Published: Friday, February 16, 2007
Everett twins hope to double their fun as Mat Classic begins
John and Brian Raby both compete in the Class 3A heavyweight division
It's fairly common for brothers to qualify for Mat Classic, but identical twins from Everett High School have put a unique spin on the feat.
John and Brian Raby, both seniors, will represent the Seagulls in Mat Classic XIX, the state wrestling championships held today and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.
Here's the twist: The Rabys both qualified in the heavyweight division for the Class 3A tournament and are in opposite halves of the bracket, so they could actually meet in the finals. They'd have to generate some upsets to get there, but it wouldn't be the first time the twins battled for a championship.
Most recently, they clashed in the regional final last weekend, with John taking a 2-1 decision.
Besides the obvious things, the Rabys are unique because they've improved so drastically. They went from struggling as freshmen and sophomores to excelling as seniors, especially since mid-season, Everett coach Brien Elliott said.
"I am proud of them for sticking with it, especially since they have received no praise as it went to the other big guns on the team," Elliott said.
John has a season win-loss record of 28-3 and Brian is 13-6. The Rabys are two of Everett's program-record nine state qualifiers, Elliott said. The Seagulls, ranked No. 5 in 3A by Washington Wrestling Report, placed second behind 3A favorite Sedro-Woolley at regionals.
In 4A, a tough-to-crack senior looks to continue his impressive roll for Kamiak. Nik Huss (145 pounds) won a regional crown and is somewhat of a mystery because he spent last season in Montana living with his mother before returning to Kamiak.
"He doesn't give up any cheap points, so he might be the stingiest wrestler we've ever had at Kamiak," said Knights coach Dan Hanika. Huss, who wrestled two seasons at Kamiak before moving to Montana, is 25-4 and unbeaten against 145 foes.
"In the last couple of weeks, Nik has really hit his stride," Hanika said, "and we expect great things from him this weekend at the (Tacoma Dome)."
Another gifted 4A grappler is Mariner senior Zak Rydzak (215). The top-ranked standout is 30-1 (30-0 against 215-pounders) and seems ready to eclipse his 2006 showing, when he placed seventh at heavyweight. Colleges are pursuing Rydzak for his wrestling and football abilities, Mariner coach Otto Olson said.
"He's tenacious, offensive, and can change levels quickly," Olson said of Rydzak's mat skills.
Also in 4A, top-ranked Lake Stevens is expected to win its first team title since 2004. The Vikings send 13 wrestlers to state - an astonishing total - and feature at least four individual title contenders, including 130-pound senior Kelly Kubec (34-1).
Kubec said he hopes to win every match by pin as he chases a third-straight state title. So far, he's had pins in all eight postseason matches.
"He's in a whole other class, I would say. He's so smart and physically he's changed so much over the last year and put on a lot of muscle mass," Lake Stevens coach Brent Barnes said earlier this season. "He just works so hard in the weight room and now it's paying off. He's definitely one of the best I've ever coached."
Lake Stevens embraces the team favorite role.
"We're pretty vocal about it. Individual titles are cool but when you win together as a team it's even better," said junior Zach Zweifel (103, 32-3).
The mission is always to out-work everyone, said Vikings junior Josh Monson (135, 34-5): "I think that keeps us going and keeps us wanting more."
So who might challenge Lake Stevens? Barnes said the latest statewide reclassification of schools, which took effect in the fall, makes it difficult to predict the 4A tourney. "I can't remember a year in the past where you didn't have a real good idea, and there's a lot of questions this year," he said.
No. 2 Pasco (10 qualifiers, four regional champs), No. 6 Rogers of Puyallup (nine qualifiers, four regional champs), No. 7 University (11 qualifiers) and No. 9 Moses Lake (eight qualifiers) are all tough, said Barnes.
Snohomish, which placed second behind Lake Stevens at regionals, has seven Mat Classic qualifiers, its most in at least five years, Panthers coach Kevin Judkins said.
Pin-master Jeff Hales (160 pounds) is one of three Sultan competitors in the 2A brackets. Hales, a senior, has 28 victories, including 25 by pin. The other Sultan qualifiers are captain Abe Bray (152, 29-8) and sophomore Mike Varnell (125), whose grandfather placed third in the state in 1964 and wrestled with current Sultan coach Wes Fischer, Fischer said.
Darrington has high hopes in the 1B/2B tourney. Coach Jeremy Stafford's team has seven qualifiers, led by junior Conner Rounds (189, 28-2). "With the reclassification, we've really got a chance of doing something this year at state. (There's) a little less competition but it's good for the kids," said Stafford.
