Friday Harbor wrestlers 'kick butt'; 9 to compete in Mat Classic

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Friday Harbor wrestlers 'kick butt'; 9 to compete in Mat Classic

posted 02/18/03
Friday Harbor bulled its way to a Region I Class A/B Title and nine Wolverine wrestlers will be competing at the XV Mat Classic in the Tacoma Dome Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22.

"They kicked butt," said Gordy Banry, the usually reserved Friday Harbor coach.

"They had a great day," Banry added, noting all but three of the state qualifiers had to defeat foes who'd beat them earlier in the season.

Timmy Aylward (130 pounds), Mike Pretz (135), Britt Banry (145), Taylor Stimpson (189) and John Marsh (215) earned gold championship medals during the Wolverines' best showing at a regional meet. James Ausilio (112), Tyler Cornell (140), John Gossom (160) and Chad Cymbalista (171) took home silver medals as runners-up. Andrea Champlin (103), Colby Leed (119) and Jason Grone (171) will attend the state meet as alternates.

Friday Harbor scored 229 points -- 38 more points than second-place Darrington. The other team results are: Tacoma Baptist 143, Concrete 125, Bellevue Christian 78 and Cascade Christian 0.

"We're all so elated.... It's an honor to have done so well at this level," Stimpson said. "It's epic for Friday Harbor."

"It feels great," Pretz said.

Pretz wasn't concerned about mounting the winners' platform and receiving a gold medal -- he wanted a team trophy. He was a bit disappointed after learning trophies are not given out at the regional level but the Wolverines' only four-year wrestler was "jazzed because we had so many first-places. I'm just excited for this team."

The previous best placement for the Wolverines was five competitors and two alternates in 2001. The Wolverines now must adjust their expectations, Banry said. "It (winning regional) sets a new level on the ladder for what to strive for."

Coach Banry expected four wrestlers would advance. "For the other five it was going to take some work," the head coach said. "They did the work and we got nine."

Britt Banry, a freshman, stuck another freshman in the semi-final and dominated a junior in the championship round. Both of his opponents defeated Banry in previous meetings. "That's a hard thing for anyone to overcome," said Gordy, his coach and father.

"I knew they beat me before but I knew I could beat them," Britt said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the Tacoma Dome," Britt Banry said.

Stimpson, a senior, exploded against Mark Richmond in the championship match. The Concrete wrestler pinned Stimpson one week earlier at the Northwest A/B Meet. Richmond manuevered Stimpson into the same hold he used to set up his fall at league, but Stimpson muscled out of it. "Taylor fighting that off was just sheer will-power," Coach Banry said. "That was Taylor going, 'No, I'm to win this."

Marsh pinned Darrington's Brad Neuman and Concrete's Zach Coggins. "I came here to win first-place and I achieved it," the senior said.

"John wrestled really well. Zach's a good wrestler,"Coach Banry said.

Mike Pretz, twice an alternate at the Mat Classic, continued to dominate his foes in his final season. He pinned Tacoma Baptist's Kevin Christie and toppled Bellevue Christian's Kevin Christie by a 12-point margin. "It was a good way to see him go into state," Banry said of Pretz.

Aylward is ready to make a return trip to the Mat Classic. "I think I might do better this year. I'll be a little more relaxed."

Gossom, a sophomore, pinned Tacoma Baptist's David Alford in the semi-finals and lost narrowly in the finals to Concrete's Kyle Wilson. "To get to the semi-finals, John had to beat somebody he hadn't beat all year," Banry said.

Cornell and Tacoma Baptist's Erik Hoff finished three periods tied 8-8 but the Friday Harbor senior took Hoff to the mat for the overtime victory. "Every match they've had has come down to the wire," Banry said.

Cymbalista clinched a state berth during his final prep year by trimming sophomore teammate Jason Grone 9-8 in a wrestle-back. "I was hoping it was going to be me and Grone, first and second," Cymbalista said. "That would've been pretty sweet."

"Chad decided he was a senior and he was going to make that trip," Banry said.

Cymbalista defeated flu-suffering Grone one week earlier at the Northwest A League meet. "Even though Jason hasn't practiced all week... he still looked a little off today," Banry said.

Mat Classic action starts at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 when the top 16 wrestlers in four classes begin squaring off. Aylward knows his teammates will be in awe of the Mat Classic when they enter the Tacoma Dome and see hundreds of other wrestlers and 10,000 fans. "It's breathtaking," Aylward said.

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Friday Harbor wrestlers 'kick butt'; 9 to compete in Mat Classic