E-W advances six to Mat Classic

Published 11:25 am Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Rudy Johanson was a little disappointed with his second-place finish in the 189-pound division at the 4A Region I tournament, but at the same time the Edmonds-Woodway senior had to be encouraged by the results.

Johanson went into the third period tied 2-2 with two-time defending state champion Jake Swartz of Auburn before losing 5-2.

“It wasn’t what I wanted really,” said Johanson, who will be making his third straight trip to the state wrestling championships. “I always want first, but I wasn’t too disappointed by it.”

Johanson leads a strong contingent of Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers into the Tacoma Dome. Five other Warriors advanced to state and two others earned alternate slots.

“I can’t remember the last time we had six in and two alternates,” Edmonds-Woodway coach Mike Hanchett said.

Johanson could have pulled out a victory over Swartz and heads into state with a legitimate shot at winning a championship, Hanchett added.

“With a couple of adjustments, the match could have gone a different way,” he said. “So I was real pleased. You always are disappointed that you don’t get first, but I’m very pleased he showed so well against a real competitive opponent.”

If Johanson meets Swartz again, the results could be different.

“I learned a few things that I’ll take with the next match if I face him again,” Johanson said. “He had real good positioning and he was hard to shoot on.”

Hanchett noted that the Region I tournament is arguably the toughest regional tournament in the state and for Johanson (25-2) to finish second bodes well.

“He’s shown once again he can compete with the best,” Hanchett said. “He really is starting to come into his own in terms of his tool set, his skills, his strengths.”

This year Johanson definitely feels more mentally prepared for state. It’s his senior year.

“Last couple of years I wasn’t too into it mentally,” he said. “I’m more focused. This is my last chance. … I think physically I’m pretty well there. There are some things I need to work on, but mentally I need to be there.”

Johanson and his family moved to Edmonds from Alaska and Hanchett said that it’s taking some time for everyone to become comfortable with one another.

“Anytime you have someone that moves in you have to establish a new rapport, a new trust between a coach and an athlete and the coaching staff,” Hanchett said. “I think he’s really come to understand the strengths that we provide him and we’ve come to better understand what strengths he has. This has been the best year of merging those two.”

Other Warriors headed to state include Andrew Vulliet (fourth at 103), Sam Warren (fourth at 119), Ryan Deweese (fourth at 130), Mac Hutchison (fifth at 112) and Steven Alfi (fifth at 145). The alternates are Ryan McAllister (152) and Alex Rutledge (215).

“This weekend showed the team really has some really legitimate good solid depth,” said Hanchett, who earned Region coach of the year honors. “It shows the true depth that the team has. I really think going into the state tournament because of this very tough regional we’re at a bit of an advantage. There were some matches at regionals this weekend that could have easily played out at the state tournament.”

Also honored with middle school coach of the year recognition was College Place’s Aaron Swett.

This year’s Mat Classic will be Hanchett’s final one as a coach. He is retiring at the end of the season.

“There’s sadness and a deep appreciation for what the sport has meant to me, and given me,” Hanchett said. “One of the great things has been the coaching staff. They are just an excellent group of coaches and so I’m feeling comfortable about where the team is going to go from here on out. It’s going to continue to grow and it’s going to be well taken care of.

“They’ve done a great job of making my last season a memorable one. It’s been fun, a real fun season. It continues to be fun and I think that is how the state tournament is going to be.”

CLASS 3A REGIONALS: Meadowdale’s Nelson Petrone (third at 145), Michael Loutsis (third at 215) and Andrew Parada (fourth at 140) advanced to the state championships. Loutsis pinned Sedro-Woolley’s Joe Janicki at the 2:25 mark in the third/fourth place match.