With an expanded state tourney bracket, Sequim’s wrestling team could see bigger results this February at the Mat Classic state tournament inside the Tacoma Dome.
New head coach Tyler Izatt, a three-time state placer for Montesano, steps in to replace coach Steve Chinn after a year as an assistant to lead a mix of upperclassmen and newcomers, and he says the possibilities are exciting.
“The dome is one of the coolest venues to wrestle under,” he said.
“(It’s) one of coolest atmosphere’s in the state. With that though, it’s also very nerve racking so I think this could be a good opportunity to have some potential.
“For some, it’ll be their first year and they may not make it very far, but next year they’ll have that experience and they know what it feels like.”
New guidelines eliminate regional tournaments in favor of league tournaments determining the 32 wrestling state bracket.
“Right now, the top four in a league tournament (bracket) go to state,” Izatt said.
“So if you made it to regionals last year, you would have made it to state (this year).”
Last school year, senior Cayden Beauregard, now a Sequim assistant coach, went 4-2 in the 113-pound weight bracket and placed fifth overall at state. Current senior Jayms Vilona (144 pounds) and graduated senior Ari Skov (175) both placed fifth in at regionals and were state alternates.
Current senior James Mason, and juniors Ryan Spelker, a former state alternate, and Johnny Vilona each lost two matches at regionals and did not place, while current sophomore Brandon Bair lost his pigtail match.
“We’re going to see a lot more kids going to state,” Izatt said.
With about 30 wrestlers, Sequim has a good mix of upperclassmen and freshmen wrestlers with middle school wrestling experience, he said.
Izatt also sent six wrestlers to a Kaizen Intensive Wrestling Camp in Idaho this summer to help prep their mental toughness.
“I’ve seen a lot of improvement in the kids I sent and I’m excited to see how that relates to competitions,” he said.
He anticipates strong results from Spelker, the Vilona brothers, Mason, Riley Downs, and many others.
Junior Dylan Bowen is one of the upperclassmen with state ambitions too.
Through wrestling in high school, he’s found the sport has given him confidence and taught him about life.
“It helps you get through things that are hard,” Bowen said. “Wrestling’s not easy. It’s hard but it’s very rewarding.”
He said you can put in a lot of hard work through the week and do poorly at a tournament but the “good outweighs the bad.”
Izatt said wrestlers look better conditioned to start this year, and they’ve focused on improving endurance, such as using Tabata high-intensity training that he feels translates well to wrestling.
As for coaching, Izatt said he’ll lean on his upbringing that there’s no one right way to coaching.
“With the coaching staff I have, we all have our own takes and there’s no pride,” he said.
“One of my favorite tings to teach is an arm bar and if another coach shows an arm bar I don’t do, and a majority of the kids like that one better, there’s no pride in that.
“It’s about being flexible and learning what they’re good at and honing in on that.”
Izatt said “using that philosophy is going to help them grow into their own style instead of trying to replicate someone else’s.”
As of early season, four girls have joined the team, including returner Bailey Stein. Izatt said he’s going to continue to push for more join in the future, and with it being one of the fastest growing sports in the nation, he anticipates it happening in Sequim.
“(Stein) has returned and looks better than last year (and with an expanded state bracket), I’m very hopeful we’ll get a couple of girls through (to state),” he said.
Sequim’s first match-up was set against East Jefferson on Friday, Dec. 6, and their first home match-up comes Dec. 18 against Bremerton and Kingston.
Winter Sports Preview: SHS wrestling
Head coach: Tyler Izatt (1st season)
Assistants: Terry Bair, Jake Stanley, David Linson and Cayden Beauregarde
2024-2025 wrestlers:
Roster: Dylan Bowen, Ryan Spelker, Brandon Bair, Riley Downs, Finn Jones, James Mason, Connor Mead, Bailey Stein, Jayms Vilona, John Vilona, Clay Abrams, Matthew Beaver, Jasper Flath, Aiden Glenn, Malachi Hampton, Gavin Horn, Andre Linson, Urijah Marchbanks, Sammy Mason, Thomas O’Hara, Silas Salanoa, Samuel Shinkle, Max Sivilli, Story Snow, Kharleigh Swan, Victor Torres-Pacheco.
SHS wrestling 2024-2025 schedule
Friday, Dec. 6, at East Jefferson 2:15 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7, at White River Classic 9 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14 at East Jefferson 8 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 18 vs. Bremerton, Kingston 5 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 28, at North Mason Winter Classic 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Bainbridge 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 22, vs. Olympic 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 25, at Klahowya 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 29, at North Kitsap 7 p.m.
Olympic Peninsula News Group file photo by Keith Thorpe/ Sequim’s Dylan Bowen, top, tries to contain Port Angeles’ Hunter Blore in the 190-lb. category at the Battle of the Axe tournament at Port Angeles High School last January.
