Published: Friday, February 3, 2012
Teamwork key to success of Everett wrestling team
After graduating five wrestlers off of a team that went undefeated in league last season, Everett wrestling head coach Brien Elliott didn't know what to expect this season.
"We were pretty sure that Oak Harbor was going to win it and we knew we were dead even with Glacier Peak," Elliott said. "We didn't know how we were going to fare."
The Seagulls fared just fine.
Thanks to a number of young and inexperienced wrestlers stepping into key roles, Everett beath both Oak Harbor and Glacier Peak and finished the season unbeaten in league to defend its Wesco 3A league title with a second straight.
"These kids found a way to win," Elliott said.
Today Everett's wrestlers take on wrestlers from the Wesco 3A and the Northwest Conference for the right to go to regionals at the 3A sub-regional tourney at Oak Harbor High School.
One of the biggest surprises for the Seagulls was freshman Christian Bagdadi. Elliott said he usually knows what to expect from incoming freshmen, but he'd never heard of Bagdadi before the season began. But despite showing up a week into the season, the freshman got off to a quick start. Wrestling at 113, Bagdadi came from behind to beat an junior Arlington wrestler and then beat Oak Harbor's Jeremy Vester 5-4.
"He's such a feisty little guy," Elliott said of Bagdadi. "He'd rather break a leg than lose a match. Every match you could see him get more and more confident."
Edmonds-Woodway's Noah Cuzzetto, who is ranked No. 1 in the state according to the Washington Wrestling Report, pinned Bagdadi both times he faced him, but Elliott said he showed a large amount of improvement in the second match.
Another pleasant surprise for Elliott was the emergence of Chris Aiwiro. After a so-so junior season, Aiwiro burst onto the scene this season, finishing 19-10 and ranked 11th at 195 pounds in the state. He enters the sub-regional tournament ranked No. 1.
Elliott said that freshman Rick Stewart (182), Anthony Hawkins (170) and Zack Skorka (160) have all been key wrestlers in helping the Seagulls repeat as league champs.
One of the biggest reasons Everett has had some much success recently is its team-first attitude. Wrestling can be a very individualistic sport, but whether its wrestling at a different weight or helping teammates the Seagulls take a lot of pride in the team.
"I'm pretty proud of them," Elliott said. "This season has been a testament to our motto 'Family. Team. Win.' They all sacrifice for the team and that shows their character."
One example of that was Connor Boyce's wrestling up to take on Snohomish's Nathan Proffit in an early season match. Boyce, who lost to Proffit, put his undefeated season on the line so that the Seagulls would have a chance to win, which they didn't.
Elliott pointed to another practice technique that helps the Seagulls put team first. In the first 30 minutes of practice each day, wrestlers who are weak in one part of their game are often mentored by wrestlers who are strong. One of those wrestlers is Jessie Lopez, who is ranked third in the state at 132 pounds. Lopez helped Zane Crook on his footwork and Elliott said he's seen great strides by Crook since then.
This weekend that teamwork may result in a district title.
-
"We were pretty sure that Oak Harbor was going to win it and we knew we were dead even with Glacier Peak," Elliott said. "We didn't know how we were going to fare."
The Seagulls fared just fine.
Thanks to a number of young and inexperienced wrestlers stepping into key roles, Everett beath both Oak Harbor and Glacier Peak and finished the season unbeaten in league to defend its Wesco 3A league title with a second straight.
"These kids found a way to win," Elliott said.
Today Everett's wrestlers take on wrestlers from the Wesco 3A and the Northwest Conference for the right to go to regionals at the 3A sub-regional tourney at Oak Harbor High School.
One of the biggest surprises for the Seagulls was freshman Christian Bagdadi. Elliott said he usually knows what to expect from incoming freshmen, but he'd never heard of Bagdadi before the season began. But despite showing up a week into the season, the freshman got off to a quick start. Wrestling at 113, Bagdadi came from behind to beat an junior Arlington wrestler and then beat Oak Harbor's Jeremy Vester 5-4.
"He's such a feisty little guy," Elliott said of Bagdadi. "He'd rather break a leg than lose a match. Every match you could see him get more and more confident."
Edmonds-Woodway's Noah Cuzzetto, who is ranked No. 1 in the state according to the Washington Wrestling Report, pinned Bagdadi both times he faced him, but Elliott said he showed a large amount of improvement in the second match.
Another pleasant surprise for Elliott was the emergence of Chris Aiwiro. After a so-so junior season, Aiwiro burst onto the scene this season, finishing 19-10 and ranked 11th at 195 pounds in the state. He enters the sub-regional tournament ranked No. 1.
Elliott said that freshman Rick Stewart (182), Anthony Hawkins (170) and Zack Skorka (160) have all been key wrestlers in helping the Seagulls repeat as league champs.
One of the biggest reasons Everett has had some much success recently is its team-first attitude. Wrestling can be a very individualistic sport, but whether its wrestling at a different weight or helping teammates the Seagulls take a lot of pride in the team.
"I'm pretty proud of them," Elliott said. "This season has been a testament to our motto 'Family. Team. Win.' They all sacrifice for the team and that shows their character."
One example of that was Connor Boyce's wrestling up to take on Snohomish's Nathan Proffit in an early season match. Boyce, who lost to Proffit, put his undefeated season on the line so that the Seagulls would have a chance to win, which they didn't.
Elliott pointed to another practice technique that helps the Seagulls put team first. In the first 30 minutes of practice each day, wrestlers who are weak in one part of their game are often mentored by wrestlers who are strong. One of those wrestlers is Jessie Lopez, who is ranked third in the state at 132 pounds. Lopez helped Zane Crook on his footwork and Elliott said he's seen great strides by Crook since then.
