Plenty of Wesco wrestlers at Mat Classic XX
At least that's how Zach Zweifel, a senior on the Lake Stevens High School wrestling team, sees it.
Zweifel, a 2007 state champion who competes in the 112-pound division, said he has gotten over his squad's loss against Snohomish Jan. 17. It ended Lake Stevens' well-known 15-year spree of league dual-meet victories at 117.
Since the defeat, top-ranked Lake Stevens has plowed to decisive district- and regional-tournament victories, with Snohomish finishing second both times. Now Zweifel and the Vikings have one more objective.
"We've worked through that (loss against Snohomish) and we've got 13 going to state," said Zweifel, referring to the 13 wrestlers Lake Stevens will send this weekend to Mat Classic XX, the state championships at the Tacoma Dome.
Lake Stevens, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Washington Wrestling Report, seeks its second-consecutive team title and its sixth since 1990. The main foes who will try to derail Lake Stevens are No. 2 Kentwood, No. 3 Graham-Kapowsin and No. 4 University. A very familiar opponent lurks as well: Fifth-ranked Snohomish.
Snohomish has eight Mat Classic qualifiers, and the Panthers boast four regional champs -- the same number as Lake Stevens.
Could the Western Conference North Division rivals battle for a state championship? It appears so.
"We take two teams out of our league to state that can have a shot at winning a title," Lake Stevens coach Brent Barnes said.
Besides Zweifel, who has a season record of 32-3, Lake Stevens' talent-packed crew includes Josh Heinzer (103 pounds, 22-3), Josh Monson (135, 14-4) and George King (145, 34-3).
Meanwhile, Snohomish features four title-contenders with no more than two season losses: 125-pounder Sam Ottow (35-2), Stefan St. Marie (135 pounds, 37-0), Brad Perry (140, 35-2) and Richard Reed (160, 23-2).
St. Marie and Monson could clash in the 135 finals Saturday. St. Marie edged Monson in close decisions the past two weekends.
"Right now they have the advantage of taking more guys than us so we're going to have to do some considerable things -- beat them in the close (head-to-head) matches," St. Marie said. "Some of them could go both ways. It's whoever pushes harder."
It's definitely the final push for Snohomish coach Kevin Judkins, who said this will be his final season. He has coached wrestling for 26 years, including six at Snohomish. Judkins, who previously was Lynnwood's head coach, said he plans to become a school administrator.
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
Story tags »
• Lake Stevens • Lynnwood • Oak Harbor • Snohomish • Lake Stevens High School • Snohomish High School • Oak Harbor High School • Wrestling • High School WrestlingMat Classic XX local qualifiers
Includes weight division, grade and season record
4A boys
Lake Stevens (13)
103 Josh Heinzer, soph. (22-3); Ryan Rodorigo, fr. (21-6)
112 Zach Zweifel, sr. (32-3)
119 Jack Stilwell, jr. (26-7)
125 Sean Anderson, jr. (24-8)
130 B.J. Alewine, jr. (14-3); Branden Austin, sr. (27-7)
135 Josh Monson, sr. (14-4); Alex Pellegrini, jr. (33-7)
140 Josh Eacrett, sr. (33-7)
145 George King, jr. (34-3)
160 Jake Welch, jr. (28-9)
285 Zach Teuber, jr. (23-11)
Head coach: Brent Barnes (21st season)
Snohomish (8)
125 Sam Ottow, jr. (35-2)
130 Luke Perry, soph. (26-10)
135 Stefan St. Marie, jr. (37-0)
140 Brad Perry, sr. (35-2)
145 John Garcia, sr. (33-9)
160 Richard Reed, sr. (23-2)
215 Spencer Caraballo, jr. (28-12)
285 Jake Reinhard, jr. (30-10)
Head coach: Kevin Judkins (6th season)
