TACOMA — An incredible season keeps getting better for Kevin Judkins.
Judkins, Snohomish High School’s head wrestling coach, received the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association’s Class 4A Coach of the Year Award Friday during Day 1 of Mat Classic, the state championships at the Tacoma Dome.
Judkins, who will retire from coaching after this weekend, was given a plaque commemorating the honor before the evening session began. Snohomish wrestlers immediately surrounded their coach and congratulated him.
“It’s nice because it’s voted on by your peers,” said Judkins, Snohomish’s sixth-year coach who this season guided the Panthers to a Western Conference North Division dual-meet championship and runner-up finishes at district and regional tournaments.
The award was a surprise for Judkins, and so was seeing his former high school wrestling coach in the Tacoma Dome. Bryce Cook, Judkins’ coach at Woodway High about 30 years ago, snuck up behind Judkins after the award ceremony and shook his hand.
Cook had a huge influence on Judkins, a 1979 Woodway graduate who has coached wrestling for 26 years.
“I owe him everything,” said Judkins, a six-time Wesco coach of the year and three-time regional coach of the year.
Judkins, who previously was Lynnwood’s head coach, is worthy of all the honors, Cook said: “He deserves all of it.”
The other state wrestling coaches of the year are Auburn’s Joe Aiken (3A), Blaine’s Craig Foster (2A), Tenino’s Jeff Thummel (1A), Republic’s Jim Gubler (1B/2B) and Mount Baker’s Clyde Blockley (girls).
Longtime local coaches leaving: Snohomish’s Judkins isn’t the only local head wrestling coach calling it quits after this season. Sultan’s Wes Fischer, who brought three competitors to Mat Classic, said his 17th season guiding the Turks will be his last. Also, Shorewood’s Arnie Moreno, in his 10th season as the Thunderbirds’ head coach, said he will retire.
The end is near: In a perfect world, Sultan’s Fischer would have gone out in style with a state championship today.
But the 61-year-old coach will see his 20-year run end without any titles — team or individual — after Sultan’s three state qualifiers fell short of the finals.
The most disappointing loss was at 152 pounds, where Abe Bray fell in overtime of the semifinals.
Rather than lament about the lack of a finalist, Fischer handled Friday’s results with his typical optimism.
“It’s been a great day,” he said after Bray’s loss. “I feel bad for Abe, but (as of Friday afternoon), all three of my guys are still battling.”
Fischer boasted with pride when talking about brothers Garret and Mikey Varnell, who both rebounded from first-round losses with impressive runs in the consolation round.
Asked what would make for a memorable final day of his career, Fischer said: “Three third-place finishes. You can’t beat that.”
Fischer announced earlier this year that this would be his final season. He cited a variety of physical problems, as well as the presence of a qualified successor in Mike Pine, as his reasons for stepping down.
“I’ve only had one state champion,” he said, referring to 2003 champion Ryan Conley, “but I’ve had some second placers that I’m equally proud of.”
And maybe today, he’ll add a third place or two to his career haul.
Bulked-up star: Like most high school wrestlers, Darrington’s Connor Rounds had to shed a few pounds heading into the season.
But Rounds, a 215-pound senior, had to lose muscle — not fat.
The unbeaten wrestler discovered powerlifting since finishing as a state runner-up last year at 189 pounds. He was working at Darrington Family Video when a customer approached him about competitive lifting. Rounds decided to give it a try, and he took to it pretty fast.
According to Rounds, he broke a world record in the 16-17 age group by deadlifting 523 pounds, and a state record in the 18-19 age group by deadlifting 586 pounds in separate competitions.
“I just want to stay as strong as I can be because I’m trying to get a college football scholarship,” said Rounds, a middle linebacker who has been talking to Pacific Lutheran University.
Rough day for girls: The girls tournament saw just two local competitors make it to the semifinals. JoMae Alewine and Natasha Grow, both of Lake Stevens, lost their semifinal matches Friday afternoon.
Alewine beat Ferndale’s Jade Mustappa and Naches Valley’s Armani Emmal in the 103-pound weight class, then got pinned by Melissa Watkins of Camas in the semifinals.
Grow, a 130-pounder, also got pinned after beating Rochester’s Liezl Mondoc and Moses Lake’s Karly Zucker.
Other local qualifiers included Monroe 119-pounder Julia Perry, Lakewood 130-pounder Keely Caldwell, Lakewood 135-pounder Christina Ordonez and Oak Harbor 160-pounder Tina Alter.
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