Memory Of Fatal Accident Can’t Keep Wrestler Down

When Jed Pennell wrestles in the state championships this week, he won’t just be wrestling for himself.

The 15-year-old sophomore at Illinois Valley High School isn’t doing anything just for himself anymore.

He’s doing it for his 5-year-old brother, who died three months ago when the family’s car crashed with Jed at the wheel.

“I’ve pretty much dedicated my whole life to him,” Jed said. “I feel I have to live for him, experience things that he didn’t have the opportunity to.”

Pennell is the state’s second-ranked wrestler in the Class 3A at 151 pounds. He has a 26-3 record and is a Skyline Conference champion.

But his success on the mat can’t erase what happened that awful November night.

The Pennell family had gone body surfing in the Pacific near Crescent City, Calif.

Jed had recently earned his learner’s permit and his dad, Pat, let him drive. His brothers Trevor, 5, and Jason, 11, were also in the car.

He navigated through the twisting two-lane stretches of Highway 199 without a problem. But 20 minutes from home, Jed tired and dozed off and crashed the car.

The four were rushed to hospitals in Grants Pass. Jed, Pat and Jason were treated for cuts and bruises.

Trevor, asleep at the time of the accident, never woke up.

“Of course there’s guilt because it was my fault I wrecked,” he said. “And it was my fault, even though I’ve had at least 50 different people tell me it’s not.

“I think I’ve handled it pretty well. It’s not something you can change. I won’t think about it for a while and then something will trigger it. A memory or a dream, anything. All you can do is say a prayer and cry a little and the next day you get back to business.”