Mat Classic XXXV notes: Sumner’s Miller headlines South Sound wrestlers in state semis
38 seconds – that’s all it took for Sumner senior Cody Miller to reestablish his Tacoma Dome dominance.
Sumner’s undefeated senior won twice Friday, first in rapid fashion and again via 21-7 decision in the 4A quarterfinals, putting the 157-pound Miller two wins away from another individual title at Mat Classic XXXV.
“I’m chasing quick times today,” Miller said. “I’m trying to set a goal, and finish off as strong as I can. … I was going to try to go feet-to-back right away. When it got stopped, I went with my best pinning combination… wrapped it up as quickly as I could after that.”
It’s another day at the office for Miller, who ends Friday with a 141-0 career high-school record and would earn an individual three-peat with a title win tomorrow. If not for the pandemic erasing his freshman season in 2020, this weekend could have featured a fourth championship.
Miller took down Inglemoor’s Christopher Najjarzadeh in 38 seconds, then won by major decision (21-7) in the 4A 157 quarterfinals over Glacier Peak’s Colin Edmonds. Neither opponent came particularly close.
“We talked through his plan, and he executed exactly what he wanted to do,” Sumner coach Matt Harshman said. “I think Cody’s a smart wrestler. He has a strategy, and he does. … He’s on a mission, and he’s going to do it the way he wants to do it.”
That makes Miller 141-0 for his high-school career. Two bouts remain.
Perhaps the pressure for Miller, a two-time champion with an illustrious Sumner legacy regardless of Saturday’s outcome, is self-imposed. But he won’t push that pressure to the side.
“I think he seeks it,” Harshman said. “Cody’s always done well. He loves the attention. He loves to create that limelight, because that’s where he really steps up to be his best.
“He’s not pushing any pressure aside. He’s seeking it, and he wants to be the best wrestler in Washington state right now.”
A pair of Sumner teammates join Miller in the state semifinals Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Elias McDonald, also a two-time defending champ, won a pair of Friday matches by decision in the 4A 132, still in search of his own three-peat. Sumner’s Matt King (175) won each of his Friday bouts via fall.
Sumner’s Hunter Sandal pinned Mount Si’s Brett Kissick in Friday’s first round before falling in the 4A 144 quarterfinals.
“It seems like everyone on our team is stepping up to the plate,” Miller said. “We’re setting higher goals than we necessarily think we’re going to achieve, and we’re chasing them today.”
Sumner basketball assistant Chris Hyppa invited Miller to a Spartans girls basketball practice Thursday evening, a day before Miller took to the Tacoma Dome and just two weeks before the Spartans plan to arrive at the Dome for state hoops. Miller’s a described Sumner super-fan, an attendee at every home basketball game, boys or girls, his coach claims.
“He really wants to see our (Sumner) teams do well,” Harshman said. “Cody’s all about that senior class. He wants them to be successful.”
Said Hyppa: “There’s Jordan, Brady, Sue Bird, Tiger and then there is Cody Miller!”
TACOMA SIBLINGS HEADED TO FINAL FOUR
Lincoln’s Tavarre and Zeta Lee – a brother-sister duo at Mat Classic XXXV – each received first-round byes Friday morning, and later punched tickets to Saturday’s semifinal round at the Tacoma Dome.
Tavarre defeated Monroe’s Sebastian Ferrell via fall midway through Friday afternoon’s second round, and won by major decision over Kennewick’s Kucheryaviy in the 3A 132 quarterfinals to advance.
Zeta, a senior, won twice in similar order, first by fall over Stanwood’s Signe Cairus and again in a 10-4 decision to defeat Mountain View’s Kamaile Taisacan in the Girls 3A/4A 115 quarterfinals.
Four Abes boys swept Friday competition en route to Saturday’s semifinals, in total: Lee, Joshua Larkins (113 pounds), Andrew Flores (120), and William Ross (126).
