Blayne Edwards wins state wrestling title

Wahkiakum High School junior Blayne Edwards won the state Class B wrestling championship in his 103 lb. weight class last Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

Edwards started the tournament with a 12-2 decision over freshman Jesus Dominguez of Warden. Next, he defeated sophomore Taylor Woodruff of Liberty Bell with a 15-0 technical fall. That win put him in the championship match against freshman Tony Raupp of Winlock, and Edwards pinned Raupp in 1:29.

The title is the first state championship in the history of the Mule wrestling program.

"It has been a long time a coming," said Mule Coach Matt Stacey. "The Mules have come so close too many times."

Edwards has been ranked number one in the weight class all year and won every tournament except one, Castle Rock, in which he placed second and lost his only match of the year.

"Everyone has been gunning for him," Stacey said. ""It didn’t do them any good.

"The state tournament is different, though. While a wrestler may have a record accumulated over a great season, everyone comes into this tournament 0-0 no matter where they are seeded. Every match starts out 0-0, and every point counts. A small mistake here and the best wrestler in the tournament can go home empty handed.

"Blayne never made that mistake."

Edwards had faced Raupp, his finals opponent, at least four times this year, including sub-regional and regional championships, Stacey said.

"It is extremely difficult to defeat an opponent multiple times," Stacey said. "Blayne took the challenge in stride.

“He knew his game plan from the moment the whistle blew. The predator came out. You could see the difference in how he wrestled. Blayne never allowed Raupp in the match. From the first set up and heel pick take down to the final pinning combination, Blayne dominated."

The match lasted only 1:29, and it seemed almost anti-climatic to have the victory come that quickly, Stacey said.

"After the weeks of intense practice, the hours of jumping rope, the miles logged in wind sprints in a dark gym, 90 seconds in the spotlight seems a short time," Stacey said. "No one may ever know the work, but no one can take it away. The pride of victory will last forever for Wahkiakum’s first wrestling state champion."

Three other Mules qualified for the state tournament--Mason Mackey 119, Ben Miles 140 and Nate Cothren 145. All were winless in their matches.

Edwards won 16.5 points for the Mule team which placed them 16th overall in the team standings.

Warden won the team championship with 150.5 points; Kittitas had 78, Reardan 63.5, and Pomeroy 55. Winlock was ninth with 38.