TACOMA — The Darrington boys wrestling program has made a habit of strong showings at the state tournament.
The Loggers don’t have a fan section that takes up multiple seats in the stands or a large squad that needs the entire mat to warmup. They don’t even have more than 15 high schoolers sign up for the team each year.
What they do have is each other as the team is comprised of a handful of feisty wrestlers who have all grown up with wrestling in their blood. And after Friday’s first day, they also have four wrestlers competing on Day 2 of the Class 1B/2B portion of Mat Classic XXXV at the Tacoma Dome, including two within reach of their first career state titles.
“We’ve been doing this a long time with the same people,” Darrington head coach Mason McKenzie said. “My dad (Andy West) coached me. Now I’m back coaching. We’re all like a family, so we’re really close. Our room is really small, but we’re going hard two hours every night … to build that hard-work culture, which our town (has) always represented.”
Andy West coached the Loggers from 2010 until McKenzie’s senior year in 2016. Ray Franke then took the reigns until 2021 when McKenzie took over the helm. In his high school wrestling years, McKenzie claimed three state titles for Darrington at 220 pounds. With the experience of performing under pressure and winning in the state finals multiple times, McKenzie has helped form a disciplined team.
Darrington freshman Creed Wright was just an eighth grader last year when he placed fourth at state, wrestling many kids a couple years older than him. He started the sport when he was in fourth grade, trying out freestyle and greco-roman, and McKenzie coached him throughout middle school and into high school. Wright is not just wrestling on the second day again this year, he’s in the semifinals and one match away from an attempt at his first state title at 113 pounds. He had a bye the first round and pinned his opponent in the quarterfinals.
“It feels good,” Wright said. “I’ve worked a lot on technique, moving my feet and staying low. … I feel more confident (this year).”
Wright’s training partner is sophomore Aiden Cumming, who began wrestling when he was 5 years old. Cumming placed sixth at state last year at 113 pounds and is competing in the consolations tomorrow at 120 pounds.
“(Wright and I) go out every single day as hard as we can,” Cumming said. “We’re some of the hardest working kids in there, and we know that if we were putting in the time there, when we come here, we’re going to do something.”
Cumming was the towel tapper for the referees when McKenzie was a high school wrestler, so Cumming was attached to the sport early on in life. He’s also been lifelong friends with sophomore Kade West, who placed fourth at state last year at 220 pounds and is in the semifinals of the 285-pound bracket Saturday.
Wrestling has long been a cornerstone of West’s life. He’s the younger brother of the Loggers’ head coach and is seeking to be a fourth-generation state wrestling champion.
“My grandpa was a state champion, my dad was (a) two-time state champion, my brother, Mason (McKenzie), won it three times. … I’ve always been around wrestling,” Kade West said. “Last year I was a timid little freshman. I wasn’t wanting to go out there and hit with those seniors. … But this year I want them to come out and get on (me). … This year I’ve matured a lot, and I want the state title.”
Eighth grader Bryson Nations, who’s wrestling at 106 pounds, is alive in the consolation bracket and adds to the Day 2 particpants for Darrington.
Regardless of the results Saturday, the Loggers’ young group is primed to have their names printed on state brackets in the future.
“Having these young guys have success (at state) early on,” McKenzie said, “I feel like that’s a big key. … We don’t have many kids, but every single one of them I’m confident (in) because I know they’re prepared.”
Four local teams in top 5 of standings
The Lake Stevens and Arlington boys and Glacier Peak and Snohomish girls each sit in the top five of their respective tournaments after the first day of the state wrestling tournament.
The Lake Stevens boys are in third in 4A with 55.5 points, but the Vikings sit well of the pace of first-place Tahoma’s 105.5 points. Lake Stevens’ senior trio of Ahmad Banishamsa (113 pounds), Jacob Christianson (120) and Koen Mattern (215) reached their respective semifinals set for Saturday.
The Arlington boys are in fourth in 3A with 67 points but also find themselves far behind first place. Leader Mead has almost doubled the points of its nearest competition with 182.5. Freshman Dayton Fitzgibbon (144 pounds), sophomore Tre Haines (155) and senior Dustin Baxter (165) are all in semifinals.
Snohomish School District rivals Glacier Peak and Snohomish are third and fourth, respectively, in the 3A/4A girls tournament. The Grizzlies’ third-place pace of 58 points is within striking distance of leader Peninsula (73 points). Snohomish sits right behind with 57. Seniors Hannah Hader (120 pounds), Karianne Baldwin (125) and Bobbi Jack (140) reached semifinals for Glacier Peak. Freshman Malia Ottow (115) is the lone Panther to advance into a final four.
Other local wrestlers in semifinals
4A: 150—Gil Mossburg (Glacier Peak); 285—Connor Aney (Glacier Peak)
3A: 165—Joseph Davis (Marysville Pilchuck); 175—Ever Yamada (Edmonds-Woodway); 190—Elijah Fleck (Stanwood); 215—Hollis Bontrager (Everett)
2A: 150—Connor Schueller (Lakewood)
3A/4A Girls: 105—Libby Norton (Shorewood); 110—Kamryn Mason (Lake Stevens); 190—Abigaele Chishungu (Shorewood), Mia Cienega (Everett)
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