Jesus Valdez savored this one.
Kent-Meridian’s standout 103-pound wrestler accomplished something on Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome that no other member of the school’s program has done during the past decade.
Valdez, one of the pillars of a program that has been low on numbers in recent years but has taken a considerable step forward this winter, finished third on Saturday at Mat Classic XXII. In doing so, Valdez, a senior, became Kent-Meridian’s first 3-time state placer of the decade.
“It’s special,” said Valdez, who wrapped up his senior season with an impressive 40-4 overall record. “I came in here and it wasn’t as nerve-wracking as the other three times. I came in here a little more confident, a little more ready to place.
“I was more excited than I’ve ever been before.”
Along with being K-M’s first 3-time state placer during the decade, Valdez also was the school’s lone wrestler to advance to the state tournament four times during that span.
The accomplishment was not lost on Coach Todd Owens, who has seen multiple wrestlers start the sport at Kent-Meridian, but seldom see it through for an entire four years.
“He’s invaluable,” said Owens. “He’s got great family, he’s positive, he’s done so much for the school, not just in wrestling. He’s a great kid, a great role model … you just can’t get any better than this guy.”
Wrestling in one of the state’s toughest weight classes, Valdez – as he has done the last four years – delivered the goods on Friday and Saturday. The senior flyweight opened the tournament on Friday with a convincing 8-2 victory over Josh Newberg of Kelso. Valdez followed that up with a 15-6 major decision of Sonny Mundell of Snohomish, earning a berth in the semifinals.
Valdez was unable to overcome eventual champion Steven Tompkins of Tahoma in the semis, falling 12-1.
Instead of folding, however, the K-M standout persevered, knocking off Newberg again, 4-1, then stopping Evergreen’s Michael Nguyen 7-5 for the third-place medal.
Valdez didn’t place as a freshman, but finished eighth as a sophomore and fifth last year as a junior. Saturday night’s win over Nguyen provided Valdez with his finest finish to date.
“I knew that I would have a tough match with Hopkins, so I planned ahead,” said Valdez, who will attend Washington State University in the fall and pursue a degree in education. “I knew that if I lost to (Hopkins), that I’d have to come back and take third because it’s the last time, my last year. I had to finish strong no matter what.”
The final trip to the Tacoma Dome was emotional, Valdez admitted, but plenty worth it.
“It has been a nice run.”
Valdez was joined on the podium Saturday night by teammate Nick Lemmon, who took sixth at 160 pounds. Lemmon delivered an impressive finish as well. The K-M senior lost his opening match, then won three-straight loser-out bouts to finish among the state’s top eight in the weight class.
Lemmon finished the season with a 40-7 overall record.
Kent-Meridian’s Andrew Smith (140), the only other Royal to compete at the tournament, won one match before dropping his next two en route to elimination. Valdez, Lemmon and Smith have been cornerstones to a program that has turned the corner this season.
“They’re all positive to coach, positive kids, none of them are lifetime wrestlers, either,” Owens said. “They’re easy to work with … they listen and are just great kids.”
