Everything to know and who to watch at Mat Classic XXXIV

The final stop of the high school wrestling season takes place Friday and Saturday, as the top wrestlers in the state meet at the Tacoma Dome for Mat Classic XXXIV.

This season’s Mat Classic is the first to feature multiple girls tournaments. Classes 4A and 3A will compete in one; Classes 2A, 1A, 2B and 1B square off in the other.

Here’s a preview of the top local wrestlers and teams to watch. All state rankings are from Washington Wrestling Report and are classification-specific:

When: Friday and Saturday

Where: Tacoma Dome

Schedule: Friday—10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday—10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. to conclusion

CLASS 4A BOYS

Top-ranked teams: 1. Sunnyside, 2. Chiawana, 3. Sumner, 4. Tahoma, 5. South Kitsap

Wrestlers per local team: Lake Stevens (12), Glacier Peak (4), Jackson (3)

Local top-10 ranked teams: Sixth-ranked Lake Stevens qualified an area-high 12 wrestlers for state, including three regional champions. The powerhouse Vikings placed second at their regional, falling by 31.5 points to champion Tahoma. Lake Stevens, which placed sixth at last season’s state tournament, has eight wrestlers with top-10 rankings in their respective weight classes, including five in the top five.

Local individuals with top-four rankings: Lake Stevens junior Ahmad Banishamsais the third-ranked wrestler at 106 pounds. This is his first Mat Classic appearance. He won a regional title last week with a 1-0 decision over sixth-ranked Tahoma freshman Crew Lambro. … Lake Stevens senior Jacob Christianson is the second-ranked wrestler at 113 pounds. He also reached Mat Classic last season and placed fourth at 106 pounds. Christianson won a regional title last week with a 5-4 decision over fourth-ranked Tahoma freshman Alex Othon. … Glacier Peak junior Gil Mossburg is the fourth-ranked wrestler at 145 pounds. He’s making his second consecutive Mat Classic appearance and placed third at 138 pounds last season. Mossburg pinned three straight opponents on his way to a regional title last week, including a second-period victory over seventh-ranked Tahoma junior Cyrus Comia in the finals. … Lake Stevens junior Koen Mattern is the second-ranked wrestler at 220 pounds. He’s making his second consecutive Mat Classic appearance and placed sixth at 220 pounds last season. Mattern won a regional title last week with a 2-1 decision via tiebreaker criteria over sixth-ranked Kentwood junior Chase Baker. … Glacier Peak sophomore Connor Aney is the top-ranked wrestler at 285 pounds. He’s making his second consecutive Mat Classic appearance and placed second at 285 pounds last season. Aney piled up three straight pins on his way to a regional title last week, including a first-period victory over eight-ranked Tahoma junior Alex Mondt in the finals.

CLASS 3A BOYS

Top-ranked teams: 1. Hermiston, 2. Mead, 3. University, 4. Mt. Spokane, 5. Stanwood

Wrestlers per local team: Stanwood (11), Arlington (4), Shorewood (4), Snohomish (4), Edmonds-Woodway (3), Everett (3), Marysville Pilchuck (3), Lynnwood (2), Monroe (2), Mountlake Terrace (2), Shorecrest (2), Cascade (1), Meadowdale (1)

Local top-10 ranked teams: Fifth-ranked Stanwood qualified 11 wrestlers for state, including four regional champions. The talent-stocked Spartans ran away with their regional team title last week, racking up nearly 100 more points than second-place Ferndale and Yelm. Stanwood, which placed seventh at state last season, has nine wrestlers with top-10 rankings in their respective weight classes, including four in the top four. … Tenth-ranked Arlington qualified fourth wrestlers for state, including three regional champions. The Eagles finished fourth at their regional tournament last week and a mere half-point shy of tying Ferndale and Yelm for second. All four Arlington wrestlers have top-10 rankings in their respective weight class, including two in the top three.

Local individuals with top-four rankings: Stanwood senior Bryan Roodzant (35-3)is the fourth-ranked wrestler at 120 pounds. He’s making his second consecutive Mat Classic appearance and placed eighth at 120 pounds last season. Roodzant won a regional title last week with a 10-3 decision over sixth-ranked Yelm freshman Wesley Thompson. … Stanwood senior Tyler Rhue (39-1) is the second-ranked wrestler at 132 pounds. He’s making his third consecutive Mat Classic appearance, which includes a second-place finish at 126 pounds last season and a third-place finish at 106 pounds as a freshman in 2020. Rhue won a regional title last week with a 5-3 decision over fourth-ranked Stanwood teammate Keaton Mayernik. …. Stanwood senior Keaton Mayernik (39-3) is the fourth-ranked wrestler at 132 pounds. Mayernik is making his third consecutive appearance at Mat Classic, which includes a third-place finish at 132 pounds last season and a fifth-place finish at 120 pounds as a freshman in 2020. … Arlington freshman Tre Haines (34-5) is the third-ranked wrestler at 138 pounds. This is his first Mat Classic appearance. He won a regional title last week with a victory via forfeit over fourth-ranked Mount Vernon senior Ryan Wilson. … Arlington junior Dustin Baxter (38-3) is the top-ranked wrestler at 152 pounds. He’s making his second consecutive Mat Classic appearance and placed third at 138 pounds last season. Baxter won a regional title last week with an 8-3 decision over sixth-ranked Capital senior Alijah Wiatt. … Stanwood senior Mason Ferguson (35-4) is the third-ranked wrestler at 182 pounds. He’s making his second consecutive Mat Classic appearance. Ferguson won a regional title last week with a 7-6 decision over fourth-ranked Yelm senior William Carreto. … Shorewood senior Hunter Tibodeau (30-1) is the top-ranked wrestler at 220 pounds. He’s making his third consecutive Mat Classic appearance, which includes a second-place finish at 195 pounds last season and a fifth-place finish at 182 pounds as a freshman in 2020. He pinned all three of his opponents on his way to a regional title last week, including a first-period victory over eight-ranked Lincoln (Tacoma) sophomore Dre Tarrant Sio-Fetaui. … Lynnwood senior Dylan White (24-5) is the second-ranked wrestler at 285 pounds. This is his first Mat Classic appearance. He won a regional title last week with a 12-2 major decision over fourth-ranked Shorewood senior Milan Johnson. … Shorewood senior Milan Johnson (26-6) is the fourth-ranked wrestler at 285 pounds. He’s making his second consecutive Mat Classic appearance.

