Mat Classic XXXVI, Day 1: McEwen, Windsor among South Sound locals in state semifinals
Capital High’s Lazarus McEwen doesn’t wrestle like a freshman.
The budding star wrestles like a seasoned vet — because he is.
“I’ve been at this for 11 years,” he told The News Tribune, smiling after his second win inside the Tacoma Dome on Thursday. “Good shots and tilts. … I have to (take) fast shots, play at a fast pace, and be aggressive.”
To nobody’s surprise, one of the South Sound’s untouchable wrestlers moves on. McEwen will face Sedro-Wooley’s Giovani Panfilo-Ortiz in Friday’s 3A 106 semifinals after notching two falls and a technical fall in the opening rounds. Orting coach Jody Coleman expects the freshman to “tech his way” through the bracket.
A near-perfect 46-1 this season, McEwen’s only loss came in California to the current U17 world champion. He’s the reigning Edmonds Invite, Gut Check, Pac Coast, Rockwell Rumble (Utah), and Tri-State champ, now in search of his first state title at Mat Classic XXXVI — perhaps the first of many.
“(Laz) wrestles like Laz wrestles,” Capital wrestling coach Jimmy Belleville said, who won four straight Mat Classic titles with Black Hills from 2006-09. “He just does his thing, has his own game plan, and he’s ready to go.
“He goes. He just doesn’t stop. He continues to progress and make every attack count.”
McEwen received a first-round bye in the 3A 106 bracket’s first round before dropping Auburn Mountainview’s Mohammad Orozgaani via technical fall (1:30) in the Round of 32. It wasn’t long before the Capital freshman dominated again, this time over Edmonds-Woodway’s Isaiah Meyer with a fall that took only 67 seconds.
Safe to say Day 1 of McEwen’s first Mat Classic was a success?
“It’s pretty fun,” he said. “I’ve gone to the kid’s state (tournament), so I’ve been here before… but high school is pretty different.”
Silas freshman Adrian Windsor is making similar headlines one weight class above McEwen from the 3A 113. The undefeated ninth grader won his first pair of Mat Classic matches via fall in a combined 79 seconds, and he’ll be the favorite to advance through tomorrow’s state semifinals.
“I’m sticking to what I do, setting up my attacks and making sure I’m ready to go,” Windsor said. “It’s not really too big for me. I travel all over the world… (that) calms down the nerves, because I know I’ve wrestled better kids out of state.
“I just have to stay calm and do what I do.”
If the name isn’t familiar already, Windsor will star in Gregory Marks’ Westbrook: A Wrestler’s Story, premiering in Nov. 2025. The Tacoma-based fiction film features the likes of Josie Bissett and Chael Sonnen and follows the rise of the local high school’s wrestling team, a struggling program on the brink of cancellation.
“I hadn’t thought about acting,” Windsor said, “but once (Marks) hit me up, I was very interested. Ever since then, I’ve liked it.”
LIBBY ROBERTS CHASING FOURTH MAT CLASSIC TITLE
Nine seconds: That’s all it took for Libby Roberts to storm through the Round of 32 at Mat Classic XXXVI.
The University High School senior continues her chase for a historic fourth state title — something only 22 total wrestlers (and just four girls) have completed in Mat Classic history.
Spectators can’t blink without running the risk of missing a Roberts win. She took down Central Valley’s Mary Healy via fall (0:09) in the opening round, then dominated Kennewick’s Hannah Palmer by fall in similar fashion, a bout that took 13 seconds. Two matches for Roberts, and just 22 total seconds spent on the mat.
Inevitable, unstoppable, untouchable — use whichever adjective you want.
“Just go out there and get the job done,” Roberts told The News Tribune, standing beside Mat 1 moments after her second win. “I’m definitely focused on wrestling hard the entire time. Getting to my holds, staying in position.”
She won again Thursday night, another fall in 38 seconds over Kelso’s Marina Jimenez-Gonzalez, to return to Friday’s “Final Four.”
Roberts is considered one of the dominant wrestlers in state history, now two wins away from becoming the fifth girl to win a fourth Mat Classic title; Prairie’s Faith Tarrant is chasing the same feat this weekend.
The last girls wrestler to capture a fourth state title? Davis High’s Cameron Guerin finished her four-year run in 2018.
“Winning a fourth state title would mean a lot to me,” Roberts said. “There’s only a certain number of people who have been able to accomplish that, and I would love to add to that list.
“This journey has been incredible. A lot of time is put in with a lot of different people. It’s been such a blessing having these amazing coaches by my side the entire time.”
