SNOHOMISH – For Kelly Kubec, this is merely a tune-up for what lies ahead.
Already this season, the Lake Stevens wrestling star has been in a match that featured two defending state champions.
Having moved up from the 112-pound weight class (in which he won the 4A state title last year) to the 130-pound ranks, Kubec has maintained his dominance in the sport.
Even at 135, against Sedro Woolley’s Patrick O’Neil on Dec. 23, Kubec more than held his own. He won, despite competing at a weight 5 pounds heavier – against last year’s 3A champ.
After night one of the Western Conference North Division wrestling tournament at Snohomish High School, Kubec proved he still is the guy to beat.
“There will be no letdown from here on out,” Kubec said.
There wasn’t much letdown to begin with for the junior. Kubec won in a technical fall, 21-3, in the opening round, then had a pin in 1:15 in the second.
Today, he’ll compete in the semifinals. The foe? A teammate, sophomore Josh Monson.
“I wrestle him every day,” Kubec said. “So I’m not going to look past him.”
Jake Allen, a Stanwood senior who was third at state (171) last year, pinned both his opponents (47 seconds and 3:36) in the 189-pound division.
Should he get by his semifinal match, he’ll likely face a familiar foe in the championship. Earlier this season, Allen defeated Lake Stevens’ Jon Wilbourne in a close match.
“That will be a good one for seeding (going into regionals),” Stanwood coach Tom Wilfong said.
Cascade’s Jonny Gilbertson, a senior who placed third at state at 125 last year, had a pin in 27 seconds to start off his evening and won 21-6 in his next stint in the 135 class.
The top two seeds in every class advanced to the semis.
“That’s pretty unusual,” Snohomish coach Kevin Judkins said.
Lake Stevens, last year’s 4A runner-up, has 143 points heading into today’s action.
But the prevailing thought on the first day was that Cascade (111.5 points) could give the Vikings all they can handle on Day 2.
“It looks like Cascade will be right there,” Lake Stevens coach Brent Barnes said.
“We’re pleased where we are,” Cascade coach Jake Huizinga said. “Now we need to turn it on and it take it to another level.”
Snohomish is right behind at 101.5, followed by Stanwood (97) in fourth.
As for the switch to a two-day tournament instead of one, it went smoother than expected. An hour smoother, to be exact.
“That’s because there were so many first-round falls,” Judkins said.
Today’s competition begins at 11 a.m. with rounds 5-7 on three mats. At approximately 4:30 p.m., the final round will be staged on three mats.
The top three finishers in each weight division qualify for the regional meet Feb. 10-11 at Jackson High School. The fourth- and fifth-place finishers at each weight will wrestle a pigtail match against their Wesco South counterparts to get into the regional.
At Snohomish H.S.
Team standings after first session (final session is today)-1. Lake Stevens 143, 2. Cascade 111.5, 3. Snohomish 101.5, 4. Stanwood 97, 5. Marysville-Pilchuck 93.5, 6. Monroe 74, 7. Oak Harbor 73, 8. Arlington 72.5, 9. Mount Vernon 29.
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