SOUTH SOUND IN THE SEMIS
These South Sound wrestlers reached the “Final Four” of their respective brackets and will compete in Saturday morning’s semifinal round:
CLASS 4A BOYS
106 – Malachi Bolinger, Emerald Ridge; Crew Lambro, Tahoma; Dylan Sternod, South Kitsap
113 – Curtis Carlisle, Rogers (Puyallup)
120 – Owen Marshall, Tahoma
126 – Alex Othon, Tahoma
132 – Elias McDonald, Sumner
138 – Gavin Wells, Tahoma
144 – Joe Sullivan, Tahoma
150 – Isac Deonigi, Tahoma
157 – Landon Porter, Olympia; Cody Miller, Sumner; Cyrus Comia, Tahoma
165 – Devan Carter, Graham-Kapowsin
175 – Matt King, Sumner
190 – Jackson Hallett, Bellarmine Prep; Navarre Dixon, Emerald Ridge; Ronnell Parker-Borrero, Graham-Kapowsin
215 – Nehemiah Washington, Decatur
285 – Jesse Mains, Emerald Ridge
CLASS 3A BOYS
106 – Donald Hetrick Jr., Silas
113 – Kadyn Hagerty, Capital; Joshua Larkins, Lincoln; Haziel Soto, River Ridge
120 – Andrew Flores, Lincoln
126 – William Ross, Lincoln
132 – Tavarre Lee, Lincoln
138 – Jace Longmire, Auburn; Christopher Cosio, Lakes; Emanuel Cater, Silas
144 – Bryce Rowland, Auburn; Blake Miller, Bonney Lake
150 – Taras Onika, Auburn; Colby Ducatt, Bonney Lake; Lake Harris, Yelm
175 – Ezekiel McEwen, Capital
190 – Sekou Bangoura, Todd Beamer
285 – Bradley Amsden, Lincoln; Jonah Smith, Yelm
CLASS 2A BOYS
106 – Ty Satiacum Jr., Orting; Daniel Herrera, Washington
113 – Dominic Thomas, Orting; Andre Lewis, Washington
120 – Trevor Anderson, Orting
126 – Alex Richardson, Foss; A.J. Salguero, Orting; Tyler Fleshman, Shelton
132 – Bryan Dickerson, Orting; Laithan Lawson, Orting
138 – Khristian Brant, Black Hills; Quentin Harding, Orting
150 – Apollo Cruz, Orting; Mekhi Richardson, Tumwater
157 – Caleb Dale, White River
165 – Luke Lisherness, White River
175 – Levi DiCugno, Orting
190 – Joel Garcia, Washington; Tyson Moran, White River
215 – Riley Simmons, White River
285 – Kevin Hudson, Olympia
CLASS 1A BOYS
113 – Aiden Kucera, Cascade Christian
120 – Elijah Miller, Life Christian
144 – Colin McIntyre, Vashon Island
165 – Chase Bradrick, Vashon Island
175 – Clayton Qualey, Cascade Christian
CLASS 3A/4A GIRLS
100 – Latham West, Bonney Lake
105 – Bailee Wagner, Sumner
110 – Maya Lindauer, River Ridge
115 – Zeta Lee, Lincoln
120 – Mary Rush, Auburn; Madisyn Erickson, Yelm
125 – Saige McCleery, Sumner
130 – Shelby-Rae Enos-Cressy, Graham-Kapowsin
135 – Sierra Wangen, Curtis; Makyla Bolinger, Emerald Ridge; Samantha Blank, Yelm
140 – Flor Parker-Borrero, Graham-Kapowsin; Mira Sonnen, Peninsula; Za’Lane Hulitt, Tahoma
145 – Oksana Galiant, Kent-Meridian; Bailey Parker, Peninsula; Elizabeth Kovacs, Tahoma
155 – Clarissa Wangen, Curtis; Sarah Wright, Kentwood; Karlee Brummett, Spanaway Lake
170 – Selena Mares-Castro, Auburn Riverside; Ryley Nager, Curtis; Reminess Kaleopa-Grey, Spanaway Lake
190 – Tru Willis, Silas
235 – Kanora Diederichs, Kennedy Catholic; Katherine Petersen, Tahoma
CLASS 1B/2B/1A/2A GIRLS
100 – Kyler Menza, Washington
105 – Sloane Kruger, Black Hills; Adell Anderson, Shelton
115 – Marjorie McDaniel, Orting
120 – Brooklyn Jones, Orting
125 – Madison Watts, Orting
130 – Lilyana Lamothe, White River
135 – Anna Spencer, Fife
140 – Persephone Puz, Vashon Island
155 – Amina Thomas, Steilacoom
This story was originally published February 16, 2024 at 9:32 PM.
