Wrestling Giants Clash: Tahoma Bears Emerge Victorious Over Lake Stevens
Last night, under the fancy lights of the gymnasium, the #1 ranked Tahoma Bears embarked on a journey north to grapple with the #5 ranked Lake Stevens in a wrestling dual that would become the talk of the town. The air was thick with anticipation as 21 of the state's top-ranked wrestlers prepared to clash on the mats.
The Tahoma Bears, renowned for their skill and tenacity, did not disappoint. They dominated the dual, showcasing a blend of technique and raw power that left the neon wearing audience in awe. The final score, an astounding 57-13, was a testament to their dominance on the night.
Among the many highlights, sophomore Ethan “Hotdog” Edwards of Tahoma, usually competing in the JV 190-pound class, made a bold move by stepping up a weight class. His opponent? None other than the defending state finalist. In a display of sheer grit, Edwards kept his formidable adversary at bay, conceding only an 11-0 victory.
Another memorable moment came from senior Trey Monaghan, marking his debut in the line-up in spectacular fashion. Monaghan, with a combination of fine tuned athleticism and strength, pinned his opponent, further solidifying Tahoma's lead.
The crowd, a vibrant mix of supporters from both schools, bore witness to a series of matches that were nothing short of electrifying. .
The individual match results were as follows:
At 132 pounds, Zach Baker (Tahoma) overcame Sam Irizarry (Lake Stevens) with a fall at 3:25, opening the score at 6-0.
Gavin Wells (Tahoma) in the 138-pound category secured a technical fall over Lawrence Muhat (Lake Stevens), widening the gap.
Joe Sullivan (Tahoma) at 144 pounds emerged victorious against Jaden Jennings (Lake Stevens) with a decision of 8-4, pushing the score to 14-0.
Isac Deonigi (Tahoma) continued the winning streak in the 150-pound class with a major decision over Levi Allinson (Lake Stevens), 18-0.
Cyrus Comia (Tahoma) at 157 pounds defeated Zak Leduc (Lake Stevens) with a fall at 1:46, the score leaping to 24-0.
In the 165-pound match, Adriano Perez (Tahoma) triumphed over Dino Dimarco (Lake Stevens) with a fall at 3:16.
Dylan Stover (Tahoma) at 175 pounds continued the dominance, winning over Esteban Sedano (Lake Stevens) with a fall at 4:54.
Kage Repenn (Tahoma) at 190 pounds swiftly overpowered Jarell David (Lake Stevens) with a fall in just 53 seconds.
Koen Mattern (Lake Stevens) finally put his team on the board in the 215-pound class with a major decision over Ethan Edwards (Tahoma), making the score 42-4. He flexed at the crowd after winning, making the Bears think that he couldn’t see the score from his angle.
Trey Monaghan's debut in the 285-pound class saw him pinning Mikey Lawrence (Lake Stevens), further extending Tahoma's lead.
Crew Lambro (Tahoma) in the 106-pound match defeated Sam Owen (Lake Stevens) with a fall at 2:28.
Ahmad Banishamsa (Lake Stevens) in the 113-pound class managed to pin Colby Hill (Tahoma), bringing some hope to his team.
Owen Marshall (Tahoma) in the 120-pound class secured a decision over Troy Valentine (Lake Stevens), bringing the score to 57-10.
Jacob Christianson (Lake Stevens) ended the night with a decision over Alex Othon (Tahoma), finalizing the score at 57-13.
The evening was a celebration of skill, sportsmanship, and the enduring spirit of high school wrestling. The Bears will start their run towards the State Tournament starting next week. Our first step will be the league tournament next Saturday at Kennedy High School. In the tournament, each team will get to enter two wrestlers at each weight. Those placing in the top 5 will move onto the Regional Tournament which will be hosted at Tahoma High School the following weekend.