Murphy’s Wade has shot at 2A state title
Published 11:41 pm Friday, February 19, 2010
TACOMA — As a wide-eyed 4-year-old, Cameron Wade attended Mat Classic for the first time in what became an annual tradition. He admired the talented competitors, especially the ones who reached the top of the awards podium.
Now a junior at Archbishop Murphy High School, Wade is two match victories away from becoming a state champion like the boys he looked up to for so many years.
Wade won both of his matches in the Class 2A 145-pound division Friday during Day 1 of the Mat Classic XXII state wrestling championships at the Tacoma Dome. He pinned Selah’s Jeremy Stanfill in the first bout and then earned a 13-5 major decision over Interlake’s Christian Schultz in the quarterfinals.
Ranked No. 1 in 2A by WashingtonWrestlingReport.com, Wade has a chance to become Archbishop Murphy’s first individual state wrestling champ. The three-time state participant has a semifinal today against another Selah foe, fifth-ranked Chris Rowe.
Wade, who lives in Stanwood, is motivated by personal goals, not school history.
“I don’t really think about being the first (Murphy wrestling champion). I just think about a state championship for me,” said Wade, who is 32-0 this season.
Wade’s great work ethic makes him so tough, Murphy coach Blaine Gilchrist-Smith said.
Wade won twice despite nagging pain in his right foot. The toenail on his pinky toe was bothering him Friday morning so, less than two hours before his first match, he tore it off. That didn’t help much.
“It’s been hurting all day,” he said as he glared down at his nail-less toe.
No Murphy wrestler has placed higher than second at state. Brad Gee did it in 2008, when he was a sophomore. Gee, Wade’s former teammate, transferred to Stanwood High and qualified for the 4A state tournament this year.
Wade, who placed third at 135 pounds in 2009, is the only local 2A semifinalist. Last year in the semifinals he was pinned by the eventual champion.
Girls tournament
JoMae Alewine’s ideal rematch is shaping up.
Alewine, a Lake Stevens High senior ranked No. 2 at 103 pounds, is honing in on her long-awaited chance for revenge against Bremerton’s Lauren Richardson. Last year Richardson pinned Alewine in the finals.
Alewine and top-ranked Richardson both went 2-0 Friday to reach the semifinals. They are in opposite sides of the bracket so a championship rematch is possible. Alewine dominated on Day 1, earning a 15-0 technical fall and a second-round pin. In today’s semifinal she will face Skyview’s Elise Yoshioka.
In the quarterfinals, Richardson beat Everett sophomore Justine Palabrica, one of Alewine’s closest friends.
Two Stanwood girls also reached the semifinals: Casey Mather (112 pounds) and Laura Charboneau (285 pounds). Mather is 19-1 this season; Charboneau is 10-1.
Top-ranked Keely Caldwell (125 pounds) of Lakewood was upset in her first match by Yelm’s Samantha Keesler. Caldwell bounced back with two straight wins and can still place as high as third.
2B/1B boys tournament
Darrington brought five wrestlers to Mat Classic but only one — senior Kolton Palmer (160 pounds) — reached the finals in the eight-man 2B/1B brackets.
Palmer, who placed third last year and is 24-4 this season, won two decisions to advance to tonight’s championship match. His opponent is Kelan Sax of Selkirk.
Ranked fifth, Palmer knocked off the favorite, Pomeroy’s Justin Aldrich, 7-1 in the semifinals.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
