Video: Freshman Standout Kiaya Van Scoyoc Marries Judo With Wrestling

Girls wrestling in Washington state is growing, and Lakes High School freshman Kiaya Van Scoyoc is leading the charge.

Van Scoyoc has shown the state — and her opponents who have ended up on their backs in pain — that a background in judo, which emphasizes throws and takedowns, has complemented her budding high school wrestling career. And in the 160-pound weight class, she has carved a path of destruction a year after participation in girls wrestling has peaked.

Nearly 600 wrestlers competed in Washington during the 2009-10 season, ranking third in the nation behind Texas and California. Van Scoyoc was an eighth-grader at Hudtloff Middle School tangling with boys then. Since 2007, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association created a girls-only high school state tournament that includes each classification, evening the playing field and allowing upcoming wrestlers like Van Scoyoc to take flight.

Van Scoyoc's high school wrestling career hasn't just taken flight, however. It has blasted off like a rocket ship.

Van Scoyoc is the top-ranked juvenile B division judo competitor in the country according to usjudo.org. She's undefeated this season with a record of 30-0 with 20 pins and earned a trip to the Mat Classic state tournament by capturing the Region 2 championship at Shelton Middle School on Saturday.

She is the No. 2 wrestler in the state, according to washingtonwrestlingreport.com.

"I didn't know I'd be undefeated," the 15-year-old said. "This is a lot more than I thought it'd be.

"Judo helped wrestling more than wrestling helped judo."

With eight years of judo experience and having traveled across the world competing on an international stage, stepping onto the wrestling mat in a state tournament won't be much different. New Lakes head coach James Poncho was one of Van Scoyoc's judo senseis and encouraged her to join the wrestling team.

"She’s a freshman but she’s not new to competition," Poncho said. "She’s been all over the world with judo. Its not like she's brand-spanking new. Getting in that condition has been the hardest."

In a recent practice, Van Scoyoc struggled to finish the practice by sprinting from one end of the gym to the next in a given time. She felt like she let the team down. Poncho said there are times when she likes to take it easy.

"She's had to learn what work is all about," Poncho said. "And it hasn't always been fun for her. But by the time she's a junior and senior, she'll be tough as nails and nobody will touch her."

So far, as a freshman, nobody has defeated her. Several of the 160-pound ranked competitors wrestled in the regional competition, but not the two-time defending state champion, West Valley senior Alyssa Calhoon. If both win three consecutive state matches, they would meet in the Mat Classic title match.

"If you can’t wrestle when you’re on the mat you’re not going to win," Poncho said, referring to the state tournament. He added that at the sub-district tournament, Van Scoyoc did no throws and still won the tournament.

Her stepmother, Donna Curley, said it was interesting to see the transformation between judo and wrestling.

"I'm really proud she can go from one sport to another," Curley said.

When Van Scoyoc isn't sure what to do during a wrestling match, she defaults back to her judo. Poncho said his goal was to teach her how to wrestle on the ground.

Her favorite move is the head-and-arm, a common judo move that uses leverage and balance to throw down an opponent using the hips. Lakes freshman Nick Webster — her 125-pound sparring partner — said she's a good thrower.

"She's thrown me on my back a lot," Webster said. "She helps me and I help her."

With state around the corner and an undefeated record as a freshman, she's going to be a target, said Lakes girls wrestling coach Trisha Pak.

"She's a ninth-grader with an undefeated record," Pak said. "Everybody is going to be after her."

Pak — who is Poncho's daughter — and the head coach both know that in order for Van Scoyoc to vie for a state title, she's going to need more than a head-and-arm in her arsenal. Pak said they are going to be reviewing current material and refining her technique. 

Van Scoyoc will wrestle unranked Skyline freshman Kara Alden in the opening round of the state tournament at 12:30 p.m. on Friday at the Tacoma Dome. Check out the Mat Classic state wrestling bracket here.

"I'm looking forward to state," she said. "I'm going to just do what I know."