He has the résumé of a wrestler who has advanced to state multiple times.
A 36-3 record. Sub-regional champion. And after Auburn’s 220-pound senior Kyle Guthrie pinned Lincoln’s Will Willsey in 4 minutes, 40 seconds, during Saturday at North Thurston High School in Lacey, he can add regional champion to the list.
It also places him among the favorites to win a state championship even though Mat Classic XXVIII, which begins Friday, will be the first time he has competed in front of the raucous wrestling crowd at Tacoma Dome.
Auburn coach Dennis Herren said that is because Guthrie eschewed participating at sub-regionals as a sophomore in order to perform at a band function. Guthrie wrestled during the 2014-15 season, but Herren said an incident at school resulted in his pupil not being allowed to compete at regionals.
“He’s a kid who (until the incident) has never had a disciplinary problem in his life,” he said. “But having that taken away from him has caused him to return with all the more commitment and vigor.”
Guthrie said he is ready for the experience.
“I’m a little nervous, but it’s not like I haven’t been in the spotlight before,” he said.
Guthrie was the Trojans’ lone regional champion. Auburn, which placed third with 134.5 points behind Bonney Lake (203) and Lincoln (138), advanced six wrestlers to state. The top-four placers at regionals qualify for state, while the fifth seed serves as an alternate.
Auburn had three second-place finishers. Senior Drew Aplin lost a 7-4 decision against Enumclaw’s Jake Treece at 132.
“Drew Aplin got one step closer to the No. 1 in the state, Jake Treece, by reversing him in the third period,” Herren said. “Incrementally, final after final, Drew’s pursuing his goal to be on the podium at the Dome.”
Senior Jarett Bishop also lost, in a 6-0 decision against Mount Tahoma’s Garret Owen-Bisson at 160, while sophomore Cole Washburn suffered a 6-3 setback to Central Kitsap’s Calvin Fischer at 170.
The Trojans also had a couple of third-place finishers in seniors Sjon Snitily (145) and Ralph Moniz (220). Snitily tore the anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees during the summer and then had the same injury occur in the other during a regular-season match. Regardless, Snitily has continued to compete with a brace.
“Sjon Snitily is a remarkable example of courage choosing to continue to wrestle when he has some injuries that others might say, ‘That’s it for me,’ ” Herren said. “It has had an incredibly inspiring effect on all of us.”
Lions send five to Tacoma Dome
Auburn Mountainview also will send five wrestlers to state. Senior Antonio Corea, who won a 5-0 decision against Foss’ Jackson Potts at heavyweight, was the Lions’ lone champion. Corea has a larger achievement on his mind, though.
“That’s my goal I set at the beginning of the season to get a state title,” Corea said.
Coach Jay McGuffin said while Corea is an undersized heavyweight, he overcomes that through quickness – and another quality.
“Antonio is wrestling guys who are very big,” he said. “They’re bigger than him. But he’s just got the confidence. It’s crazy what the mind can will you to do. He knows he’s faster and better than his opponents.”
In addition to Corea, Auburn Mountainview had two other wrestlers compete for a regional title. Junior Yahya Mirzaei lost 5-2 against Bonney Lake’s Mason Sabin at 126, while senior Joey Santos suffered a 6-3 setback versus Enumclaw’s Quinton Southcott at 138.
“It could very well be a prelude to what we see in the state finals,” said McGuffin, referring to Santos and Southcott. “I really believe those are the two best kids in the state.”
Freshman Russell Hanson, who finished fourth at 120, is the Lions’ other state qualifier.
“I couldn’t be happier as a coach with the effort and progression that the kids made throughout the season.”
Pair of Ravens advance to state
Auburn Riverside, which finished 12th among 16 teams with 24 points, had two wrestlers advance to state at 106. In the match for third place, freshman Yusef Nelson earned a 5-3 win against teammate Marco Galeano.
