Mount Si’s Josh Mitchell is 3A wrestling state champ
February 22, 2011
It wasn’t easier this time, but it was sweeter.
A month after defeating Juanita’s Jeremiah Laufasa on an injury-default, Mount Si wrestler Josh Mitchell beat the Rebel standout 7-3 to earn the state 3A title at 285 pounds.
“It’s amazing to win,” Mitchell said. “I worked so hard in the offseason, now all my hard work is paying off.”
Laufasa and Mitchell had met at the KingCo Conference finals but Laufasa had not wrestled due to injury.
On his way to the title, Mitchell defeated Decatur’s Kyle Gleed by technical fall (17-2), Hudson Bay’s Tyler Rangel by pin in the second round, and Sunnyside’s Adam Peters 2-1 in the semifinals.
WRESTLING | Three ’cats head to Mat Classic
February 15, 2011
What a difference a year makes.
Last year, Josh Mitchell earned the equivalent of a stand-by spot at the Mat Classic, qualifying as an alternate.
This year, Mitchell earned the equivalent of a first-class ticket, winning first place in the 285-pound division of the 3A Regionals at Glacier Peak.
Mitchell defeated Shorecrest’s Ian Bolstad, 8-5.
Contributed Josh Mitchell has a good reason to smile after being crowned regional champion wrestler in the 285-pound category. The Mount Si High wrestler will participate in the Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome Feb. 18-19.
“I finally get to wrestle,” he said.
Alternates at State only wrestle if someone who qualifies outright can’t perform.
Mitchell is one of two Wildcat wrestlers who will wrestle at least once at the Tacoma Dome Feb. 18 and 19. A.J. Brevick finished fourth at 160 pounds.
A third wrestler, 103-pounder Ryley Absher, finished fifth and will travel as an alternate.
Brian Copeland and Aaron Peterson finished sixth. John Farmer and Tye Rodne did not place.
WRESTLING | Four-team match unfriendly to banged-up ‘Cats
February 2, 2011
Answer: It’s your brother-in-law visiting the night of your wedding anniversary. It’s your car dying in the middle of an intersection.
It’s the four-team meet to close the regular season when your wrestlers are a battered and bruised bunch.
Question: What are things that make you say, “Really, we don’t need this right now.”
At the end of a tough campaign, the Mount Si High School Wildcat wrestlers stretched their already thin lineup Jan. 27, to grapple Issaquah and Mercer Island at home.
The Eagles beat Mount Si, 41-35, and the Islanders won 48-28. Liberty was the event’s fourth team.
Mount Si grapplers looking for improvement this year
December 1, 2010
To second-year Mount Si High wrestling coach Tony Schlotfeldt, success on the mat is only part of the equation.
The upcoming 2010-11 season will be considered a success if the wrestlers improve, but that improvement has to spill over to the outside world, too.
“We want every wrestler to improve his skill, conditioning and self-confidence with every practice,” Schlotfeldt wrote in an e-mail. “This will carry over to competition as well as confidence in school and community life outside of wrestling.”
Some might say it’s a good thing Schlotfeldt has a broad definition of success this year, given his team’s youth and inexperience. Only three seniors and two juniors appear on the roster.
This, however, is hardly news to Schlotfeldt. He knows the meat of his squad is freshmen and sophomores.
“We still have our sights on being a competitive team,” he wrote.
The weather has conspired against the team a bit, forcing wrestlers to miss some practices. The team cancelled only one team practice due to the icy streets on Thanksgiving week, though. Those who show up take things seriously.
“The guys are positive and the tone of practices is intense,” he wrote. “They have a winning attitude this season.”
That’s a good thing, because the league looks as loaded as ever, with Mercer Island, Bellevue and Liberty being the teams to beat, Schlotfeldt wrote. Plus, KingCo wrestling welcomes Lake Washington to the mat, which Schlotfeldt predicted will be another tough opponent.
Last year, Schlotfeldt’s first as a high school wrestling head coach, six wrestlers made it to the Mat Classic. Nobody placed.
“I would say we didn’t place people in state because of inexperience on my end,” he wrote.
Even those who have yet to wrestle for Mount Si are learning the ins and outs of the sport, Wildcat style.
“We’re holding a middle school wrestling camp, Dec. 17 and 18,” Schlotfeldt wrote, adding that varsity coaches and wrestlers will teach at camp.
Some of the camp’s young teachers, and some of their teammates, are poised for a good season on the mat this year, Schlotfeldt wrote.
Josh Mitchell, a junior, has “all the tools” to stand on the podium at state, Schlotfeldt wrote. Junior Connor Deutsch is a “true workhorse of Wildcat wrestling,” sophomore Max Kenagy will be “a constant force throughout the season,” and freshman Tye Rodne, “has a lot of potential and an opportunity for a ton of experience at the varsity level this season.”
Ever the coach, Schlotfeldt exudes hope in his assessment of every wrestler. With football season over, the roster is filling up and now it’s just a matter of getting into wrestling shape, let the matches begin and not stop until the team bus is parked near a white dome in Tacoma.
“The plan is for the guys to peak at post-season time, as our ultimate goal is to get guys into the state tournament,” Schlotfeldt wrote.
Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext.221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com.
Season in review, winter 2009-2010
March 10, 2010
UPDATED — 2:58 p.m. March 11, 2010
It was a season of highs and lows. And no shortage of excitement. Every Mount Si team went to postseason play, and two Wildcats — gymnast Georgia Reynolds and swimmer Chase Goulart — became state champions. Some records fell, such as career points in boys basketball, which Tanner Riley broke this season.
Mount Si places fourth at KingCo tournament
February 10, 2010
NEW — 2:05 p.m. Feb. 10, 2010
Trey Botten (left), Mount Si senior, and Liberty senior Wright Noel upend each other during their 140-pound KingCo 3A championship bout, won by Noel 14-2. (Photo by Tim Pfarr)
The Mount Si Wildcats finished fourth at the KingCo 3A Tournament at Liberty High School Feb. 6 with a score of 130. Mercer Island, Bellevue and Liberty defeated Mount Si with scores of 202, 157 and 148, respectively. Read more
Wrestling team falls to Skyline, Issaquah
February 3, 2010
NEW — 10:12 Feb. 3, 2010
Zach Storm, of Mount Si (top), prepares to pin Skyline’s Sean McAlhany in their 189-pound bout Jan. 28
The Mount Si wrestling team lost to Skyline 45-33 and Issaquah 48-33 at a dual meet Jan. 28. Read more
Wildcat wrestlers fall to Issaquah and Skyline
January 29, 2010
NEW — 4 p.m. Jan. 29, 2010
Mount Si’s wrestling team came up short against Issaquah and Skyline, Jan. 28. The team’s record is 6-5 after the two losses. Read more
Botten brothers place at Renton wrestling tournament
January 27, 2010
NEW — 2:01 p.m. Jan. 27, 2010
Mount Si’s Cody and Trey Botten each finished second in their weight classes at the Renton Invitational Varsity Tournament. Read more
Grapplers boost confidence in Everett
January 13, 2010
NEW — 4:00 p.m. Jan. 13, 2010
The Mount Si wrestling team finished 11th in a 20-team tournament in Everett Jan. 9. The Wildcats scored 67 points on the day.
Standout performances came from Ben Larson, who finished third at 135 pounds, Trey Botten was fifth at 140 and Lee Amador was sixth at 160. Josh Mitchell and Brian Copeland tied for third at heavyweight.
