Arlington wrestler pins opponent quickly in regional meet
Published 11:44 pm Friday, February 13, 2009
SNOHOMISH — Pain is nothing new to Chris Myers.
Throughout the 2007-08 wrestling season he competed with a torn meniscus in his right knee. It didn’t slow him down much though — he placed eighth at the Class 3A state tournament.
But this past fall a different, more serious injury threatened to end Myers’ athletic career and alter his life. At a varsity football practice Myers, a senior at Arlington High School, hurt his neck and spine while tackling a teammate. The impact bent Myers’ head back. He instantly feared the worst.
“I went straight down to my knees and couldn’t feel anything,” said Myers. “I thought I was paralyzed. They carried me out on a stretcher.”
Myers spent a night in the hospital. He tore tendons in his neck and endured three slipped vertebrae in his spine. The incident ended his football career; he missed the team’s last four games.
But based on what Myers achieved Friday — day one of the Class 4A Region 1 Wrestling Tournament at Snohomish High School — his wrestling career is far from over.
Looking stronger than ever, Myers pinned his only opponent in 54 seconds and advanced to today’s semifinals in the 160-pound weight division. The top five finishers in each weight division will qualify for the Mat Classic state championships Feb. 20-21 at the Tacoma Dome; sixth-place finishers will be state alternates.
“I’m approaching every match the same — confident but not too confident,” Myers said.
After rehabbing his neck, just before wrestling season began Myers was cleared by his doctor to participate. Since then he’s been dominant, losing only one match: a three-point decision versus an Enumclaw foe in December at the Spud Walley Invitational.
“I just used that one loss as a stepping stone to get better,” said Myers, who last weekend won a District 1 title. His semifinal opponent today is Auburn’s Michael Karpstein.
Myers, who said he hopes to wrestle at North Idaho College, uses good positioning, quick moves and smart attacks to excel on the mat, Arlington head wrestling coach Shaun Williams said.
“Every win that he gets, his confidence grows,” said Williams.
This regional tourney features four teams ranked in state’s top six, according to Washington Wrestling Report. Through day one, top-ranked Lake Stevens led the 23-team field with 104 points. Snohomish (71 points) was in second.
Monroe’s Chase Vasquez earned a quick pin in his only match Friday. Seeking his first trip to Mat Classic, Vasquez has a tough road ahead in the 171-pound bracket. His semifinal opponent is Auburn’s Dylan Rutledge, ranked No. 2 in the state. If the eighth-ranked Vasquez beats Rutledge, he will likely face top-ranked Nick Bayer of Tahoma in the finals.
Vasquez has only one in-state loss this season. The Monroe co-captain is a great leader who is gets an emotional boost from teammates.
“He’s helped inspire them” all season, Monroe head coach Jeff Boyle said. “Now they are rallying to his side. He’s helped them so much that they’re there in his corner.”
At Snohomish H.S.
Today’s schedule: Wrestling begins at 11 a.m. Finals start at approximately 3:30 p.m. on three mats.
Team scores through day one
1. Lake Stevens 104, 2. Snohomish 71, T-3. Tahoma, Auburn 66, 5. Edmonds-Woodway 58.5, 6. Kentwood 46, 7. Oak Harbor 42, 8. Kentlake 34, T-9. Monroe, Kent-Meridian 28, 11. Arlington 27, T-12. Kamiak, Kentridge 24, T-14. Stanwood, Marysville-Pilchuck, Auburn Riverside 23, 17. Thomas Jefferson 22, 18. Mariner 14, 19. Shorewood 10, T-20. Cascade, Jackson 6, 22. Mountlake Terrace 3, 23. Federal Way 0.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
