The last time I covered the two-day party known as Mat Classic was 2008, and I’m already committing myself to watching the Gig Harbor and Peninsula wrestlers who make it there in February.

There’s a lot of work to be done in the mat rooms before then, of course, as first-year coaches Leonard Spadoni of Gig Harbor and Mark Nickels of Peninsula try to squeeze every ounce of potential from their grapplers.

Ron Powers, the former Seahawks head coach who’s now assisting the Tides, recently extended me an invitation to come work out with his team as part of my ongoing series of first-person reports.
Look for that story sometime in January or February — if I survive the firestorm they’re sure to throw at me, that is.

In the meantime, let’s talk about the guys who haven’t run out of high-school eligibility and are looking to cement themselves among the state’s elite at Mat Classic XXIV.

There’s the potential for a few guys to surprise themselves, and their opponents, in the postseason, but the six gentlemen I’ve listed below have the unenviable task of living up to high expectations. They’re the ones who have the best chance of earning some state hardware.

Casey Larson, Peninsula: Larson gained some highly valuable experience as a sophomore at Mat Classic, where he finished eighth at 130 pounds. He didn’t score a point against two strong seniors — Enumclaw’s Hunter File and Sunnyside’s Rigo Valdez — but those kinds of opportunities only make you better.

Larson has bulked up to the 145-pound class this season, and he bolstered his resume in December when he won his division at the 34-school HammerHead Invitational.

Larson has broken into the Washington Wrestling Report’s top five for his division, and come Mat Classic, his toughest competition will include two-time state placer Mitchell Bocook of North Central (Spokane) and Enumclaw’s Lucas Somera, the defending champion at 135.

Jacob Spadoni, Gig Harbor: Spadoni, a senior, was only two points short of a state medal last season, when he dropped a 3-2 decision to Matt Cuzzetto of Edmonds-Woodway in a consolation match.

Spadoni has moved from 135 to 145, and he certainly looks more chiseled than before. He wrestled more than 90 freestyle matches in the offseason, and he’s obviously motivated to work hard with the Tides because of the large group of freshmen who are looking up to him.

He has a tough road to hoe at his current weight, as seven returning state placers are among the top wrestlers listed at 145. That includes Mead’s Jeremy Golding, a two-time state champion.

Tyler Allen, Peninsula: Allen could benefit from competing at 138, a division that’s younger and more watered down than 145. That said, two-time medalist Dillon Harris of Yelm could make life tough for Allen at the regional and state events.

Allen fell just three points short of a medal as a junior, so he doesn’t have much ground to make up. His fifth-place performance at the HammerHead was nothing to sneeze at; his two losses were to North Kitsap’s Jake Velarde, who’s gunning for a third state championship, and Gig Harbor’s Kyle Iverson, who’s also on this list.

Ben Small, Gig Harbor: I’ve watched Small wrestle two matches this season. I was impressed by the senior both times, and for different reasons.

In his 8-7 win over Shelton’s Colby Barber on Dec. 8, he showed resiliency, bouncing back after Barber pinned him just a few days earlier. Small also proved he can dominate less-experienced opponents, pinning Matt Martinez of Emerald Ridge early in their first-round bout at the HammerHead.

Small is highly intelligent when he talks about the sport, and his major goals are well within reach. His top opposition for a regional title and state medal at 160 include Tahoma’s Garrett Autrey and Spanaway Lake’s Zackery Bickford.

Tommy Foreman, Peninsula: The state’s wrestling experts knew about the Seahawks’ star freshman before the season began, ranking Foreman at 113 pounds because of his performances at the junior freestyle national championships in Fargo, N.D.

Foreman hasn’t disappointed anyone thus far, rolling to a second-place effort at the Hammerhead. Three of his four wins there weren’t particularly close, either.

The lightest weight classes usually provide a good chance for freshmen to excel in the postseason, and Foreman is one of four highly touted ninth-graders in his division.

It’ll be interesting to watch Foreman’s rematch with Lakes freshman Andrew Ramirez when the teams meet in a league dual on Jan. 19. Ramirez beat Foreman by decision at the HammerHead, 11-6.

Kyle Iverson, Gig Harbor: The Tides’ 138-pound senior has continually improved throughout his high-school career, and he’s hungry to reach the medal podium for the first time this winter.

Iverson made his Mat Classic debut as a junior but lost two close decisions to fall out of the medal hunt. There’s no doubt he’s capable of doing better in 2012, especially with what appears to be less-than-stellar competition. Only one previous state medalist — Colton Marlowe of Kentlake — is listed in the division.

If he stays sharp mentally and doesn’t beat himself against quality foes, he’ll be in the hunt at the Tacoma Dome.

Sports Editor Neil Pierson can be reached at 253-853-9246 or by email at neil.pierson@gateline.com. Follow him on Twitter, @gateway_neil.