This weekend that teamwork may result in a district title.
-
3A Northwest Sub-regional Wrestling Tournament
When: Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday at 10 a.m.
Where: Oak Harbor High School
Regional qualifiers: Top five placers in each weight division qualify for the regional tournament.
Teams: Everett, Ferndale, Glacier Peak, Lynnwood, Marysville Getchell, Meadowdale, Mountlake Terrace, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Sedro Woolley, Shorecrest, Shorewood
Ranked wrestlers: 106—6. Luis Cardona (MG), 10. Nathan Allen (MV); 113—8. Luis Reyna (MV), 10. Alex Lee (SW); 120—4. Matthew Floresca (Shorewood), 8. Alex Basabe (L), 10. Jahleel Vester (OH); 126—2. Cody Fakkema (OH); 132—2. Boyce Johnson (Sedro), 3. Jessie Lopez (E), 11. Mark Johnston (OH), 12. Zach Calkins (L); 138—5. Pavel Okara (MV); 145—3. Brady Mast (Sedro), 6. Kyle Morgan (Sedro), 9. Jacob Elledge (GP); 152—11. Hunter Lord (L); 160—5. Jordan Watts (MV); 170—1. Connor Boyce (E), 8. Cody Patrick (MV); 182—3. Sean Elledge (GP); 195—11. Chris Aiwiro (E), 12. Ciaran Ball (M); 220—None; 285—3. Ian Bolstad (SC), 6. Kevin Rabenstein (Sedro), 10. Alfredo Diaz (MG)
Cascade Conference Sub-regional Wrestling Tournament
When: Saturday at 9 a.m.
Where: Cedarcrest High School
Regional qualifiers: The top three placers in each weight division qualify for the regional tournament. The fourth-place finisher wrestles in a pig-tail match with the fifth-place finisher from the Northwest Conference for the eighth and final spot.
Teams: Archbishop Murphy, Cedarcrest, Granite Falls, Lakewood, South Whidbey, Sultan
Ranked wrestlers: 106—5. Chris Jenkins (GF); 113—None; 120—9. Bryce MacDicken (Sultan); 126—None; 132—None; 138—8. Kyle Weaver (Sultan); 145—5. Carlos Toledano (Cedar), 8. Austin Koons (Cedar), 10. Moses Sun (GF); 152—None; 160—1. Cody Paxman (Cedar); 170—5. Martin Vakemoce (Cedar), 6. Brandon Todd (AM); 182—10. Connor Kruse (AM); 195—5. Jesse Castillo (Sultan); 220—4. Taylor Comfort (Sultan), 9. Dakota Creed (AM); 285—2. Robby McNair (Cedar)
Rankings courtesy Dave Gilbertson and Washington Wrestling Report (www.washingtonwrestlingreport.com)
When: Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday at 10 a.m.
Where: Oak Harbor High School
Regional qualifiers: Top five placers in each weight division qualify for the regional tournament.
Teams: Everett, Ferndale, Glacier Peak, Lynnwood, Marysville Getchell, Meadowdale, Mountlake Terrace, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Sedro Woolley, Shorecrest, Shorewood
Ranked wrestlers: 106—6. Luis Cardona (MG), 10. Nathan Allen (MV); 113—8. Luis Reyna (MV), 10. Alex Lee (SW); 120—4. Matthew Floresca (Shorewood), 8. Alex Basabe (L), 10. Jahleel Vester (OH); 126—2. Cody Fakkema (OH); 132—2. Boyce Johnson (Sedro), 3. Jessie Lopez (E), 11. Mark Johnston (OH), 12. Zach Calkins (L); 138—5. Pavel Okara (MV); 145—3. Brady Mast (Sedro), 6. Kyle Morgan (Sedro), 9. Jacob Elledge (GP); 152—11. Hunter Lord (L); 160—5. Jordan Watts (MV); 170—1. Connor Boyce (E), 8. Cody Patrick (MV); 182—3. Sean Elledge (GP); 195—11. Chris Aiwiro (E), 12. Ciaran Ball (M); 220—None; 285—3. Ian Bolstad (SC), 6. Kevin Rabenstein (Sedro), 10. Alfredo Diaz (MG)
Cascade Conference Sub-regional Wrestling Tournament
When: Saturday at 9 a.m.
Where: Cedarcrest High School
Regional qualifiers: The top three placers in each weight division qualify for the regional tournament. The fourth-place finisher wrestles in a pig-tail match with the fifth-place finisher from the Northwest Conference for the eighth and final spot.
Teams: Archbishop Murphy, Cedarcrest, Granite Falls, Lakewood, South Whidbey, Sultan
Ranked wrestlers: 106—5. Chris Jenkins (GF); 113—None; 120—9. Bryce MacDicken (Sultan); 126—None; 132—None; 138—8. Kyle Weaver (Sultan); 145—5. Carlos Toledano (Cedar), 8. Austin Koons (Cedar), 10. Moses Sun (GF); 152—None; 160—1. Cody Paxman (Cedar); 170—5. Martin Vakemoce (Cedar), 6. Brandon Todd (AM); 182—10. Connor Kruse (AM); 195—5. Jesse Castillo (Sultan); 220—4. Taylor Comfort (Sultan), 9. Dakota Creed (AM); 285—2. Robby McNair (Cedar)
Rankings courtesy Dave Gilbertson and Washington Wrestling Report (www.washingtonwrestlingreport.com)
Comments
(