After taking some time off from competition over the holidays, teams can get rusty. The first match after the break can be full of mistakes or issues that had previously been worked out. Not the case for the Mercer Island wrestlers last week, which took on Lake Washington and Juanita in a double dual meet. The Islanders won both meets, placed in the Panther Classic over the weekend and have continued to hold spots in the state’s wrestling rankings.
“The team is feeling solid, but it is in the nature of wrestler to always want to work harder, and our guys have been working hard,” said head coach Creighton Laughary.
That hard work is showing as the team was ranked No. 5 of 3A state teams as of Jan. 5. The team also has four individuals ranked in the top 10 in the state rankings.
“As far as standouts, I first have to acknowledge a couple of key seniors: Phil Frazier and Blake Johnson. They are both ranked No. 1 in state and have done a good job of setting an example for the other guys,” said the coach. “New to MIHS, Nick Chandler has really impressed this year, racking up 15 wins so far in a tough 170-pound weight class. Also impressive, junior Brian Rauzi, whether 182, 195, or even 220 on occasion, has begun to show that he will be a contender for the top of the podium at the KingCo tournament. At the lower weights, freshman Luke Wilson is undefeated in KingCo so far, as are Jake Pruchno and Taylan Yuasa.”
Last week the team beat the Rebels 64-6 and took down Lake Washington 60-15, before heading to Snohomish High School on Saturday to finish 12th in the Panther Classic. During the tournament Wilson finished second to his opponent from Kentwood, a 4A school.
“In the next week or so, we hope to get some guys back who have been out due to injury and other things, and then we can start focusing on doing the work necessary for a third KingCo title in a row. That would be awesome,” said Laughary. “To my knowledge, a first from MIHS wrestling.”
The team will travel to Bellevue on Thursday, Jan. 12, for a 7:30 p.m. match, before hosting Mount Si on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
Double dual
Mercer Island 64, Juanita 6
Results – 106 – Luke Wilson beat Thanh Troung by decision 4-2; 113 – Jacob Pruchno beat Phuoc Nguyen by fall 3:52; 120 – Taylan Yuasa won by forfeit; 126 – Austin Wells (Juanita) beat Scott Lee by fall 1:06; 132 – Kenji Walker beat Thien Trahn by technical fall 16-0; 138 – Dylan Sullivan beat Brent Patterson by major decision 17-9; 145 – Connor Gullstad beat Allen Moeung by fall 5:02; 152 – Jack Vassau beat Nathan O’Hanlon by fall 1:52; 160 – Blake Johnson won by forfeit; 170 – Nicholas Chandler beat Chase Miller by major decision 11-3; 182 – Phil Frazier won by forfeit; 195 – Andrew Picton won by forfeit; 285 – Benjamin O’Connell won by forfeit.
MI 60, Lake Washington 15
Results – 106 – Luke Wilson won by forfeit; 113 – Jacob Pruchno beat Rollen Bailey by fall 0:46; 120 – Taylan Yuasa beat Austin Flegel by decision 13-8; 126 – Scott Lee beat Nathan Clutter by fall 0:35; 132 – Kenji Walker beat Benson Hull by fall 3:46; 138 – Luca Caruccio won by forfeit; 145 – Connor Gullstad beat Saul Del Rio by decision 6-5; 152 – Jacob Reddinger (LW) beat Jack Vassau by decision 10-4; 160 – Blake Johnson beat Zander Troung by fall 0:25; 170 – Nicholas Chandler won by forfeit; 182 – Phil Frazier beat Jared Parker by fall 0:36; 195 – Andrew Picton beat Andrey Ilnitsky by fall 2:27; 220 – Jack Michels won by forfeit; 285 – Gabriel Olson (LW) won by forfeit.
