Issaquah grapplers showing promise
December 14, 2010
Max Tickman (right), an Issaquah High School junior, keeps Skyline junior Jo Tono from getting out of a hold during the third period of their 112-pound match Dec. 8, won by Tickman 10-1. By Greg Farrar
Issaquah High School wrestling coach Kirk Hyatt has a young squad this season, but despite their inexperience, the Eagles are off to a good start in 4A KingCo Conference competition.
Issaquah won a pair of league matches last week. The Eagles defeated rival Skyline, 32-28, Dec. 8 and edged Redmond Dec. 9. The match with Redmond ended 39-39, but the Eagles won the tie-breaker to earn the victory.
“We’ve got a young crew this year. We missed three days because of snow and that didn’t help our skill level at all, or help our conditioning,” Hyatt said.
But he said he saw a lot of promise from some wrestler in the two league matches.
Against Skyline, Caleb Pearson, a 125-pounder, and Almen Thorpe, a 140-pounder, each had pins. Pearson, who had two older brothers who wrestled at Issaquah, pinned Jerred Kiss. Thorpe, currently wrestling at 140 but who will later move down to 135, pinned Christian Caldwell. Read more
Skyline High School soccer coach honored
December 7, 2010
Skyline High School girls soccer coach Don Braman has been selected as the Washington large school coach of the year for 2010 by the National Soccer Coaches Association.
The nominees will be honored at the annual National Soccer Coaches convention Jan. 12-16 in Baltimore.
Braman led the Spartans to the 4A KingCo Conference title and a third place at the state tournament. The Spartans were ranked No. 1 in the nation entering the semifinals. Read more
Liberty, Skyline wrestlers take second at state
February 23, 2010
Liberty’s Hamilton Noel faces off against Olympic’s Brandon Yeik in the 3A 145-pound finals. Noel lost the match 13-7 and took second place in the weight class. By Tim Pfarr
Wrestlers Hamilton Noel, of Liberty High School, and Alexis Willcher, of Skyline High School, took second place in their divisions at the Mat Classic XXII state tournament Feb. 20 in the Tacoma Dome.
Noel, a sophomore, and Willcher, a senior, both wrestled in the 145-pound weight class; Noel competed in the 3A tournament while Willcher competed in the girls tournament.
Patriots sending six to state tourney, Skyline grappler wins regional title
February 16, 2010
Brandon Studer, of Liberty, shown beating Tyler Volk of Issaquah Jan. 28, captured the 171-pound Class 3A Region I Tournament title Feb. 13 with two pins and a 7-0 decision in his three matches. By Greg Farrar
Liberty High School’s wrestling team will send six competitors, including three regional champions, to the Mat Classic XXII state tournament Feb. 19-20 in the Tacoma Dome.
The six Patriots qualified for the state tournament after strong performances at the Class 3A Region I Tournament Feb. 13 at Liberty.
Wright Noel won the 140-pound regional title with a 6-1 decision against Eastside Catholic’s Jake Cowin. Noel began the tournament with two easy wins. He defeated Rico Munoz, of Chief Sealth, 18-1 in the first round and downed David Kahn, of Ingraham, 16-1 in the semifinals.
Hamilton Noel took the 145-pound class with a victory against Ingraham’s Michael Tran, who had to forfeit the final because of an injury. Hamilton dominated Weber Coryell, of Bainbridge, 15-0 in the first round and pinned Michael Przystupa, of Juanita, in 4:37 in the semifinals.
Brandon Studer captured the 171-pound title with a 7-0 decision against Juanita’s Logan McCallum. Studer pinned his first two opponents en route to the finals. He pinned Zachary Broten, of West Seattle, in 37 seconds in the opening round, and pinned Cole Johnson, of Mercer Island, in 2:14 in the semifinals. Read more
Patriots finish in third place in conference tourney
February 9, 2010
Wright Noel (right), Liberty senior, and Mount Si senior Trey Botten upend each other during their 140-pound KingCo 3A championship bout Feb. 6, won by Noel 14-2. By Tim Pfarr
The Liberty High School Patriots finished third in the 3A KingCo Conference Tournament Feb. 6 with a score of 148 points. In first and second place were Mercer Island and Bellevue, with scores of 202 and 157, respectively.
Four Liberty wrestlers won first place in their weight classes. Wright Noel took first in the 140-pound weight class; Hamilton Noel took first in the 145-pound weight class; Jay Chakravarty took first in the 160-pound weight class; and Brandon Studer took first in the 215-pound weight class.
Danny Velasquez took second in the 112-pound weight class; Nick Bezanson took third in the 189-pound weight class; Chris Harlin took third in the 215-pound weight class; and Jake Tierney took fourth in the 152-pound weight class. Read more
Liberty takes KingCo Crest title with wins over Issaquah, Skyline
February 2, 2010
Hamilton Noel, of Liberty (top), grimaces while pushing Issaquah’s Sean Novak down to the mat during their 145-pound bout, which Noel won by a pin. By Greg Farrar
Liberty, Issaquah and Skyline high school wrestling teams finished off the regular season Jan. 28 in a dual meet that featured the three schools as well as Mount Si.
Liberty defeated Issaquah 41-30, and also defeated Skyline 46-26. With these victories, the Patriots finished their regular season undefeated and took the 3A/4A KingCo Crest title.
“These guys have worked hard for it,” Liberty head coach Manny Brown said about Liberty’s seniors and their quest to win the division. “They’ve put the time in the last four years.”
Also at the meet, Skyline and Issaquah defeated Mount Si by scores of 45-33 and 48-33, respectively.
The match between Issaquah and Liberty kept those in attendance on the edges of their seats, as the Patriots had not beaten Issaquah in several years. Brown also used to be an assistant coach at Issaquah. Read more
