Coach Wins Top Honors at 3A Wrestling Tournament

Bonney Lake coach Tony Clarke took home a top prize on Friday, but his team struggled in the second round of the Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome.

Clarke was named the 3A state Coach of the Year for his success in turning the Bonney Lake wrestling program into a regional power. But his group of wrestlers stumbled after a successful first round.

Josh Lueders worked out a 9-8 victory over Kevin Del Angle of Southridge in the first round of the 160-pound division, but struggled from the start against Connor Boyce of Everett and could not make up an early point disparity in taking the loss.

Justin Rush also succeeded in the first round before faltering in the second. Rush started the day with a 8-2 victory over Pat Legate of Highline, but was fairly dominated by Josh Romero of Sunnyside in the second round.

Enumclaw took care of business on the first day of the Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome and looks primed to make a run at its third state title in four years.

The Hornets emerged as the big winners of the day, advancing seven wrestlers past the first round and five into the semifinals, to give a 66-57.5 lead in the team rankings over University.

Enumclaw’s only real set-back came when defending state champion Hunter File was shocked in the 130-pound quarterfinals by Josh St. Marie of Glacier Peak, dropping File into the losers bracket and ensuring that he will finish no higher than third the year after winning it all.

Still, Enumclaw was confident of their chances to win the overall title.

“We almost feel like we got it in the sack,” Kario Wallin, who qualified for the semifinals at 160 pounds, said of the team title. “It’s meant to be, everything’s going together so well.”

Mercer Island was a surprise first-round success, as the Islanders put five wrestlers into the second round. But the Islanders luck ran out in the face of a tough round of match-ups and Mercer Island had to settle for 9th place after day one.

University, Sunnyside and Kelso all placed in the top 5 of team rankings, as expected. University and Enumclaw entered the tournament as the favorites, while Sunnyside and Kelso were expected to compete.