It didn’t make any difference which Enumclaw wrestler – Hunter Haney or Jake Treece – won the 126-pound state Mat Classic title Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome. The Hornets had locked in the Class 3A state team champion.
Haney, a senior, defeated sophomore teammate Treece, pinning him in 2:57 for the crown and the Hornets finished the night with a slim 1.5-point margin of victory over North Central of Spokane, 110-108.5.
“We knew going into the finals how many points we needed,” Coach Adam Eilers said. Every mathematical scenario pointed in the Hornets’ direction – worse case a half point. “No matter what we knew we had a state title.”
Enumclaw has had its share of state finalists, but it was the first time in school history where Hornet was pitted against Hornet in the state finals.
“It’s bittersweet to get two kids in the finals,” Eilers said.
Although both wrestle 126 pounds, they are not sparring partners in the wrestling room. Treece practices with Andy Guitron and Haney matches up with Ben Cross.
“The first time they really met up was at regionals,” Eilers said. But both are state tournament veterans. Haney, a three-time state participant; Treece earning seventh in 2014.
It’s the Hornets’ fifth state team title in nine years – 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. For seniors like Haney it was their second championship. It was Eilers first as head coach, taking over from Lee Reichert two years ago.
The Hornets began pulling away on Day 2 of the tournament with six of their eight wrestlers earning medals.
Junior Kyle Opland, 113 pounds, and freshman Quinton Southcott, 120 pounds, wrestled back through the consolation bracket for third place finishes. Freshman Kione Gill, 182 pounds, earned a fourth-place medal, and senior Levi Norton, 120 pounds, placed eighth.
Juniors Tanner Turnbow and Levi Ward did not place, but Eilers said their performance demonstrates the importance of team. He noted the 2-points Turnbow picked up with an early pin may very well have been the difference in the final score.
“The kids came to wrestle,” Eilers said. “The team is excited to bring the trophy back to Enumclaw.”
It was only the Hornets’ second tournament title of the season. Their first coming the week prior at regionals. A tough schedule is part of the preparation. A tough league also helps. Five of the eight teams in the SPSL 3A finished in the state Top 10.
“It wasn’t in the cards for us to be a great dual team,” Eilers said. “But we were able to be a good tournament team.”
Story written by Brenda Sexton for Enumclaw High School’s Athletic Department.
