A state title and 17 top-eight medals are coming back to Whatcom County after the conclusion of Mat Classic XXXIV at the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 18.
Mount Baker senior Elijah Washburn took home the 1A boys state championship after pinning Toppenish senior Armando John with 13 seconds remaining in the first period.
“It’s the best way I could’ve asked to end the season,” Washburn said. “I’ve been wrestling for a long time and it was so much fun. I can’t believe God let me win.”
Last year, the grappler from Deming came in second at Mat Classic XXXIII. Now, including the final, Washburn completed his senior year with a near-perfect 41-1 record.
On top of Washburn’s success, Mount Baker was the most dominant program from Whatcom County on Saturday. Its 99 team points on the boys side and 43.5 from the girls came as a product of seven top-eight finishes. Those finishes include top-three podium finishes from Washburn, Daniel Washburn (boys 145 pounds) and Jorey Johnson (boys 113 pounds).
Finals recap
Five other local wrestlers advanced to their respective state title matches but came up short of winning a championship.
Blaine senior Genesis Vazquez was pinned by Toppenish freshman Sophia Torrez halfway through the second period of the 1A girls 105-pound state championship match. Vazquez concludes her senior year with a 23-3 record. Vazquez took first place in the 1B/2B/1A/2A Region 1 tournament and placed eighth in last year’s Mat Classic.
Lynden junior Belen Lopez took second place after Toppenish senior Ruby Rodriguez-Rios pinned her in the 1A girls 155-pound championship match. The 2023 Northwest Conference Wrestler of the Year received a first-round bye at the Tacoma Dome and strung together a pair of sub-two-minute pins on her way to the title match.
Bellingham United senior Frances Porteous finished second after getting pinned in the championship match by reigning state champion Clarissa Wangen of Curtis. Porteous closed out the year with a 44-8 record after recording three consecutive pins at state on her path to the title match.
Blaine junior Victor Gervol emerged with a second-place finish after going three full rounds with Toppenish sophomore Anthony Nava that resulted in a 2-1 decision in the 1A 285-pound championship. The Borderite finished the year at 32-6 after also winning by decision in his two matches prior to the championship.
Bellingham United junior Isabella Phillips took home second place after getting pinned by the now-three-time champion Alivia White of Marysville-Pilchuck in the 3A/4A girls 190-pound championship. Phillips closed out the season at 35-4.
Individual placers
Mount Baker
- Jorey Johnson, third place, boys 113
- K.J. Chapman, fifth place, boys 132
- Daniel Washburn, third place, boys 145
- Vance Lawrence, fourth place, boys 170
- Elijah Washburn, state champion, boys 170
- Ella Moa, fourth place, girls 100
- Tempest Heiner, fifth place, girls 105
Bellingham United
- Frances Porteous, second place, girls 155
- Isabella Phillips, second place, girls 190
Blaine
- Cael Button, third place, boys 126
- Victor Gervol, second place, boys 285
- Genesis Vazquez, second place, girls 105
- Lucyanna Dahl, fourth place, girls 145
Lynden
- Belen Lopez, second place, girls 155
Nooksack Valley
- Ameriah Harlan, fifth place, girls 145
- Shon Visser, fifth place, boys 182
Ferndale
- Jacob Gandy, fifth place, boys 145
- Sam Brulotte, eighth place, boys 220
Team standings
1A Boys
1. Toppenish, 375
2. Mount Baker, 99
10. Blaine, 49
28. Nooksack Valley, 13
39. Meridian, 0
2A Boys
1. Orting, 258
37. Sehome, 4
46. Bellingham, 2
48. Lynden, 1
50. Squalicum, 0
1B/2B/1A/2A Girls
1. Toppenish, 299
8. Blaine, 44
9. Mount Baker, 43.5
25. Lynden, 24
41. Nooksack Valley 15
3A/4A Girls
1. Moses Lake, 136
16. Bellingham United 54
76. Ferndale, 4
A previous version of the story stated Mount Baker’s K.J. Chapman finished sixth in the 1A boys 132-pound weight class. Chapman finished fifth. The story was updated at 10:40 a.m. on Feb. 21 to reflect this change. The Cascadia Daily News regrets this error.
