Regional features 4 of state’s top 6 teams

Published 11:29 pm Thursday, February 12, 2009

Imagine a March Madness basketball tournament in which four of the six highest-ranked teams are grouped in the same region.

It never happens of course, thanks to the NCAA tournament selection committee. But prep wrestling is a different story.

The Class 4A Region 1 Wrestling Tournament — which starts 5 p.m. today at Snohomish High School — features four of the state’s top six teams, according to Washington Wrestling Report: No. 1 Lake Stevens, No. 2 Snohomish, No. 4 Auburn and No. 6 Tahoma.

In a word, Edmonds-Woodway head wrestling coach Mike Hanchett summed up the talented 23-team Region 1 field, which includes 14 Western Conference schools and nine South Puget Sound League North Division schools.

“Loaded,” Hanchett said. “It’s the toughest region in the state. There’s no doubt.”

The Region 1 tournament also has the most teams among Washington’s four 4A regionals. And unlike the other three single-day regionals, it’s a two-day competition. The top five finishers in each weight division qualify for the Mat Classic state championships, set for Feb. 20-21 at the Tacoma Dome; sixth-place finishers will be state alternates.

At this point in the season, it’s especially helpful to have confident, experienced seniors. That’s a key strength for top-ranked Lake Stevens, winner of the past two 4A state team titles. Of the 16 wrestlers Lake Stevens has in the regional, nine are seniors.

“That’s huge,” Lake Stevens head coach Brent Barnes said. “They know how to take care of themselves and they know how to prepare for the tournament, both mentally and physically.”

Asked whether it’s good or bad to be in such a difficult region, Barnes said he prefers it this way because his team will be battle-tested going into the state championships.

“It’s going to be exciting just to have that great competition and see where it all washes out,” Barnes said, “because after this weekend you can have an idea of if you have a shot of making a run at a (state) title. After this weekend we’ll know a lot more about where we stand.”

Looking for top-notch individuals? The Region 1 tournament includes seven grapplers ranked No. 1 in 4A in their respective weight divisions — that’s half of the state’s top-ranked 4A competitors. The group includes Lake Stevens’ Josh Heinzer (112 pounds) and George King (152); Snohomish’s Sam Ottow (130) and Stefan St. Marie (135); Kentwood’s Cody Quinn (140); Tahoma’s Nick Bayer (171), and Auburn’s Jake Swartz (189).

Swartz, who Wrestling USA Magazine ranked No. 4 in the nation among 189-pound seniors, headlines a 189 regional bracket packed with standouts. In addition to Swartz, there is Edmonds-Woodway’s Rudy Johanson (No. 4), Stanwood’s Brad Gee (No. 5), Snohomish’s Spencer Caraballo (No. 6), Monroe’s Sam Kenagy (No. 11) and Lake Stevens’ Justin Grow (No. 12).

“It’s maybe the deepest division in the tourney,” Barnes said. “A guy that could possibly place in state could stay home.”

Said Hanchett, Johanson’s coach: “Some of these matches will probably be the equivalent to what we should see at the state tournament. We’re having our state tournament a week early.”

Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.