You won’t find monster-truck showdowns or over-priced bands this weekend at the Tacoma Dome. Instead the venue will host nearly 1,200 high school wrestlers who dream of winning it all.
The 2009 Mat Classic state wrestling championships are Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. The competition includes six tournaments (Classes 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A, 2B/1B and all-classification girls).
Here’s a look at some intriguing storylines generated by a handful of the area’s 84 Mat Classic qualifiers (74 boys, 10 girls).
Can anyone derail Vikings?
After dominating the state’s most difficult regional tournament, Lake Stevens seems unstoppable in its quest for a third consecutive 4A state team title. The Vikings — ranked No. 1 by Washington Wrestling Report and 34th nationally by HSWrestling.net — have 13 state qualifiers.
Lake Stevens’ biggest strength is balance, Edmonds-Woodway coach Mike Hanchett said: “Their team is just generally solid straight through — good kids in all spots.”
Seeking its seventh state team championship since 1990, Lake Stevens is coached by Brent Barnes. His squad has three 2009 regional champions: junior Josh Heinzer (112 pounds), junior Jacob Anderson (145) and senior George King (152). Heinzer (29-3 this season) and King (26-1) won individual titles last year at 103 and 145, respectively. They are both ranked No. 1.
Heinzer has been especially tough. He earned two pins and a 20-5 technical fall at regionals.
“He exudes confidence. He believes that he’s going to win every match,” Barnes said.
Brotherly love in Snohomish
It will be an unforgettable weekend for the St. Marie family. Stefan St. Marie, a Snohomish High senior, is 35-0 and ranked first in 4A at 135 pounds. His brother Joshua St. Marie, a sophomore at Glacier Peak High, is one of two state qualifiers from the first-year school.
Stefan will compete in the 4A tournament while Joshua (24-12) is in the 3A 119-pound bracket. For just the second time all season the brothers’ parents will get to watch their sons wrestle in the same location. The first time was in January at the Panther Classic, where Stefan and Joshua each placed first.
“The family is pretty amazing with mom and dad splitting (cheering) duties,” Glacier Peak coach Bryan Mossburg said. “They had some nights this season where they had matches every night of the week.” Last weekend the brothers’ mom went to the 4A regional in Snohomish; their dad attended the 3A regional in Sunnyside.
Snohomish High, ranked No. 2 in 4A, has another brother connection: senior 130-pounder Sam Ottow, a four-time regional champ and twice a state runnerup, has enjoyed having his older brother, Jordan Ottow, as an assistant coach. Jordan was ringside at regionals when Sam got pins in every match.
Jordan Ottow wrestled for Monroe High. He also was a four-time regional winner and two-time state runnerup. Jordan’s achievements motivated Sam to aim high.
“He’s totally my inspiration,” Sam Ottow said. “He’s 12 years older than me so I definitely look up to him as a role model: a good dad and a good husband.”
Will Rudy get a rematch?
Edmonds-Woodway senior Rudy Johanson made a statement at the 4A Region 1 tourney. By challenging Auburn’s Jake Swartz, Johanson (24-2) showed he can hang with anyone.
Swartz is a nationally ranked, two-time state champion. E-W’s Johanson was tied 2-2 against Swartz through two periods and lost 5-2. The grapplers are in opposite halves of the state bracket and could meet Saturday in the finals.
“He’s filled out his frame the last few years but he’s still got that cat-like quickness and agility that you usually don’t see at the upper weights,” Hanchett said of Johanson, a three-time Washington state qualifier who placed in Alaska’s state championships as a freshman.
Lakewood girls
With three state participants, Lakewood will send more girls to state than any area school. The Cougars are led by two unbeaten grapplers: 130-pound junior Keely Caldwell (15-0) and 152-pound senior Christina Ordonez (16-0).
Caldwell and Ordonez both won district and regional titles. Ordonez pinned all of her postseason opponents.
“She is extremely strong,” Lakewood coach Tom O’Hara said. “We like to say she has gorilla strength.”
Top local contenders
The following area grapplers are ranked No. 1 in their respective weight divisions by Washington Wrestling Report.
4A: Josh Heinzer, Lake Stevens (112); Sam Ottow, Snohomish (130); Stefan St. Marie, Snohomish (135); George King, Lake Stevens (152).
2B: Johnny Loughnan, Darrington (119); Demitri Robinson, Tulalip Heritage (125).
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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