One surprised.
The other calmly repeated.
In between crowning performances from John Buban at 145 pounds and Nick Bayer at 171, Tahoma once again delivered the goods Friday and Saturday during Mat Classic XXI at the Tacoma Dome.
Behind Buban’s somewhat surprising title and Bayer’s repeat, the Bears pulled off a fourth-place team finish at the state tournament, registering 84 overall points, four behind third-place Auburn (88) and just ahead of fifth-placer Rogers of Puyallup (73.5).
The top four teams bring home a trophy. As anticipated, Lake Stevens cruised to the team title, scoring 169 points followed by second-place Snohomish (102.5).
Taking fourth was an impressive accomplishment, Tahoma coach Chris Feist said.
“My boys worked so hard,” he said. “And it’s not just the six kids who wrestled in this tournament. It was our team. Without those other guys who are pushing those six during the year, we don’t do anything. We had 28 go to the league tournament, 14 go to regionals and we had six come here. But everyone of those 28 guys earned a piece of this.
“That’s a fact.”
It’s Tahoma’s fifth straight finish among the top five. In fact, the Bears took fifth as a team in each of the last three years.
On Saturday night, Buban and Bayer made sure that the Bears wouldn’t finish out of the trophy hunt.
In a tight-fisted match throughout, Buban simply outlasted University’s Ryan Zumwalt for the crown, coming up with a two-point takedown in double overtime to secure the title, 6-4.
Buban came into the match having taken second at league and third at last weekend’s regional.
“These last two weeks, I was struggling to get in tune mentally,” admitted Buban, a senior who was making his first-ever Mat Classic appearance. “I was going out in matches thinking about other things. This past week, I worked as hard as I could to get everything back mentally. I think it was just a mental drive that pushed me a little bit further. That put my head in the right place.”
Zumwalt was penalized one point for stalling with 4.7 seconds remaining in regulation, tying the match 3-3.
In overtime, Buban simply had more left in his tank than Zumwalt.
Buban entered the tournament as a title challenger, but the title was a small surprise. That is, to everyone but Feist.
“It made my day,” said Feist. “John Buban is a kilt-wearing, drum-playing, video production, reading, skiing … he has so many passions. A couple times I’ve seen him dialed into wrestle, and when that happens, get out of the way. He can beat anyone.”
And Buban certainly was dialed in on Saturday night.
The same can be said for Bayer, who won the 160-pound title last season. A favorite entering the tournament, Bayer delivered as anticipated.
The cool-headed junior picked apart Bethel’s Teagan Franco, 7-2. Though Bayer trailed 1-0 in the second period, it was clear the Tahoma standout was well in control. He proceeded to put on a takedown clinic during the final two periods of the match.
How does this title compare to last year’s?
“This one was more controlled,” said Bayer, who finished the season with a 42-2 overall record. “I had more experience. I knew what to expect. I didn’t question my moves like I did last time.”
Bayer became Tahoma’s first two-time state champion since Andrew Johnson won three from 2005-2007.
Just moments after securing the crown, Bayer already had thoughts on winning another next year.
“I start thinking about three (state titles) right now,” he said.
Of course, Tahoma’s fourth-place team finish was as much a credit to Bayer and Buban as it was to the guys who didn’t bring home a crown.
Particularly Tyler Lamb at 135 pounds. Lamb advanced to the finals, but came up just short against Snohomish’s Stefan St. Marie. Lamb hung with St. Marie until the third period, when the Snohomish wrestler put him away with a pin midway through.
Despite the loss, Lamb left the Tacoma Dome with his third medal in three years.
But it was Tahoma’s Konner Knudtsen at 215 pounds who officially sealed a team trophy for the Bears. An hour before the finals began, Knudtsen put the wraps on a third-place finish, outlasting Snohomish’s Derek Britton 3-1.
The win assured the Bears of placing among the top four teams.
“I knew going out there it was big,” said Knudtsen. “Just knowing you’re one of the best kids, all that hard work in the summer, it all pays off today.”
