Getting past the pain

After breaking meth's hold, wrestler Richard Jensen, at 37, is a likely No. 2 seed in the NJCAA Region 18 championships Saturday

Wednesday, February 06, 2008
JIM BESEDA The Oregonian Staff

OREGON CITY -- As the referee lifted his hand in victory, Richard Jensen was assessing which body parts hurt -- and how much.

When the ref finished, Jensen trotted to one side of the wrestling mat to shake hands with the opposing coach, then trudged back toward the Clackamas Community College bench in search of Kevin Arizo, the Cougars' trainer.

"Kevin, where's an ice pack?" asked Jensen, touching the knot rising from his chin.

Jensen found the ice pack in the red plastic cooler behind the bench and then sat on the floor. As he gently iced his chin, a fan in the stands to his left hollered.

"Keep livin' the dream, Richard!"

Jensen, a 37-year-old sophomore, looked up and smiled.

Under the best of circumstances, the human body isn't intended to absorb the blows of competitive wrestling at age 37. And Jensen has abused his body more than most people. He's a former methamphetamine addict and ex-convict who last year returned to the mat after a 17-year layoff.
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