The 1B/2B tourney uses eight-man brackets, half the size of the other boys' tourneys. Ninth-ranked Darrington aims for a top-10 team finish, Stafford said. It would be the Loggers' best showing in at least 11 years.
John and Brian Raby, both seniors, will represent the Seagulls in Mat Classic XIX, the state wrestling championships held today and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.
Here's the twist: The Rabys both qualified in the heavyweight division for the Class 3A tournament and are in opposite halves of the bracket, so they could actually meet in the finals. They'd have to generate some upsets to get there, but it wouldn't be the first time the twins battled for a championship.
Most recently, they clashed in the regional final last weekend, with John taking a 2-1 decision.
Besides the obvious things, the Rabys are unique because they've improved so drastically. They went from struggling as freshmen and sophomores to excelling as seniors, especially since mid-season, Everett coach Brien Elliott said.
"I am proud of them for sticking with it, especially since they have received no praise as it went to the other big guns on the team," Elliott said.
John has a season win-loss record of 28-3 and Brian is 13-6. The Rabys are two of Everett's program-record nine state qualifiers, Elliott said. The Seagulls, ranked No. 5 in 3A by Washington Wrestling Report, placed second behind 3A favorite Sedro-Woolley at regionals.
In 4A, a tough-to-crack senior looks to continue his impressive roll for Kamiak. Nik Huss (145 pounds) won a regional crown and is somewhat of a mystery because he spent last season in Montana living with his mother before returning to Kamiak.
"He doesn't give up any cheap points, so he might be the stingiest wrestler we've ever had at Kamiak," said Knights coach Dan Hanika. Huss, who wrestled two seasons at Kamiak before moving to Montana, is 25-4 and unbeaten against 145 foes.
"In the last couple of weeks, Nik has really hit his stride," Hanika said, "and we expect great things from him this weekend at the (Tacoma Dome)."
Another gifted 4A grappler is Mariner senior Zak Rydzak (215). The top-ranked standout is 30-1 (30-0 against 215-pounders) and seems ready to eclipse his 2006 showing, when he placed seventh at heavyweight. Colleges are pursuing Rydzak for his wrestling and football abilities, Mariner coach Otto Olson said.
"He's tenacious, offensive, and can change levels quickly," Olson said of Rydzak's mat skills.
Also in 4A, top-ranked Lake Stevens is expected to win its first team title since 2004. The Vikings send 13 wrestlers to state - an astonishing total - and feature at least four individual title contenders, including 130-pound senior Kelly Kubec (34-1).
Kubec said he hopes to win every match by pin as he chases a third-straight state title. So far, he's had pins in all eight postseason matches.
"He's in a whole other class, I would say. He's so smart and physically he's changed so much over the last year and put on a lot of muscle mass," Lake Stevens coach Brent Barnes said earlier this season. "He just works so hard in the weight room and now it's paying off. He's definitely one of the best I've ever coached."
Lake Stevens embraces the team favorite role.
"We're pretty vocal about it. Individual titles are cool but when you win together as a team it's even better," said junior Zach Zweifel (103, 32-3).
The mission is always to out-work everyone, said Vikings junior Josh Monson (135, 34-5): "I think that keeps us going and keeps us wanting more."
So who might challenge Lake Stevens? Barnes said the latest statewide reclassification of schools, which took effect in the fall, makes it difficult to predict the 4A tourney. "I can't remember a year in the past where you didn't have a real good idea, and there's a lot of questions this year," he said.
No. 2 Pasco (10 qualifiers, four regional champs), No. 6 Rogers of Puyallup (nine qualifiers, four regional champs), No. 7 University (11 qualifiers) and No. 9 Moses Lake (eight qualifiers) are all tough, said Barnes.
Snohomish, which placed second behind Lake Stevens at regionals, has seven Mat Classic qualifiers, its most in at least five years, Panthers coach Kevin Judkins said.
Pin-master Jeff Hales (160 pounds) is one of three Sultan competitors in the 2A brackets. Hales, a senior, has 28 victories, including 25 by pin. The other Sultan qualifiers are captain Abe Bray (152, 29-8) and sophomore Mike Varnell (125), whose grandfather placed third in the state in 1964 and wrestled with current Sultan coach Wes Fischer, Fischer said.
Darrington has high hopes in the 1B/2B tourney. Coach Jeremy Stafford's team has seven qualifiers, led by junior Conner Rounds (189, 28-2). "With the reclassification, we've really got a chance of doing something this year at state. (There's) a little less competition but it's good for the kids," said Stafford.
The 1B/2B tourney uses eight-man brackets, half the size of the other boys' tourneys. Ninth-ranked Darrington aims for a top-10 team finish, Stafford said. It would be the Loggers' best showing in at least 11 years.
Comments
(