With the emotional rollercoaster of WIAA’s Mat Classic settling, the state’s next generation of wrestlers took the mats inside of the Tacoma Dome in a “celebration of wrestling” on Sunday, Feb. 23, in the Washington State Wrestling Association’s (WSWA) folkstyle state championship tournament.
The Toro World Club’s top placers at the tournament were Sloan Swider in second place (10U, 120-plus pounds) and Rhett Shaw in fourth place (8U, 49 pounds). The team’s head coach, Ben Hawk, compared the atmospheres of the intense Mat Classic, and the introduction to the grand stage in the WSWA folkstyle state championship tournament.
“It’s a little more fun (than Mat Classic). It’s like you’re going to a movie premiere. You get to see all the high schoolers who won state the last few days hanging out down there, and all the kids are running around and slapping hands with all the local heroes who brought home state titles. All the old coaches and old dogs are down there telling war stories and watching the next group of kids come through. It’s really a lot of fun, and it’s a huge community event,” Hawk said. “It’s a celebration of wrestling. The Mat Classic is really intense. It’s the finalization of long careers, and the kids’ state is more of a big show and a party. It’s our chance to show who the next kids up at the dance will be. It’s a family atmosphere and we’re all there to celebrate the kids. All of them.”
Four other Toro competitors found the podium in the WSWA Folkstyle State championship tournament inside of the Tacoma Dome on Sunday, including Julian Kellems in eighth place (10U, 77 pounds), Jayden Hipp in fourth place (10U, 84 pounds), Silas Capen in eighth place (10U, 84 pounds), and Emma Bunn in second place (kindergarten through second grade, 78 pounds to 86 pounds).
“They all worked. They all attacked and fought. Getting that experience year after year, by time they get to the high school, and if they’re a girl, they’ll wrestle for me, but if they’re a boy they’ll wrestle for coach Beaudin, they’ll have experience at the Tacoma Dome,” Hawk said. “A lot of kids’ first experience at the Dome, they’re looking at the lights and getting nervous about wrestling on a big stage. I think it’s an essential part of being a good wrestler — being able to get out there on a big stage and perform. Being able to get these kids the action and reps out there is great.”
The 11 remaining TSD Toro World Club competitors at WSWA’s Folkstyle State tournament were Luke Stage (10U, 84 pounds), Caleb Stage (10U, 84 pounds), Mason Moffitt (10U, 71 pounds), Trace Davis (12U, 67 pounds), Cameron Hawk (12U, 160 pounds), Lillyanne Hipp (kindergarten through second grade, 78 to 86 pounds), Joey Hipp (14U, 105 pounds), Stephen Patton (14U, 115 pounds), Casen Miller (14U, 120 pounds), Lalo Bravo (15U, 150 pounds) and Margaret Brewer (high school girls, 125 pounds).
“They just really went out there and some of those kids saw some really good competition — national level wrestlers. No champions this year, but with what we’ve got going on, I’m excited,” Hawk said. “We have a group that’s going to Reno next month for spring break, and most of these kids will make the trip to see what we can do on the national level.”
The coach added he is excited to see other local wrestling clubs competing inside the Tacoma Dome, and that he’s always supportive of the local wrestling community.
“I cheered for the Rainier kids. I cheered for the Eatonville kids. I cheered for the Bethel kids,” Hawk said. “We’re all there to support our wrestling family as we watch them take their baby steps in hopes they take those giant steps later on as a high schooler.”
