Commentary: Local wrestling programs have bright future

The spring sports season is right around the corner, and as teams get set to undertake a new quest for league supremacy, I wanted to take the time to reflect on the difficulties that surround building stability within a program.

Or more specifically, maintaining a vibrant athletic program year in and year out.

“Sustaining a strong program is our goal each year, and it’s the commitment these kids put in is what keeps our program strong each year,” Puyallup baseball coach Marc Wiese said at Puyallup’s Feb. 3 Signing Day. “They buy into what we want out of them as young men.”

This is an aspect in sports that’s incredibly hard — particularly with a sport as unpredictable as high school wrestling.

At Mat Classic XXVIII at the Tacoma Dome, Puyallup High in Class 4A and Sumner and Bonney Lake in 3A produced strong numbers in getting wrestlers to the meet.

Come next season, all three could be right back at the Dome, taking aim at some prestigious hardware.

“We have more guys here this year. Just getting the experience here (at state) will be a benefit to our program next year,” Sumner coach Matt Harshman said.

Puyallup had nine boys and three girls reach the Dome, while Bonney Lake led all local teams with 12 boys and two girls, setting a new school record for participants at state.

“I think the success from last year helped create more interest in wrestling at Bonney Lake,” Panther coach Dan Pitsch said. “We had five guys go to state last year (in 2015), and we sent 12 this year. I think the growth is a direct result of last year’s success, and guys wanting to join in that this year.”

The growth can be from Bonney Lake’s success during the 2014-2015 wrestling season, where the Panthers sent both Brandon Kaylor (106 pounds) and Avery Meyer (145 pounds) to the finals that year.

But it’s more than success or trophies that led to Bonney Lake’s third-place finish this year, which tied for the school’s best finish (2008).

It’s the desire accomplish a group vision.

“No one wants to allow someone else to work harder than how hard they are working,” junior Zach Koeller said. “It’s a group effort to get this far.”

But sometimes it’s youth that helps pave the way to a program’s success, much like Puyallup had this season.

All season long, Puyallup coach Aaron Lee saw what the addition of freshman could bring to the team, while adding sophomores with passion for the mat.

“It makes a big difference because it allows you to fill out a full card, and even have two guys assigned to a weight class. That’s a big benefit going into next season,” Lee said. “But we have guys winning matches, winning tournaments — not just filling out a card.”

And the benefits helped Puyallup lead all local programs with three state finalists, while tying Bonney Lake with two state-championship victories.

“Practices were competitive this year. There was no let up, and they all held each other accountable,” Lee added. “For a young group, that says a lot about who they are as individuals. It makes us very excited about next year.”

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Commentary: Local wrestling programs have bright future."