Published: Friday, February 8, 2008
Will the big boys of wrestling measure up?
Heavyweights Michael Pfeiff of Marysville-Pilchuck, Jake Reinhard of Snohomish and Zach Teuber of Lake Stevens try to advance to the Mat Classic.
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Jennifer Buchanan/The Herald
Marysville-Pilchuck's Michael Pfeiff (left) and Snohomish's Jake Reinhard will compete in the regional tournament in Vancouver.
Watch out for the big boys.
Some of the most compelling, competitive matches at last weekend's Class 4A District 1 wrestling tournament were generated by the largest guys in the gym. Heavyweights Michael Pfeiff (Marysville-Pilchuck High School), Jake Reinhard (Snohomish High) and Zach Teuber (Lake Stevens High) had memorable clashes en route to placing 1-2-3, respectively, in the 285-pound division.
After bashing each other all season, now the Western Conference North Division foes will see how they measure up against competitors from Southwest Washington.
The 4A Region 1 tourney is Saturday at Skyview High in Vancouver. The top four placers in each weight division advance to Mat Classic, the state championships at the Tacoma Dome.
Reinhard, Pfeiff and Teuber are ranked Nos. 4-6 in 4A by Washington Wrestling Report. It's conceivable the three local bruisers will win three of the four individual state berths and dominate Greater St. Helens League foes.
The local heavyweight crew is one of the best in the area in years, Lake Stevens coach Brent Barnes said. They seriously challenged one another last weekend. Reinhard edged Teuber 3-2 in an all-junior district semifinal. Reinhard went on to lose to Pfeiff, a senior, in the final, 6-4 in overtime.
Unlike the past three seasons, when regional tourneys were conveniently held at Snohomish and Jackson, Wesco grapplers must endure a long road trip before trying to earn a trip to Mat Classic. For Oak Harbor it's a 500-mile roundtrip journey.
The main competition for top-ranked Lake Stevens, the defending 4A state champion, and No. 6 Snohomish should be Heritage and Battleground, ranked 11th and 12th, respectively.
The key for Lake Stevens, coach Barnes said, will be prevailing in tight matches, something the Vikings struggled to do at the district tourney.
"We're going to have to turn it around. We're going to have to win those close ones," said Barnes.
Snohomish prepared for the regional road trip by scheduling early-season expeditions to invitational tourneys in Vancouver and Moses Lake. Those experiences should help the Panthers significantly, Snohomish coach Kevin Judkins said.
One Snohomish competitor to look out for is 135-pound district champ Stefan St. Marie, whose season record is 34-0. St. Marie's main competition might come from Lake Stevens teammates Josh Monson and Alex Pellegrini, who last weekend placed second and third.
St. Marie, ranked fourth in 4A, is a junior who leads like a senior.
"He's always getting everybody going. Awesome guy," said teammate Richard Reed, the 160-pound district champ. "He's probably the most inspirational person you'll ever meet. He works harder than anybody (and) his attitude about the sport, about life and everything in general -- he's just a great guy."
Despite his success, St. Marie is focused on present challenges.
"I like to think that the season is starting over now. Everybody who's wrestled throughout the year, no matter what they did, they're all (equal) at this tournament," he said. "Anybody can show up anybody."
Added St. Marie, "Nothing matters past yesterday. What matters is what you're doing today and tomorrow."
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
Some of the most compelling, competitive matches at last weekend's Class 4A District 1 wrestling tournament were generated by the largest guys in the gym. Heavyweights Michael Pfeiff (Marysville-Pilchuck High School), Jake Reinhard (Snohomish High) and Zach Teuber (Lake Stevens High) had memorable clashes en route to placing 1-2-3, respectively, in the 285-pound division.
After bashing each other all season, now the Western Conference North Division foes will see how they measure up against competitors from Southwest Washington.
The 4A Region 1 tourney is Saturday at Skyview High in Vancouver. The top four placers in each weight division advance to Mat Classic, the state championships at the Tacoma Dome.
Reinhard, Pfeiff and Teuber are ranked Nos. 4-6 in 4A by Washington Wrestling Report. It's conceivable the three local bruisers will win three of the four individual state berths and dominate Greater St. Helens League foes.
The local heavyweight crew is one of the best in the area in years, Lake Stevens coach Brent Barnes said. They seriously challenged one another last weekend. Reinhard edged Teuber 3-2 in an all-junior district semifinal. Reinhard went on to lose to Pfeiff, a senior, in the final, 6-4 in overtime.
Unlike the past three seasons, when regional tourneys were conveniently held at Snohomish and Jackson, Wesco grapplers must endure a long road trip before trying to earn a trip to Mat Classic. For Oak Harbor it's a 500-mile roundtrip journey.
The main competition for top-ranked Lake Stevens, the defending 4A state champion, and No. 6 Snohomish should be Heritage and Battleground, ranked 11th and 12th, respectively.
The key for Lake Stevens, coach Barnes said, will be prevailing in tight matches, something the Vikings struggled to do at the district tourney.
"We're going to have to turn it around. We're going to have to win those close ones," said Barnes.
Snohomish prepared for the regional road trip by scheduling early-season expeditions to invitational tourneys in Vancouver and Moses Lake. Those experiences should help the Panthers significantly, Snohomish coach Kevin Judkins said.
One Snohomish competitor to look out for is 135-pound district champ Stefan St. Marie, whose season record is 34-0. St. Marie's main competition might come from Lake Stevens teammates Josh Monson and Alex Pellegrini, who last weekend placed second and third.
St. Marie, ranked fourth in 4A, is a junior who leads like a senior.
"He's always getting everybody going. Awesome guy," said teammate Richard Reed, the 160-pound district champ. "He's probably the most inspirational person you'll ever meet. He works harder than anybody (and) his attitude about the sport, about life and everything in general -- he's just a great guy."
Despite his success, St. Marie is focused on present challenges.
"I like to think that the season is starting over now. Everybody who's wrestled throughout the year, no matter what they did, they're all (equal) at this tournament," he said. "Anybody can show up anybody."
Added St. Marie, "Nothing matters past yesterday. What matters is what you're doing today and tomorrow."
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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