The News Tribune’s 2016 class of wrestling Untouchables
Jordyn Bartelson (120)
Puyallup (Girls), senior, 28-1 (139-7 career)
Twelve wrestlers have won four state titles in boys wrestling. But only one has done so in girls. Bartelson can become the second, and she will cherish that the more because they’re the only wrestling accolades she has. Instead of heading across the country for national tournaments, Bartelson spends her offseason honing her soccer skills and she will head to Western Washington University on a soccer scholarship. She’s also won a state softball title at Puyallup. Bartelson took up wrestling because she got to be coached by her father, Bryan Bartelson, and never gave it up despite pressures to play soccer year-round.
Bryson Beard (126)
Central Valley (4A), senior, 36-0 (139-9 career)
Beard doesn’t just win matches. He wins them decidedly. He’s earned bonus points (pin, major decision, technical fall) in all but three of his matches this season on his way to an unbeaten record. “You know you can count on bonus points when needed,” Central Valley coach Shaun Williams said. The reigning state champion and Tri-State champion is the younger brother of Blake Beard, who won three state titles before graduating last year. His younger brother, junior Bridger Beard, is competing in the 132-pound class after placing third at 126 last year.
Dylan Beeler (195)
Clarkston (2A), senior, 36-2 (136-10 career)
If you thought the Idaho football signee was scary as a defensive end, imagine him on the wrestling mat. Two-time state champion and also a three-time champion at the Rocky Mountain Classic in Montana. “He’s such an athletic kid,” Clarkston coach Duane Benton said. “Kids can have the upper hand on him but he turns the table with his athleticism. Beeler’s also has a 4.0 grade-point average and might have been competing for his fourth state title had he not been disqualified for state his freshman year for competing in the wrong weight class, an error coach Benton blames himself for.
Emmanuel Daigbe (195)
Kent-Meridian (4A), senior, 28-0, (119-17 career)
Lost to Union’s Alex Berfanger in state final his sophomore year. So what did he do the next year? Daigbe beat Berfanger for the 182-pound title and with his superior athleticism, so there’s no reason to think he won’t finish his career with a second this weekend. Plans to play football at Central Washington University. Might be most explosive athlete in the state. “What stands out most about Emmanuel is his willingness to work out,” Kent-Meridian coach Todd Owens said. “Even after we practice, he goes into the weight room afterward and lifts weights. He does this almost daily.”
Trevor Eicher (220)
Deer Park (1A), senior, 33-1, (92-8 career)
Deer Park would win the team title with Eicher’s pin in the state final his sophomore year. But coach Matt Jorgensen remembers Eicher as calm as could be. “Just any win and we’re team champs,” Jorgensen remembers telling Eicher moments before the match. “Oh, OK. Cool,” Eicher responded. Eicher won with a technical fall. He’s now owns two state titles and is a 2015 “Freak Show” national champion, beating No. 2-ranked 195-pound wrestler Sam Colbray of Oregon, who came back and handed Eichler his only loss this season in the Tri-State finals. Eicher is ranked No. 10 nationally at 220. “He’s truly a one-of-a-kind wrestler and person,” Jorgensen said. “He is very intense with his offseason wrestling, training and lifting.”
Trey Meyer (170)
East Valley of Spokane Valley (2A), senior, 40-1 (146-24 career)
Meyer handed Lake Stevens’ potential four-time state champ and fellow Untouchable Michael Soler one of his two losses this season in the Tri-State finals, earning Meyer the Outstanding Wrestler title at the prestigious tournament. He’s placed third, third and second in his three previous trips to state. Though the Iowa State signee has previously been a straight-forward, maybe predictable wrestler, he’s made strides to complement his relentless attack. “The focus was to get him coming from different angles,” East Valley coach Craig Hanson said. “He has a long way to go, as all wrestlers do, but he is open to progress and making adjustments.”
Hunter Mullins (285)
Orting (2A), senior, 40-1 (102-8 career)
Wyoming signee comes from program that has developed two four-time state champs (Drew Templeman and Fred Green) but Orting coach Jody Coleman said he’s never coached a more dominant wrestler. Don’t be surprised if Mullins pins his way to a state title. He already owns the school record with 36 pins this season and is ranked No. 14 in the nation in the 285-pound weight class. Coleman said he’ll practice against every one of his wrestlers except for Mullins. “If I had to wrestle a black bear or Hunter, I’d have to really think it over,” Coleman said. “Hunter physically scares me.”
Michael Soler (170)
Lake Stevens (4A), senior, 27-2 (110-17 career)
Hard to imagine Soler could end his high school career this weekend with twice as many state championships as his older brother Eric. Is the four-timer club saturating? Mat Classic has crowned one each of the past seven years when there had only been four to do so from 1953-2008. But only Soler would own four Class 4A state titles. “He absolutely knows how to step up for big matches,” Lake Stevens coach Brent Barnes said. “And he has a knack for putting together a phenomenal game plan on his own. He has already mapped a way to attack somebody.”
Dalton Young (132)
Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls (1A), junior, 39-0 (115-0 career)
No Untouchable is more untouchable than Young — a junior going for his third state title this weekend. He’s never really even been challenged (Lakeside coach Brad Perry said Young’s only been taken down five or six times in his high school career). Good luck scoring on Young, much less beating him. “He just refuses to give up points,” Perry said. “What really stands out most to me is the way he trains consistently throughout the year. It’s phenomenal. He never takes days off.” Offensive skills on his feet have taken biggest leap this year.
TJ Cotterill: tcotterill@thenewstribune.com
This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 12:00 PM with the headline "The News Tribune’s 2016 class of wrestling Untouchables."