. More importantly, embrace the discipline and mental toughness that wrestling instills.
Stats, Awards, and What’s Next
James’s senior season ended with a strong 16–8 record, capped by a 6th-place finish at CIF. Over his career, he earned multiple accolades, including, Exceptional Wrestler Award, Outstanding Wrestler Award, Team Spirit Award, and multiple medals and banquet honors
He also beat a nationally ranked top-50 wrestler during his junior year, a victory that, though unrecorded in official rankings, speaks volumes about his skill level.
As he prepares to graduate from LBHS, James Kramer leaves behind a legacy built on resilience, humility, and heart. His name may no longer appear in match lineups, but the mindset he sharpened through years of wrestling will carry him through every challenge that comes next.