SOUTH SOUND FOOTBALL STARS CLASH
Lincoln and Decatur’s football programs didn’t meet on the gridiron last fall, but two of their top players just did at Mat Classic XXXVI: Decatur’s star running back Nehemiah Washington emerged in the second period to fend off Abes LB Dre Sio-Fetaui in a calculated, physical 3A 215 quarterfinal at the Tacoma Dome.
“We line up pretty well size-wise and strength-wise, so it really comes down to the technique,” Washington said.
The Gators senior picked up the pace and scored a second-period takedown, enough to win via 5-2 decision. Washington secures his spot for Friday’s 3A 215 semifinals with Shorecrest’s Carter Nichols.
“Just got to go, that’s the mentality,” Washington said. “Just got to go get it.
“It means a lot (to make the semifinals). It’s my last year wrestling, so I’ve got to leave it all out on the mat before we leave. It’s a great opportunity. I’m very blessed.”
SOUTH SOUND IN THE SEMIS
These local wrestlers advanced to Friday’s semifinal round:
4A BOYS
106 — Nainoa Albeso, Emerald Ridge; Kolten McGuire, Bethel; Nathaniel Trieu, Kennedy Catholic
113 — Aizak Fetters, Curtis; Hoyt Harshman, Sumner; Jaxon Love, Kentridge; Jayden Vo, Spanaway Lake
120 — Crew Lambro, Tahoma; Jovaien Manibusan-Bamba, Spanaway Lake
126 — Owen Marshall, Tahoma
132 — Alex Othon, Tahoma; Brennen Williams, South Kitsap
138 — Grant Rose, Rogers
150 — Lake Harris, Yelm; Gavin Wells, Tahoma
157 — Isac Deonigi, Tahoma; Ethan Owens, Yelm; Braden Shook, South Kitsap
165 — Josiah Taijeron, Rogers
175 — Adrian Perez, Tahoma
215 — Matt King, Sumner
285 — Derek Colman-Brusa, Kennedy Catholic; Jesse Mains, Emerald Ridge
4A GIRLS
115 — Alice Rush, Auburn; Bailee Wagner, Sumner
125 — Abigail Worhatch, Sumner
130 — Saige McCleery, Sumner; Lindy Strowbridge, Rogers
135 — Samantha Blank, Yelm; Makyla Bolinger, Emerald Ridge
140 — Rubylove Koch, Curtis; Flor Parker-Borrero, Rogers
145 — Karlee Brummett, Spanaway Lake; Kalilah Tuani, Mount Rainier
155 — Za’Lane Hulitt, Tahoma
170 — Selena Mares-Castro, Graham-Kapowsin; Lysandra Plant, Auburn
190 — Dayna Vi, Kentwood
235 — Kanora Diederichs, Kennedy Catholic
3A BOYS
106 — Farzad Karimi, Kent Meridian; Lazarus McEwen, Capital
113 — Caleb Clemans, Todd Beamer; Adrian Windsor, Silas
120 — Luke Garza, Kent Meridian; Andrew Flores, Lincoln; Ruben Ruiz, Federal Way; Haziel Soto, River Ridge
126 — Adonai Garza, Kent Meridian; William Ross, Lincoln
132 — Cole Borden, Shelton; Tavarre Lee, Lincoln
138 — Emanuel Cater, Silas
144 — Patrick Halpin, Capital; Anthony Zanders, Capital
150 — Caleb Dale, White River
157 — Joshua Hanson, White River
165 — Jessie Neff, Kent Meridian; Hunter Oswold, White River
215 — Riley Simmons, White River; Nehemiah Washington, Decatur
285 — Brad Amsden, Lincoln; Nathan Frederickson, Silas
3A GIRLS
100 — Amaya Carrion, Shelton; Georgina Johnson, Peninsula; Aleksia Ramirez, Lakes
105 — Mariana Andrews, Thomas Jefferson; Ellanor Nimrick, Gig Harbor
110 — Maya Lindauer, River Ridge
115 — Grace Odum, River Ridge
120 — Amanda Lillie, White River
130 — Deijah Diego, Central Kitsap; Lilyana Lamothe, White River
135 — Marli Miller, White River; Ava Miranda, Peninsula
140 — Taydem Bylin, Enumclaw
145 — Maya Stephens, Lakes; Mira Sonnen, Peninsula
155 — Bailey Parker, Peninsula
170 — Aisha Hussein, Kent Meridian; Lindsey Shipp, Peninsula
190 — Sydney Poe, Enumclaw
235 — Jenisty Ongosia, Lincoln; Karen Saucedo Yepe, Kent Meridian
TEAM LEADERS
4A BOYS — Tahoma (146.5)
3A BOYS — White River (174.5)
4A GIRLS — Sunnyside (113)
3A GIRLS — Kelso (173.5)
This story was originally published February 20, 2025 at 8:46 PM.
