Northern Whatcom County sees 12 wrestlers place at state

Elijah Washburn finishes first at state in 170-pound division

Nathan Schumock

Sports Editor

TACOMA — e north- ern Whatcom County schools had a successful showing at the Mat Classic state tournament on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17-18. e northern Whatcom County schools saw 12 wrestlers move to the championship round of play held on Feb. 18. e highlight of the championship round was Mount Baker’s Elijah Washburn nishing in rst place and winning the state title for the 1A 170-pound division. Elijah Washburn defeated Armando John from Toppenish to secure the gold medal. He was the only rst-place nisher of any Whatcom County wrestler. e Mount Baker girls had a team score of 43.5, which put them in the ninth place spot. Mount Baker had two third-place nishes at state; Jorey Johnson for the

Overall, Mount Baker led the way in the championship round with seven wrestlers competing. e Mountaineer boys also nished in second place in the 1A division with 99 team points. Toppenish came in rst with 375 team points.

113-pound division and Daniel Washburn for the 145-pound division. e Mountaineers had one boy and one girl nish in fourth; Vance Lawrence for the 170-pound division and Ella Moa for the 100-pound girl's division.

Mount Baker’s K.J. Chapman (132 pounds) and Temptest Heiner (105 pounds) both came in fth place. e Mountaineers had the best team score and overall performance for any northern Whatcom County school.

Nooksack Valley saw both of their admitted wrestlers move on to the championship round at the Mat Classic.

Shon Visser nished in fth place in the 1A 182-pound division after