Wrestlers face 32-man state brackets

Leader staff report editor@ptleader.com
Posted 2/13/19

The Mat Classic state wrestling tournament typically is a hub of activity at the Tacoma Dome in mid-February. It’s the only high school sport that conducts its championships in all classifications at the same location simultaneously.

This year, it will be even more wild.

Snow wiped out all regional tournaments last weekend, so organizers of the two-day Mat Classic XXXI put together 32-man brackets for every weight division in each classification — twice the number of usual participants.

Port Townsend will send nine to state, with four ranked in the top 10 by Washington Wrestling Report, and Chimacum will send one top-10 athlete.

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Wrestlers face 32-man state brackets

Posted

The Mat Classic state wrestling tournament typically is a hub of activity at the Tacoma Dome in mid-February. It’s the only high school sport that conducts its championships in all classifications at the same location simultaneously.

This year, it will be even more wild.

Snow wiped out all regional tournaments last weekend, so organizers of the two-day Mat Classic XXXI put together 32-man brackets for every weight division in each classification — twice the number of usual participants.

Port Townsend will send nine to state, with four ranked in the top 10 by Washington Wrestling Report, and Chimacum will send one top-10 athlete.

Redhawks coach Steve Grimm said he’s hoping for four top-eight medal finishes.

“That would be the most since the early 2000s,” he said of his team. “The key will be the ability to remain focused throughout the 32-man brackets. To win a medal, you’ll have to win close to eight matches, which is no easy task.”

The Redhawks’ Brenna Franklin is ranked third in the all-classification girls 170-pound division, while Dylan Tracer is ranked fourth in Class 1A at 182, Chimacum’s Kyle Caldwell is ranked seventh at 195 and Port Townsend’s Gabe Petrick ninth at 160.

“Rankings, we like to say, should be respected but not believed,” Grimm said. “Meaning once it gets down to the top eight, anyone can beat anyone. It’s gonna be a battle, and we are excited for it.”

The following is a capsule look at each wrestler and what their bracket looks like starting Friday:

Port Townsend

Oscar Levine (106) — A freshman, Levine will face seventh-ranked Riley Hoople, a freshman from Granite Falls, in the opening round. Levine’s half of the bracket also includes fourth-ranked Andy Fry, a senior from Montesano, and No. 5 Logan Hydorn, a freshman from Colville.

Carter Swartout (120) — The Redhawks junior will face sophomore Drew Aposhyan of South Whidbey on Friday. If Swartout wins, he would face either senior Conneach West of Warden or No. 1-ranked Abel Nava, a freshman from Granger.

Logan Massie (126) — The freshman has a tough opening draw with defending state champion and top-ranked Luke Weaver, a senior from Sultan. Massie may look to survive a two-and-out scenario against either Castle Rock senior Erik Titus or seventh-ranked Ariel Morales, a junior from Forks.

Ian Linn-Glasgow (145) — Three of the four wrestlers in Linn-Glasgow’s section of the bracket are ranked in the top 12. The junior’s first-round opponent will be Granite Falls junior Mason McBride, a first-time state competitor ranked seventh. Moving forward, Linn-Glasgow will face either No. 11 D’Andre Vasquez, a senior from Cascade (Leavenworth), or fifth-ranked Kaden Mackowiak of Colville, a two-time top-eight finisher.

Odin Smith (152) — In the first round, the Redhawks sophomore will face three-time state participant Skyler Isaacson, a senior from Mount Baker ranked fifth. Later Friday, Smith will take on either Newport freshman Warren Hamblen or Chelan sophomore Skye Malone.

Gabe Petrick (160) — A senior ranked ninth, Petrick’s first-round opponent is Granite Falls freshman Jayden Larsen-Gordo. A win could set up a showdown with No. 7 Brent Hollatz, a junior from Montesano, or Seton Catholic sophomore Alex Macca.

Dylan Tracer (182) — The junior is ranked fourth going into the tournament and will take on Mount Baker junior Josh Isaacson in the opening round. A matchup with either Zillah junior Andy Muniz or Wahluke senior Kyle Yorgesen will follow. A potential quarterfinal matchup could be with No. 10 Joey Allen, a junior from Colville. But Tracer might not face a higher-ranked opponent until the semifinals, where he could meet No. 1 John Knight, a senior from Colville who is a defending state champion and three-time top-four finisher.

Wes Blue (220) — Tenth-ranked Blue, a junior, will face No. 11 Levi Harlan, a junior from Nooksack Valley, in the first round. His second-round opponent will be either sophomore Adrian Martinez of Chelan or No. 12 Hunter Tharaldson, a senior from Colville. Two straight wins would get Blue to the quarterfinals, where he could face Max Muffett, a junior from LaCenter ranked eighth.

Brenna Franklin (girls 170) — The Redhawks senior is ranked third and will face Federal Way sophomore Hailey Shamblin in the first round. Her second-round opponent will be either Katelyn Cera, a junior from Mountain View, or Aberdeen junior Thaila Cook. The only wrestler ranked higher than Franklin in her half of the bracket is No. 1 Kiley Hubby, a junior from Lake Stevens, a defending state champion and two-time state placer.

Chimacum

Kyle Caldwell (195) — The Cowboys’ lone participant, who competes with Port Townsend during the season, Caldwell is ranked seventh as a sophomore and will wrestle junior August Roelof of Meridian in the first round. His second-round match would be against either Owen Orndorff, a freshman from Freeman, or third-ranked senior Akio Yamada, a senior from Lakeside.