Winter Sports Preview: Sequim High Wrestling

2014-2015 record: 4-3-1; 11 qualified for regional tourney, four for state

Head coach: Charles Drabek

Returning wrestlers: Craig Baker, Travis Baker, Nick Barrett, Aylee Bennett, Christian Benson, Hunter Davidson, Hayden Gresli, Ty Jones, Andrea Kienholz, Bailey King, Michael Latimer, Alma Mendoza, Ben Newell, Grant Pierson, Kiara Pierson, Dylan Perreira, Chris Puksta, Jamie Schroepfer, Kelvin Solis, Natalie Thurston, Glenn Uy, Kevyn Ward, Sven Wiker.

by MATTHEW NASH

Sequim Gazette

Chances are the pins will continue to go the Wolves’ way on the wrestling mat this season.

Last year, Sequim won four head-to-head match-ups ending three seasons without a team win.

“Our freshmen and sophomores were getting their hats handed to them but now it’s their turn,” said head coach Charles Drabek.

Returning are three of four class 2A state competitors – Senior Kevyn Ward (did not place at 152 pounds), junior Alma Mendoza (seventh place 125 pounds) and sophomore Kiara Pierson (eighth place 115 pounds).

Ward went 1-2 at the 2A State Mat Classic after sweeping his opponents at regionals with pins and taking the No. 1 seed while Mendoza went 3-2 and Pierson 2-3 to medal.

In total, Sequim sees 29 boys and nine girls turnout this season.

Of those returners, six more wrestlers qualified for regionals including Craig Baker (sixth place at 120 pounds, alternate to state), Michael Latimer (0-1 injury default at 220 pounds), Jamie Schroepfer, Aylee Bennett, Andrea Kienholtz and Sven Wiker (did not compete).

With so many returning players, Drabek feels Sequim can replicate last year’s results.

“The team is growing up and we can fill in all the weight classes barring injuries,” he said.

Along with Mendoza and Pierson, Bennett and Kienholtz gained some valuable experience in their postseason runs last year, Drabek said, so “they know what to expect this season.”

Two Oregon wrestlers, Adrian Klarich and Mckenzie Stockdale, moved to Sequim this school year and may be impact players, too, he said.

One Sequim wrestler, junior Grant Pierson, Kiara’s older brother, took his offseason regime above and beyond by participating in most of the open gyms throughout the offseason and sparring with Glenn Uy who wrestles a bigger weight class.

“That kid has worked so hard all offseason,” Ward said. “I don’t think he’s stopped wrestling.”

In between wrestling days, Pierson said he’s been lifting weights and has gone from the 120 weight class as a freshman to 138 as a sophomore to 145 this year.

“I’m always tying to better myself and beat my own goals, not always the opponent,” Pierson said.

“I’m trying to learn what works for me and get down the basics.”

Grant’s sister echoes some of his strategy.

“I plan to focus on the simple moves,” Kiara said. “I want to get them into my muscle memory because the simple moves are what win.”

Mendoza said she’s looking to fill some of the gap left by graduated seniors and former state competitors Sophia Cornell and Kaylee Ditlefsen. Her strategy is to be more aggressive and take more shots while going against her old mindset as a defensive wrestler.

“Bill (Schroepfer, assistant coach) tells me not to be so nice to people,” she joked.

Ward has his sights on placing at every tournament this year including the Mat Classic. Last season, Ward said he missed taking a medal home in two regular season tournaments by one match each.

Kiara Pierson said she’s optimistic those who went to state last year will return along with some newcomers.

“We have a lot of new girls but that doesn’t mean they won’t make it to state,” she said. “I did it as a freshman.”

Sequim opened its season on Dec. 1 at Port Angeles’ Wrestlerama Jamboree and travels to the White River Classic on Saturday, Dec. 5.