A strong turnout and some state-level returnees has the Wolves’ wrestling squad primed for a strong winter campaign in 2023 and 2024.
Longtime head coach Steve Chinn returns to lead the pack of Wolves that number between 28 and 30, according to early season rosters.
At the end of last season, the Wolfpack was down to about 11 wrestlers.
“That’s a vast improvement,” Chinn said. “They’ve all got good attitudes … and our senior leadership is pretty good.”
Leading the pack of returning grapplers is senior Cayden Beauregard, who went 3-2 and placed seventh at 106 pounds at the class 2A MatClassic state tourney last season.
Beauregard is ranked No. 7 at 106 pounds this preseason by washingtonwrestlingreport.com, but will likely wrestle at 113 pounds this season, Chinn said.
“He’s thinking state championship,” Chinn said of Beauregard, but also noted there are a slew of tough opponents in the Wolves’ district he’ll have to get through for a return trip to state.
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Chinn said.
Long-time head coach and assistant coach Steve Chinn talks with his wrestlers at a preseason practice last week. Chinn took over mid-season in 2022-23 after the passing of coach Chad Cate and returns for another season of leading the Wolves in 2023-24.
Also back are Ari Skov, who earned a spot at the class 2A state tourney as an alternate and is ranked at No. 7 at 165 pounds this preseason, and Ryan Spelker, who was a state alternate at 113 pounds and will likely grapple at 120 pounds this year, Chinn said.
Veteran Dylan Bowen is also back at 195 pounds.
A newcomer but no stranger to high-level wrestling is Jayms Vilona, who placed fifth in his Southern 3A Region in Nevada as a sophomore last season and attended about a half-dozen camps during the offseason.
Vilona looks like a state placer, Chinn said.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he can do,” he said of Vilona.
Several Wolf wrestlers took part in high level camps, including Sequim’s own Pin2Win camp with wrestling legend Gene Mills in July, Chinn noted, and at the same time a strong contingent of freshmen are on the mats, bolstering the team’s depth and future.
While most roster numbers are up, the Sequim coach noted the Wolves only have three girls out this season — two freshmen and a sophomore.
“We’re trying to work them back into the program,” Chinn said.
Sequim Gazette photoS by Michael Dashiell Sequim High wrestlers do some modified pushups at a preseason practice at the SHS auxiliary/Olympic Peninsula Academy gymnasium last week.
Backing Chinn are assistants Kelly Reichner, who assisted the program last season, and newcomer Tyler Izatt — a former state placer from Montesano (and son of longtime referee Jay Izatt) who transferred recently for his work with Department of Fish & Wildlife to the Sequim area.
“He’s a go-getter; he’s young and relates really well with the kids,” Chinn said of Izatt. “I don’t think I could find a better couple of assistant coaches.”
In 2022-23, Sequim finished sixth out of seven teams at sub-districts and 11th out of 16 teams at districts.
Along with several years as an assistant, Chinn was the Wolves’ head coach from 1983-1991, then 2006-2007, then again last season, after Sequim lost coach Chad Cate — a Clallam County Fire District 3 who died while serving on duty.
“It is still emotional,” Chinn said. “A couple of these kids are driven because of it.
“There isn’t a day that goes by [that I don’t think of him]. They think of him every day, too. It’s a legacy.”
Wolves start strong
Two Sequim wrestlers earned first place finishes and another four grapplers took second at the Forks Wrestling Tournament on Dec. 2.
Ari Skov swept through the nine-competitor 175-pound weight class with a 3-0 mark, with each win coming over East Jefferson wrestlers. After a pin of Seth Neilsen and a 15-0 win over Silas Klontz, Skov pinned Jameson Henery in 2:45 for the title.
Cayden Beauregard won both of his matches after a first round bye and took the 113-pound weight class title, earning pins of Forks’ Lillianna Galeana and Port Angeles’ Kolby Helvey.
Finn Jones picked up two pins in three matches and placed second at 126 pounds.
Jayms Vilona picked up a quick pin of Port Angeles’ Nicholas Park (25 seconds) and placed second at 150 pounds. Teammate Noah Andrejeski went 2-2 at the same weight class and took fourth.
Brandon Bair won two of three round-robin matches at 106 pounds and placed second. At 190 pounds, Dylan Bowen went 2-1 with two pins — both under a minute — and placed second to Port Angeles’ AJ Martinez. Riley Downs went 1-1 and placed second at 138 pounds.
Johnny Vilona went 3-1 and took third place at 132 pounds, earning two pins and a 10-8 win in the consolation final against Adric McBride of Port Angeles.
James Mason picked up three wins in four matches and placed third at 157 pounds.
James Smith went 3-2 with three pins and placed fifth at 165 pounds.
Ryan Spelker earned a pin at 120 pounds and placed third overall.
At 175 pounds, Roger Burwash went 2-2 with a pin and took fourth.
The Wolves also wrestled at a jamboree in Port Angeles on Nov. 30.
Coming up
Sequim competes at a Port Townsend tournament on Dec. 9 and is at Kingston on Dec. 13 before taking part in the 64-team Hammerhead Tournament in Bremerton on Dec. 15.
Sequim’s first home match is against Bremerton and Port Angeles on Jan. 10.
Winter Sports Preview: SHS wrestling
Head coach: Steve Chinn (11th season)
2022-2023 results: Six wrestlers to regionals; two wrestlers to state 2A tourney
Key returners: Cayden Beauregard, Ari Skov, Dylan Bowen, Roger Burwash, Ryan Spelker
Newcomers: Noah Andrzejeski, Brandon Bair, Ariana Beauregard, Levi Breithaupt, Rolan Brillhart, Hayden Denney, Riley Downs, Cody Dunscomb, Lucas Enges, Cooper Farley, Gregory Fowler, Gracie Gardner, Hunter Halverson, Finnegan Jones, James Mason, Connor Mead, Miles Nola, John Prorok, Thomas Reandeau, James Smith, Bailey Stein, Riley Tadlock, Aria Turrey, Maximus VanRuff, Jayms Vilona, John Vilona, Kristopher Young Jr.
Sequim High School wrestling 2023-2024 schedule
Date Opponent Time
Nov. 30 at Port Angeles jamboree 4 p.m.
Dec. 9 at Port Townsend, Vashon, South Whidbey, Elma 10 a.m.
Dec. 13 at Kingston
Dec. 15 at Hammer Head tournament (boys), Bremerton 8 a.m.
Dec. 21-22 at Evergreen tournament, Vancouver (Wa.)
Dec. 27-28 North Mason Hawkins Classic, Belfair 7:30 a.m.
Jan. 10 vs. Bremerton, Port Angeles 7 p.m.
Jan. 18 vs. East Jefferson
Jan. 24 at North Mason, Olympic 7 p.m.
Jan. 26 at East Jefferson 6 p.m.
