It was the match virtually all in attendance wanted to see.
One of the biggest wrestling tournaments of the year featuring two of the state’s truly elite competitors — Auburn’s Jake Swartz vs. Bellingham’s Reid Chivers, the clear-cut top two 189-pounders in the state.
By the time Saturday’s Pacific Coast Championship at Hudson’s Bay High in Vancouver, Wash., came to a close, the big buzz had turned into the big dud.
But not because either wrestler failed to deliver.
Quite the contrary.
Instead, the match between the two two-time state champions fizzled into an overtime disqualification — and not even an exciting one at that. Tied 1-1 heading into OT, Swartz was docked one point for not having his foot on the starting line. Instead it was just an inch to the right. More costly, however, it was Swartz’ third violation of the match, which resulted in Chivers being awarded the point.
But it was that simple inch that essentially deflated the gym.
It all boiled down to one thing, Auburn coach John Aiken said.
“It was from an official who was not giving verbal commands to the wrestlers. This guy wasn’t saying anything,” Aiken said. “It was overtime and he didn’t let the wrestlers decide the match.
“Normally you don’t see something like that. It’s not like he was gaining an advantage — 99 percent of the officials will remind you to put your foot on the line,” Aiken said.
Not that Swartz, who will wrestle at Boise State University next year, needs any reminding – especially considering he has been wrestling since around the time he began to walk.
“It’s really frustrating,” lamented Swartz, who entered the season with a 112-11 overall record and is on track to establish the school’s all-time mark in victories of 134. “I had waited for (this match) since Tri-State (three weeks ago) since he was supposed to be there. It’s always hard to lose. I will always think about it when I am training, but it’s over and done with now, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
MIGHT MEET AGAIN, MIGHT NOT
Over and done with, but with plenty of buzz following it for the simple fact of who was wrestling in the match. There wasn’t a single person in the gym on Saturday who hadn’t anticipated the showdown. And, unless Swartz and Chivers meet up at the Kelso Invitational later this month, the two won’t get to wrestle each other again this year since they’re in different classifications.
“Everybody was right on that match,” Kentwood coach Ken Sroka said. “There was a big misunderstanding of whether it was (Jake’s) second or third caution. … I am kind of torn. I understand rules are there. I was looking at his toe, too, and it wasn’t on the line. But there are some rules in wrestling where I don’t understand.”
Regardless, once the final whistle sounded, there were plenty of upset fans.
“Everybody was booing the ref,” said Tahoma 135-pounder Tyler Lamb.
The Pacific Coast is considered one of the year’s toughest wrestling tournaments. Graham-Kapowsin ran away with the team title with 201.5 points, and Deer Park was second with 178.5.
After that, the results had a decidedly South Puget Sound League North Division feel as Tahoma took third with 172 points followed by Enumclaw (171.5), Auburn (130) and Kentwood (128). Enumclaw, which hasn’t been part of the North in three years, won the Class 3A state title last year.
Auburn Mountainview just missed cracking the top 10, taking 11th with 83.5 points while Auburn Riverside finished in 32nd with 34.5 points.
Outside of Swartz, the only other two local finalists were Auburn Mountainview’s Drew Dacey (125) and teammate Tyler King (135). Dacey was pinned by Enumclaw’s Sam Bauer in 3:19, and King fell to Tahoma’s Lamb, 1-0.
Other placers from Auburn included: Steven Chacko (fourth at 103), Graham Davis (third at 152), Michael Karpstein (third at 160), Dylan Rutledge (fifth at 171) and Nick Conlan (fifth at 285). Other placers for Auburn Mountainview were Jericho Urmenita (sixth at 130), T.J. Peretti (sixth at 135) and Isaac Tadeo (seventh at 160). Michael Turner (seventh at 119) was Auburn Riverside’s lone placer.
