SNOHOMISH Brent Barnes’ outgoing comments Friday night after the first two rounds of competition in the Western Conference North Division Wrestling Championships were matter-of-fact. Typical coach-speak.
They also were prophetic.
“The tournament starts tomorrow,” said the Lake Stevens coach, in his 19th year running one of the state’s top programs.
Oh really?
With a moderate reign on first place going into Saturday’s championship rounds, Lake Stevens came out and absolutely destroyed the competition.
The Vikings scored 339 points and got contributions up and down their roster, in every way imaginable.
Lake Stevens was so dominating it had No. 3 and 4seeds win, in addition to three 2 seeds and a couple of top seeds.
“Their depth is what is so good,” said Cascade coach Jake Huizinga, whose team finished second overall with 251 points.
The match of the night was not difficult to pinpoint.
At 189 pounds, No. 1 Jake Allen of Stanwood faced No. 2 Jon Wilbourne of Lake Stevens. Allen got the upper hand earlier this season between the two seniors.
Not Saturday.
Up 2-1 to start the third and 4-3 during it, Wilbourne capitalized on every opportunity down the stretch by attacking and being aggressive for an 11-6 victory.
“They made some good adjustments and got points where they didn’t last time,” said Stanwood coach Tom Wilfong, who cited three takedowns as the difference.
“I made sure I knew what I was doing and just stuck with it,” Wilbourne said.
The controversy of the night came at 160 pounds, with No. 3 Zach Burnett of Lake Stevens defeating top seed Jared Smith of Stanwood, 10-9.
A seesaw match saw a flurry of points in the final period. After Burnett had taken the lead in the final seconds, it appeared as if Smith pinned Burnett just as the buzzer sounded.
A 3-minute delay (with both rooting sections in an uproar) ruled otherwise, stating that a two-second fall didn’t occur in time.
Billy Moehrle upset No. 1 T.J. Lochman at 152, 7-3, for Lake Stevens. He trailed 2-0 after one period and only led 3-2 going into the third.
Viking Kyle Hughes beat Jeff Lang of Oak Harbor 9-5 at 140 to become the night’s lone 4-seed to prevail.
Not to be forgotten, the only state champion in the field was on hand. Kelly Kubec’s match with his cousin Kenny Kubec of Marysville turned out to be a hard-fought, low-scoring affair with Kelly winning 3-2.
“Kelly hasn’t really had a close match in a while so that was good,” Barnes said.
Other Viking winners were Mitch Tipton (125) and Kai VanLeuven (140).
Cascade (Randall Walt, 103; Jonny Gilbertson, 135; Ben McKinlay, 275) was second with 251 points. Snohomish edged Stanwood, 221.5-221 for third after taking third and fourth at 275.
Four schools represented the other four champions: Monroe (Sam Ottow, 112); Arlington (Rob Nagel, 119); Oak Harbor (Sean O’Brien, 171); and Mount Vernon (Landen Campbell, 215).
The top three finishers in each weight division qualified for regionals Friday and Saturday at Jackson High School. The fourth- and fifth-place finishers at each weight will wrestle a pigtail match against the Wesco South fifth- and fourth-place finishers at the beginning of regionals.
Of note, Snohomish coach Kevin Judkins was named Wesco North Coach of the Year.
At Snohomish High School
Team Scores (total possible number of qualifiers) – 1. Lake Stevens 339 (15), 2. Cascade 251 (10), 3. Snohomish 221.5 (10), 4. Stanwood 221 (9), 5. Marysville-Pilchuck 180 (4), 6. Oak Harbor 173 (6), 7. Monroe 167.5 (7), 8. Arlington 149 (6), 9. Mount Vernon 72 (3).
Championship Matches
(Both to regionals)
103-R. Walt (Cas) maj dec. Zweifel (LS) 11-2; 112-Ottow (Mon) dec. Their (Sno) 9-3; 119-Nagel (Arl) dec. Duncan (Cas) 4-3; 125-Tipton (LS) pinned King (M-P) 4:41; 130-Kel. Kubec (LS) dec Ken Kubec (M-P) 3-2; 135-Gilbertson (Arl) maj. dec. Walker (Sno) 17-7; 140-Van Leuven (LS) dec. Marriott (OH) 9-2; 145-Hughes (LS) dec. Lang (OH) 9-5; 152-Moehrle (LS) dec. Lochman (Mon) 7-3; 160-Burnett (LS) dec. Smith (Sta) 10-9; 171-O’Brien (OH) dec. Vigoren (Cas) 9-5; 189-Wilbourne (LS) dec. Allen (Sta) 11-6; 215-Campbell (MV) maj. dec. Austin (LS) 14-2; 275-McKinlay (Cas) pinned Mann (Sta) 2:53.
Third-Fourth Matches
(Winner to regional meet; Loser versus South No. 5 Feb. 10 for regional berth)
103-Johnson (LS) dec. Duran (Sta) 6-1; 112-A. Walt (Cas) pinned Alewine (LS) 2:40; 119-McCauliffe (Sno) dec. Eacrett (LS) 4-2; 125-Bates (Cas) dec. Perry (Sno) 7-4; 130-Monson (LS) pinned Mather (Sta) 2:15; 135-Guzman (Arl) pinned Austin (LS) :50; 140-Murray (Mon) dec. Erickson (Arl) 3-1; 145-Byers (Arl) won by injury default over Lampers (Mon); 152-Hartt (OH) maj. dec. Spear (Arl) 11-3; 160-Irwin (Arl) dec. Morrison (Cas) 5-3 (OT); 171-Shelton (Mon) dec. Cadiz (M-P) 3-2 (OT); 189-Mundell (Sno) pinned Doner (M-P) 3:55; 215-Mann (Sta) dec. Kendo (Cas) 1-0; 275-Johnson (Sno) pinned Whitlock (Sno) 1:46.
Fifth-Sixth Matches
(Winner versus No 4. South Feb. 10 for regional berth, Loser is alternate)
103-Bascom (Sta) dec Walsh (Sno) 8-2; 112-Hauser (MV) dec. Anderson (LS) 8-4; 119-Solano (MV) pinned Ulle (Mon) 1:36; 125-Lemme (OH) pinned Emmel (LS) 2:26; 130-Rios (Cas) pinned Lee (M-P) 4:40; 135-Hale (Sno) dec. Blyther (OH) 8-3; 140-St. Marie (Sno) dec. Stratton (OH) 5-0; 145-Hartzell (Sta) dec. Douglas (Cas) 9-4; 152-Reed (Sno) dec. Floyd (Sta) 10-6; 160-Morgan (Mon) dec. Gere (Sno) 9-8; 171-McGuire (LS) dec. O’Neill (Cas) 7-5; 189-Johnson (OH) pinned Kenagy (Mon) 3:22; 215-Morales (Sta) dec. Reinhard (Sno) 5-4; 275-Anonson (Mon) pinned Varn (OH) :47.
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