Edwards repeats as state champ

The Wahkiakum Mule wrestling team capped a successful season by their highest ever placing in the state Mat Classic Wrestling Tournament.

The Mules placed 10th in team standings, and senior Blayne Edwards won his second state championship.

Competition started on Friday with six Mules wrestling. Freshmen Alex Johnson and Luke Stacey and Sophomore Brandon Burdick were all competing for the first time in the Tacoma Dome. Senior Blayne Edwards, and sophomores Mason Mackey and Nate Cothren were all returning contenders.

Edwards led the team from the beginning, coming in as the returning state champ from 2011 at 103 lbs. This year Edwards had moved up into the 113 lb. weight class, and the competition was stiff. There are no easy matches at state. Edwards won his two matches on Friday, putting him in the finals on Saturday, which is a long day for Class B wrestlers in the finals. Weigh ins are at 8 a.m., and the finals round starts at 5 p.m. with pomp and pageantry. Nine hours is a long time to maintain the mental battle. Adding pressure to himself, Edwards had a goal of seeing the Mules place in the top 10. Entering the finals round the Mules had 17.5 team points; 4.5 points away from the 10th place Ocosta. There were other teams in the running, including Almira-Coulee-Hartline, whose heavyweight wrestler was favored in the finals. A simple victory for Edwards would settle his place as a two time champ but would not guarantee the team placing. No pressure.

But Edwards managed the pressure well and went out to wrestle his match. Starting from the opening whistle, he took control with a take down in 15 seconds. Two sets of near fall points brought round one to a close with Edwards leading 7-0. Round two was tense, but uneventful, when the whistle sounded at the end of round three, coaches jumped; Edwards smiled and the referee raised his hand. Edwards had won 12-1, a major decision. The Mules now had 22.5 and were on the board.

Of course one wrestler cannot place by himself. Mason Mackey and Nate Cothren also won matches at the tournament, adding points to the team placings. Mackey and Cothren also wrestled on Saturday and were one win away from placing individually.

Teammates are not only necessary for team scores but also to help push individuals in practice. Edwards could not have come this far without the constant competition in the room from a battling team. So while Edwards stood on the stand, and Mackey and Cothren helped score the points, this team placing is really a victory for the whole Wahkiakum team.