TACOMA – In 20 seasons as head coach of the Lake Stevens High School wrestling team, Brent Barnes had seen his wrestlers rack up a dizzying list of accomplishments.
But he’d never had any of them do this before.
Lake Stevens teammates Zach Zweifel and Jack Stilwell both advanced to the Class 4A 103-pound championship Saturday during Mat Classic XIX, the state wrestling championships at the Tacoma Dome.
Zweifel, a junior, pinned Stilwell, a sophomore, in the second round, and the duo helped the Vikings hold off Pasco to win the 4A team title. Senior captain Kelly Kubec placed first at 130 to win his third straight championship for Lake Stevens, which won its first state team title since 2004, its fifth since 1990.
Lake Stevens scored 148.5 points. Pasco (135.5) was second.
Coach Barnes was thrilled about Zweifel and Stilwell’s rare feat at 103.
“It’s great for our program,” Barnes said. “It says a lot about our coaches and our kids when you can do something like that. … It’s a pretty special deal.”
Two teammates competed for a Washington state wrestling title at least once before. In 1990 Kentwood’s Jason Cleverly defeated teammate Vann Belvoir at 101.
But Zweifel and Stilwell weren’t the only teammate finalists on Saturday: Deven Johnson and Cody Stephens of Wilbur-Creston clashed in the 125-pound 1B/2B finals.
Zweifel also beat Stilwell in the finals the past two weekends, at district and regional tourneys. The teammates have been practice partners for about five years, said Zweifel, who finished the season with a record of 36-3.
“I respect him. He’s my teammate but I still wanted to wrestle my best and not let up,” said Zweifel, who placed fifth last season.
Stillwell’s run to the finals was a pleasant surprise for Lake Stevens, which had seven top-eight finishers.
“I was excited for him that he had done that good,” Zweifel said, “especially since no one thought that he would.”
Stilwell (20-5) is the twin brother of Merridy Stilwell, who on Sept. 29, 2003, collapsed and died during a cross country meet at Snohomish High. A medical examiner determined the 12-year-old, who was a student at Lake Stevens Middle School, died of cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease.
“They were obviously very close,” said Kevin Stilwell, the twins’ father. He and his wife, Gina Stilwell, cheered all day in the stands among a large group of Lake Stevens supporters.
“This is really a great thing for them,” Barnes said of the Stilwells. “They’re great people and they deserve it.”
Kubec won his third straight state title with a 7-3 decision over Rogers of Puyallup’s Jared Sterling, becoming the first Lake Stevens wrestler to win three in a row since Burke Barnes, the coach’s son, won four straight from 1999 to 2002.
Kubec, an Oregon State University recruit, previously said he wanted to get pins all four matches at state. He shook his head in frustration after getting a decision in the finals.
“I think he was hoping he could get a pin there,” Brent Barnes said, “but hey, you know, like I told him: You gotta be excited and happy with winning a third title. Not many guys get to do that.”
There have been about 50 three-time champs in state history, Barnes said.
Kubec achieved something his older brother, Tony Kubec, did before him by winning an individual title and being the captain for a state-title team in the same season. Kelly Kubec finished his high school career with more than 140 victories and just 10 defeats.
His only loss this season came against Michael Mangrum of Auburn Riverside, who placed first in 3A at 140 Saturday to win his second straight state title. Kubec beat Mangrum in the 4A 112 final in 2005.
Other top placers for Lake Stevens included Mitch Tipton (second, 140), Kyle Hughes (third, 160), Josh Monson (fifth, 135) and George King (fifth, 145). Tipton nearly pulled off a winning takedown at the end of the 140 final. But officials ruled he did not complete the move in time and Anthony Varnell of Lewis &Clark held on for a 9-8 decision.
Lake Stevens led by 17.5 points through Day 1, but Pasco closed the gap to 10 points after Saturday’s morning session. Lake Stevens led Pasco by seven entering the championship finals. The Vikings clinched first place when Zweifel and Stilwell battled at 103.
“It’s nice for our kids and our school,” Barnes said of the team title, “and especially for the kids that worked so hard. A lot of hours go into it from our (coaching staff) and the guys that train with them every day of the season.”
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