Plenty of Wesco wrestlers at Mat Classic XX
Published 11:21 pm Thursday, February 14, 2008
The end of The Streak is a distant memory.
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 cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