CLASS 2A BOYS

Top-ranked teams: 1. Orting, 2. Othello, 3. W.F. West 129, 4. Burlington-Edison, 5. Pullman

Wrestlers per local team: Lakewood (5), Cedarcrest (3), Archbishop Murphy (2)

Local top-10 ranked teams: None.

Local individuals with top-four rankings: None.

CLASS 2B/1B BOYS

Top-ranked teams: 1. Tonasket, 2. Forks, 3. Okanogan, 4. Jenkins (Chewelah), T5. Granger, T5. Liberty (Spangle)

Wrestlers per local team: Darrington (5)

Local top-10 ranked teams: None.

Local individuals with top-four rankings: Darrington senior Aksel Espeland is the second-ranked wrestler at 126 pounds. He’s making his third consecutive Mat Classic appearance, which includes a third-place finish at 113 pounds last season. He won a regional title last week with a 6-3 decision over third-ranked Forks senior Conner Demorest. … Darrington freshman Kade West is the second-ranked wrestler at 220 pounds. He’s making his first Mat Classic appearance.

CLASS 3A/4A GIRLS

Top-ranked teams: 1. Moses Lake, T2. Curtis, T2. Yelm, 4. Graham-Kapowsin, 5. Hermiston

Wrestlers per local team: Arlington (7), Shorewood (7), Everett (6), Lake Stevens (5), Marysville Pilchuck (5), Stanwood (5), Glacier Peak (4), Snohomish (4), Jackson (3), Kamiak (2), Mountlake Terrace (2), Edmonds-Woodway (1), Marysville Getchell (1), Monroe (1), Shorecrest (1)

Local top-10 ranked teams: Seventh-ranked Marysville Pilchuck qualified five wrestlers for state, including two top-ranked wrestlers. The Tomahawks placed ninth at their regional tournament last week.

Local individuals with top-four rankings: Shorewood sophomore Libby Norton is the fourth-ranked wrestler at 100 pounds. This is her second Mat Classic appearance. She pinned all three over opponents on her way to a regional title last week, including a second-period victory over fifth-ranked Arlington freshman Araxi Crew in the finals. … Marysville Getchell sophomore Kira Songer is the second-ranked wrestler at 115 pounds. This is her second consecutive Mat Classic appearance. She won a regional title last week with an 11-0 major decision over eighth-ranked Arlington sophomore Danielle Crew. … Glacier Peak junior Karianne Baldwin is the defending 125-pound state champion and the top-ranked wrestler in the same weight class this season. She’s making her second consecutive Mat Classic appearance. Baldwin won a regional title last week with a third-period pin over 11th-ranked Glacier Peak senior Parker Lastala. … Marysville Pilchuck senior Juju Kilroy is the top-ranked wrestler at 135 pounds. She’s making her second consecutive appearance at Mat Classic and placed second at 130 pounds last season. She won a regional title last week. … Arlington senior Raina Allen is the third-ranked wrestler at 140 pounds. She’s making her second consecutive Mat Classic appearance and placed eighth at 130 pounds last season. … Marysville Pilchuck senior Alivia White (29-0) is the two-time defending state champion at 190 pounds and the top-ranked wrestler in the same weight class this season. This is her third consecutive Mat Classic appearance. She needed just 53 seconds to rack up three pins and a regional title last week, including a pin in 29 seconds over third-ranked Bellingham junior Isabella Phillips in the finals. … Everett freshman Mia Cienega is the fourth-ranked wrestler at 235 pounds. This is her first Mat Classic appearance. She recorded three first-period pins on her way to a regional title last week, including a victory over eighth-ranked Arlington senior Janay Beckman in the finals.

CLASS 1B/2B/1A/2A GIRLS

Top-ranked teams: 1. Toppenish, 2. White River, 3. Royal, 4. Mount Baker, 5. Orting

Wrestlers per local team: Lakewood (1), Sultan (1)

Local top-10 ranked teams: None.

Local individuals with top-four rankings: None.

Note: No locals qualified for the 1A boys tournament.