Tahoma hungry for another title run | Prep Wrestling Preview

Tahoma’s grapplers are not very familiar with losing. And they don’t appear ready to start making introductions any time soon.

After finishing first in state as a team in 2012 and second in 2013, the Bears wrestling squad dropped to fifth in the 2014 Mat Classic. Despite the minor dip at state, the Bears have continued their reign of dominance early in the 2015 season — winning the Auburn Invite, with eight Tahoma wrestlers advancing to the finals. The Bears finished last year’s regular season undefeated in league and haven’t lost a league dual since the 2007-2008 season, when they finished 6-1.

The Bears graduated a number of top wrestlers from last season’s group, including 126-pound Cruz Velasquez, who finished second in his weight class, but are bolstered with a deep, proven group of underclassmen.

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“We have four state qualifiers returning this season (and) all were state placers at the state tournament,” wrote head coach Chris Feist in an email to The Reporter. “Last year, only four freshmen total placed in 4A and three were on our team.”

Meanwhile, Kentlake head coach Jeremy Williams expects his squad will improve on its up-and-down 2014 on the strength of two-time state placer Josh Beckler.

“We definitely have a little more talent and depth than last year,” Williams said. “We’re still fairly young but we’ve got a good solid crew in the middle weights this year.”

Tahoma

2014 Record: 8-0 league, 9-1 overall

Returning State Qualifiers: Adam Hokenson (Senior), Justin Sipila (Soph.), Nick Whitehead (Soph.), Dylan Weiding (Soph.)

Goals for 2015: “Our goal this year is the same goal we have every year,” Feist wrote. “To excel on the mat, in the classroom and in the community as servant leaders.”

Returning Contributors (quotes from Feist):

• Izzy Murrietta (Junior, 106) — “Izzy is fast and aggressive. Very strong for his weight, he will be a state placing contender.”

• Whitehead (120) — “Is one of the best in the state in the top position. Has amazing strength for his size.”

• Weiding (126) — “Had over 20 pins last year, is able to frequently catch his opponents out of position.”

• Sipila (132) — Member of the Washington State National Dual Team.

• Hockenson (195) — “Will wrestle in college. Has great hips and throwing ability.”

• Nick Palandri (Senior, 220) — In his second year of wrestling. Made varsity in his first year participating. Three-sport athlete — football, wrestling, lacrosse.

Key Newcomers:

• Ryden Fu (Soph., 145) — Has a judo background and Feist called him one of the best overall athletes on the team.

• Tristan Wilmus (Junior, 152) — Came into the program as a 180-pound freshman. Advanced to the finals of the Auburn tournament.

• Sean Hanson (Senior, 160 pounds) — “A devoted program kid. Does everything he is asked to do and more.”

• Dagen Kramer (Soph., 182) — Tall and wiry; Feist said Kramer is able to use his height and strength for strong leverage.

KENTWOOD

2014 record: 5-3 league, 6-3 overall

Returning State Qualifiers: Kyle Capperauld (Senior)

Goals for 2015: “To work hard all season and improve every day,” wrote head coach Ken Sroka in an email to The Reporter. “Coaches want wrestling to be an experience athletes look back on and have great memories from.”

Returning Varsity

• Steven Bouyavong (Soph., 106)

• Andy Sandhu (Soph, 113)

• Abriel Rodriguez (Senior, 132)

• Walker Meyers (Senior, 138)

• Haroldo Parada-Soto (Senior, 160)

• Capperauld (220)

• Trenton Harris (Junior, 195)

• Austin Duncan (Junior, 285)

Key Newcomers: “We have 20-plus ninth graders in our room every day and they want to learn and improve,” Sroka wrote. “We look for each one of them to contribute to our team.”

KENTLAKE

Last year’s record: 2-6 league, 5-7 overall.

Returning State Qualifiers: Josh Beckler (Senior)

Goals for 2015: “Place top three at the league tournament, top 10 in the state,” Williams said.

Returning Varsity:

• Keondre Johnson (Senior, 126)

• Quinton Hayes (Junior, 145)

• Jonas Adams (Soph., 152)

• Beckler (152/60)

• Anthony Carrillo (Senior, 170)

• Zach Harris (Senior, 182)

• Jose Renteria (Senior, 285)