TACOMA — A total of 36 wrestlers from the North Olympic Peninsula will compete at the largest state wrestling tournament in history beginning today at Mat Classic XXXI at the Tacoma Dome.
Safety concerns with last weekend’s snowfall made for a first in state history — the cancellation of regional wrestling tournaments statewide and the adoption of 32-wrestler brackets for most classifications. An estimate put the total number of wrestlers preparing to descend on the dome at 2,688 over 28 weight classes and six classifications.
In a permanent schedule change, Mat Classic XXXI will feature Class B/2A/3A wrestling this morning and girls/1A/4A wrestling this afternoon/evening.
Doors open to the public at 7:30 a.m. today and the first matches are set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Previously, Friday wrestling began at 10 a.m.
On Saturday, doors open to the public at 8:45 a.m. and placing matches for all classifications begin at 9:45 a.m. The championship round begins at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $32 for an adult all-tournament pass, $23 for seniors age 62 and older and $23 for students ages 5 through high school with ASB card.
Single-day tickets are $18, $13 and $13 for each age group.
Forks is bringing 16 wrestlers, the largest in Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Famer Bob Wheeler’s career.
The Spartans are looking to better their fourth-place finish as a team last season.
Eight of the Forks grapplers have previously placed at state.
The list includes senior Luke Dahlgren, who has finished fourth (2018) and fifth (2017) at 22o pounds. Dahlgren, who recently signed a letter of intent to play college football for Eastern Washington, is in the heavyweight division this time around.
Dahlgren said he was wrestling at 260 pounds this postseason — making him lighter and more agile than many of the wrestlers he will face this weekend.
He’s piled up a 32-3 record thus far and also consistently been ranked as the No. 1 heavyweight in 1A all season by Washington Wrestling Report.
Colby Demorest, a seventh-place finisher at 160 pounds last year, has bulked up to 182 and is ranked No. 2.
Junior Ariel Morales and sophomore Colton Duncan were fourth and fifth, respectively, at state last season at 126 pounds and will again wrestle in that class this weekend — a division that features returning state champ Luke Weaver of Sultan.
Eden Cisneros, a two-time state placer at 195 (sixth in 2017 and eighth in 2018), will compete at 220 pounds for the Spartans.
Senior Shane Queen (182) was seventh at 170 last season and Brett Moody was seventh as a sophomore in 2017.
Port Angeles returns one wrestler who competed at Mat Classic last season, senior Daniel Basden at 120. Dominick Timperio was a state alternate last season.
Port Townsend’s Gabe Petrick, Dylan Tracer are making a return to state as well as Chimacum’s Kyle Caldwell who competes for the Redhawks during the regular season.
The Redhawks’ Brenna Franklin (170) is ranked third in her weight class by Washington Wrestling Report. Franklin wrestled but did not place at state last season. Her path to the top of the podium may have to run through defending champ Kiley Hubby of wrestling powerhouse Lake Stevens.
Mat Classic XXXI Participants
• Forks: Karen Ensastegui, 100; Juan Pablo Flores-Contreras, 106; Andres Santos-Delacruz, 113; Jake Weakley, 120; Colton Duncan, 126; Ariel Morales, 126; Luis Perez, 138; Keith Thompson, 145; Hayden Baker, 152; Hayden Queen, 160; Brett Moody, 170; Josh Salazar, 170; Colby Demorest, 182; Shane Queen, 182; Tristan Pisani, 220; Eden Cisneros 220; Luke Dahlgren, 285.
• Port Angeles: Daniel Basden, 120; Adam Borde, 126; Jackson Larson, 145; Grant Abrams, 152; Riley Gale, 170; Jason Kibe, 182; Dominick Timperio, 195.
• Port Townsend: Oscar Levine, 106; Carter Swartout, 120; Logan Massie, 126; Ian Linn-Glasgow, 145; Odin Smith, 152; Gabe Petrick, 160; Brenna Franklin, 170; Dylan Tracer, 182; Wes Blue, 220.
• Sequim: Aleah Chen, 145; Noah Eveland, 285.
• Chimacum: Kyle Caldwell, 195.
