Bonney Lake’s Sam Peterson surprised on his run to last year’s state title. A second title won’t surprise anyone

Sam Peterson has transformed himself in the past year since the senior captured the 220-pound state championship, a feat that propelled Bonney Lake to the top of the state as the Panthers claimed their first 3A team state title.

That team title last year, came down to Peterson, then a junior, inside the Tacoma Dome at Mat Classic last February. He held off O’Dea’s Dustin Camacho in the closing seconds of the finals that put Bonney Lake ahead of Kelso to capture the championship.

“The regular heavyweight usually stalls out. I don’t want to be like the regular heavyweight,” said Peterson who ranks No. 3 at 220 in all-classifications by Washington Wrestling Report.

Much of the Panther senior’s success last season was “typical” to the heavyweight divisions – 220 and 285 pounds – where the team’s behemoths plod into each other, stalling and waiting until the right moment to try a takedown, knowing that one wrong move with their massive frames can turn success into defeat.

That’s often all it takes in the heavyweight divisions, as two points can be the difference. Where once on your on your back, a pin fall is not far behind – it’s a delicate balance of strength and stamina.

But that’s not who Peterson is anymore.

“I want to repeat (as state champion), but I want to do it in a dominant fashion,” Peterson said, who has transformed himself into a rare combination of power and speed not typically seen for a wrestler the Panther’s senior size.

“I believe in my shots, and I was working right after state (last year),” he continued. “I’ve been working hard for the second one, because it will be that much better. I can’t wait to go back (and) hopefully defend my state title in a dominant fashion.”

On Thursday night as Bonney Lake defeated previously undefeated Bethel, 45-33, for a share of the 3A Pierce County League title, it was Peterson who set the tone for the Panther’s night.

He took control of Kyle Earls within seconds of the first round with a takedown, before then following it up into a series of combos where Peterson tried to force a pin, only to have Earls muscle out each turn.

Peterson put his speed and agility on display in the second round as he reversed a takedown before maneuvering Earls into a pin (3:55).

“I want to be the guy who does different stuff,” Peterson said. “I’m trying to work my turns, trying to work my offense – that’s my style now.”

Bethel (6-1) and Bonney Lake (6-1) will share the 3A PCL league along with Spanaway Lake (6-1).

“My boy Sam, he’s only been wrestling since his freshman year, but that just shows all the hard work you put in, you can take yourself a long way,” said Bonney Lake’s Brenden Chaowanapibool said.

Despite not finishing the season undefeated and having to be a part of a three-way share for the league title, Bethel has a chance the unwind and recharge with the weekend off, leaving the Braves to put their full focus on sub-regionals at Wilson High next week (Feb. 2-3).

“Sam has put in a lot of time in the offseason,” Bonney Lake coach Dan Pitsch said. “He’s wrestled a lot. He went to nationals this summer and he’s wrestled with more confidence this year. I think he realized he’s one of the bes kids in the state and he wants that second title. He just wrestling with a lot of conidence and he’s starting to peak at the right time.”

This story was originally published January 26, 2018 at 5:33 AM with the headline "Bonney Lake’s Sam Peterson surprised on his run to last year’s state title. A second title won’t surprise anyone."