Kamiak (3)
119 Colton Kusilek, jr. (31-9)
145 Nate Regan, soph. (30-6)
171 Collin Munoz, sr. (31-4)
Head coach: Dan Hanika (13th season)
Mariner (3)
125 Don Tiongco, sr. (28-8)
145 Raymon Yee, sr. (20-4)
152 Daniel Link, sr. (30-5)
Head coach: Otto Olson (5th season)
Oak Harbor (3)
103 Josh Martinez, fr. (30-4)
140 John Tuttle, jr. (30-8)
171 Chris Reilly, sr. (14-8)
Head coach: Michael Crebbin (3rd season)
Marysville-Pilchuck (2)
215 Tannon Hillis, jr. (27-4)
285 Michael Pfeiff, sr. (28-3)
Head coach: Craig Iversen (9th season)
Edmonds-Woodway (2)
135 Steven Alfi, jr. (27-15)
189 Rudy Johanson, jr. (20-6)
Head coach: Mike Hanchett (8th season)
Shorewood (2)
152 Matt Jensen, sr. (29-3)
189 Tim Hester, sr. (36-1)
Head coach: Arnie Moreno (10th season)
Monroe (1)
152 Jake Murray, sr. (30-4)
Head coach: Jeff Boyle (1st season)
Jackson (1)
119 Jared Mead, jr. (28-8)
Head coach: Gustavo Anaya (3rd season)
Stanwood (1)
112 Joey Duran, jr. (23-9)
Head coach: Ray Mather (2nd season)
3A boys
Everett (7)
112 Jack Forrest, soph. (20-10)
152 Zach Husman, sr. (18-12); Cary Irwin, jr. (17-7)
160 Taylor Boyce, jr. (21-11)
171 Alec Bird, soph. (13-6)
189 Kramer Burns, sr. (10-4)
285 Jake Anstett, sr. (30-2)
Head coach: Brien Elliott (3rd season)
Arlington (6)
135 Nathan Shortt, fr. (28-8)
140 Dom Mangini, sr. (17-8)
160 Chris Myers, jr. (30-5)
189 Jordan Anderson, sr. (23-12)
215 Richard Perkins, sr. (18-4)
285 Bryant Dickerson, jr. (14-4)
Head coach: Doug Byers (2nd season)
Lynnwood (2)
135 Stephen Takashima, jr. (23-8)
160 Tanner Detschman, sr. (30-4)
Head coach: Carl Wilkins (4th season)
Shorecrest (1)
125 Cole Arbanasin, sr. (21-7)
Head coach: Lee Thornhill (3rd season)
2A boys
Archbishop Murphy (5)
112 Jeremy Wattam, soph. (29-7)
125 Cameron Wade, fr. (31-8)
145 Eric Miller, sr. (29-10)
189 Brad Gee, soph. (32-2)
215 Zeke Evers, sr. (21-3)
Head coach: Blaine Smith (5th season)
Cedarcrest (5)
103 Gibson Lisk, fr. (19-8)
112 Omar Arredondo, jr. (26-11)
119 J.D. Gorman, jr. (28-8)
125 Ty Howard, sr. (35-3)
171 Brady Paxman, sr. (38-1)
Head coach: Eric Pedeferri (4th season)
South Whidbey (5)
152 Aaron Mannie, sr. (28-3)
160 James Schorr, sr. (28-2)
171 Jordan Broyles, jr. (13-10)
215 Darrin Britton, sr. (16-7)
285 Trapper Rawls, jr. (27-6)
Head coach: Jim Thompson (3rd season)
Sultan (3)
103 Garret Varnell, fr. (26-12)
130 Mikey Varnell, jr. (32-5)
152 Abe Bray, jr. (29-8)
Head coach: Wes Fischer (17th season)
Granite Falls (1)
285 Andrew Mckibben, jr. (20-8)
Head coach: Tony Helgeson (3rd season)
1B/2B boys
Darrington (10)
119 Johnny Loughnan, soph. (22-2)
125 Jon Fenstermaker, soph. (18-12)
130 Cody Bryson, jr. (23-10)
140 Kolton Palmer, soph. (23-10)
152 Rich Groh, jr. (24-11)
160 Paden Newberry, sr. (17-7)
215 Matthias Metzger, sr. (17-12); Conner Rounds, sr. (27-0)
285 Moe Hyde, soph. (13-9); Scott Regelbrugge, jr. (14-5)
Head coach: Chad Monteith (4th season)
Tulalip Heritage (1)
103 Demitri Robinson, fr. (22-3)
Head coach: Craig Iversen (9th season)
Girls
All-classifications tournament
Lake Stevens (2)
103 JoeMae Alewine, soph.
130 Natasha Grow, sr.
Head coach: Brent Barnes (21st season)
Lakewood (2)
130 Keely Caldwell, soph. (11-0 vs. girls, 15-2 overall)
135 Christina Ordonez, jr. (12-2 vs. girls, 17-3 overall)
Head coach: Tom OHara (7th season)
Monroe (1)
119 Julia Perry, jr. (12-9 overall, 6-1 vs. girls)
Head coach: Jeff Boyle (1st season)
Oak Harbor (1)
160 Tina Alter, jr. (11-8 overall, 10-3 vs. girls)
Head coach: Michael Crebbin (3rd season)
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