One of the most rewarding things about covering high school sports is seeing quirky personalities shine through.
For example, wrestlers are considered some of the toughest, most intense athletes around. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have fun.
This past weekend at the Class 4A District 1 tournament in Marysville, Monroe’s Jake Murray surged to a championship in the 152-pound division. Along the way he left signs of how much he enjoyed the journey.
Wrestlers are required to sign an official scorecard at the end of each match. In addition to writing his name, Murray drew a smiley face every time.
Why did he do it? “It’s just kind of funny. It makes me feel better when I win to put a little smiley face on there,” Murray said.
That wasn’t the only eccentricity that set Murray apart. He had a number on the back of his head: 152, signifying his weight class. Murray said he had a Monroe coach paint it onto his buzzed hair.
Another wrestler who expressed himself at the tourney was Snohomish’s Richard Reed (160 pounds), who won his second-consecutive district title. Reed said he was motivated by the losses of his grandpa, who died in December, and close friend Hannah Zylstra, who was killed in a December 2006 car accident. To learn more about Reed, click here.
Reed, who has been competing with a separated sternum, praised others for supporting him. “All my coaches, especially Mr. Mossburg, wouldn’t let me give up. They kept pushing me. Because of him I’m up on the podium, up on top,” said Reed, who last year placed eighth in the state at 160.
Bryan Mossburg, a Snohomish assistant coach, said Reed’s ability to work through his emotions “was really a pretty good show of his maturity and how much he’s grown over the last few years. … It’s kind of a tribute to him how well he took it all in perspective and didn’t let it bring him down.”
Reed has also endured the painful sternum injury, which he suffered the final weekend of December in a match at the prestigious Pac-Coast tourney in Vancouver. He was out nearly three weeks but returned in time to help Snohomish defeat top-ranked Lake Stevens in a high-profile dual meet.
“We just built him up and kept his confidence and (told him) he could still accomplish his goals this season, and not to lose hope,” said Mossburg.
Reed’s quest continues Saturday at the regional tourney in Vancouver, where wrestlers who finish in the top four qualify for Mat Classic, the state championships.
“He’s got that goal of being a state champion,” Mossburg said. “He’s kept it all in perspective: Take one step at a time, get healed up and get a little more match time.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
