WRESTLING PREVIEW ’09: SPSL North at a glance; Wrestlers to Watch; State’s Top 10

SPSL NORTH AT A GLANCE

• FAVORITE: Tahoma.

• CONTENDERS: Auburn, Kentwood.

• SLEEPERS: Kentlake, Kent-Meridian.

• LEAGUE OUTLOOK: For beginners, the league is taking on a new look this year as Auburn Riverside, Federal Way and Jefferson have been shifted to the new SPSL Central. The drop in teams likely won’t have any impact on the final results as it will take a natural disaster to knock Tahoma out of the top spot. Auburn and Kentwood both return a nice number of state-tested, top-tier wrestlers, but the Bears likely are just too loaded to let the league crown slip away. For Tahoma, which has placed among the state’s top five in each of the last five years, it starts with two-time state champion Nick Bayer (189), who won the state title at 171 last year and 160 the year before. Bayer, who went 42-2 last year, will try and become the school’s second three-time state champion in the last five years (Andrew Johnson, 2005-2007). Tahoma is hardly about just Bayer as two-time state placer Tyler Lamb (145), third-place state placer Konner Knudtsen (215) along with standouts Mike Milat (135) and Jordan Higa (135) also are back in fold. When the state tournament rolls around in February, this is a bunch that should challenge top-ranked Lake Stevens for the team title. That said, the North is plenty stacked on the mat as usual. With returning state champion Ruben Navejas (112), Teddy Zografos (130) and powerful heavyweight Nathan Herrick (third at state in 2009) back on the mat, Kentwood has the talent to make a move. Auburn, which took third at state last year (four points ahead of Tahoma), graduated star Jake Swartz (Boise State). Like Tahoma, Auburn is tradition-rich and has finished among the state’s top 10 teams eight-straight years. The Trojans should make it nine in a row this winter with Dylan Rutledge (3rd at 171 last year), Chris Young (5th at 215), Nick Conlan (6th at 275) and Kelly Maughan (6th in 2008) returning. After The Big Three, the rest of the division — Kentlake, Kent-Meridian and Kentridge — should take a step forward. With state veterans Jesus Valdez (5th at 103 last year), Andrew Smith (145) and Nick Lemmon (160) anchoring things for Kent-Meridian, the Royals enter the season deeper than they’ve been in years. Add in newcomer Josh Smith (145) and emerging senior Thomas Reinhart (189) and this could be the best K-M team in years. Kentlake and Kentridge should be in a similar boat. Jeremy Williams is taking over coaching duties at Kentlake for Pete Reardon. The Falcons are well stocked in the lower weights with Jeff Harjehausen (103/112), Colton Marlowe (103/112) and Tyler Potts (119/125) back in the mix. Things also are looking up for Kentridge, particularly with the return of standout Nick Aliment, who took 8th at state last year at 112 pounds. Aliment will move to either 119 or 125 this winter. The Chargers also should enjoy a bit more depth than years past with regional participants Tyler Heinz (130), Dillon Serr (140) and Jeff Seid (171) all expecting to move up.

• ON THE RISE: Hayden Peterson (Kentwood/199); Josh Smith (Kent-Meridian/145).

• GIRLS ON THE MAT: Things are a bit lean for females on the SPSL North mat, however, there are a handful of quality returners. Those of note include Kent-Meridian’s Elizabeth Stone (103) and Jacky Nagy (160) along with Kentwood’s Sophia Chi (103). Also competing for the Conquerors will be Cassidy Meyers (112), the younger sister of state champion Jolene Crook-Meyers (140). Kentridge has a pair of girls out for the team — sisters Shelby Lee (119) and Taylor Lee (125). Both are ranked 12th in the nation.

• NORTH WRESTLERS ON THE COLLEGE MAT: Jake Swartz (Auburn/Boise State/184 pounds); Kurt Swartz (Auburn/Boise State/165); Michael Mangrum (Auburn Riverside/Oregon State/141); Shane Onufer (Auburn/Wyoming/174); Eric Jones (Auburn Riverside/Wyoming/157); Aaron Smith (Kent-Meridian/Highline/133); Cody Quinn (Kentwood/North Idaho College (149); Kevin Tao (Tahoma/Columbia University/125).

• BOOKMARK ON THE WEB: www.washingtonwrestlingreport.com. There isn’t a prep sport around that has a better, more thorough Web site. Wrestling enthusiasts receive rankings for every weight class and school classification in the state. Results of tournaments from around the state — and, in many cases, around the Northwest — can be found as well.

SPSL NORTH WRESTLERS TO WATCH

NAME/SCHOOL/YEAR/WEIGHT

Ruben Navejas/Kentwood/Jr./103

Notable: Returning state champion and two-time placer will be hard to beat.

Jesus Valdez/Kent-Meridian/Sr./103

Notable: State veteran has all the tools to push KW’s Navejas in loaded weight.

Nick Bayer/Tahoma/Sr./189

Notable: Two-time state champion posted 42-2 record last year.

Nathan Herrick/Kentwood/Sr./275

Notable: Top-ranked Class 4A heavyweight in the state right now.

Nick Aliment/Kentridge/Jr./125

Notable: Charger has ability to make return trip to state and place higher.

Tyler Lamb/Tahoma/Sr./145

Notable: Two-time state placer favorite to win title this year.

Chris Young/Auburn/Sr./215

Notable: Football star is equally as talented on the mat.

Dylan Rutledge/Auburn/Jr./189

Notable: One of just two wrestlers to beat Tahoma’s Bayer last year.

Konner Knudtsen/Tahoma/Sr./215

Notable: One of team’s anchors, he took third at state in 2009.

Andrew Smith/Kent-Meridian/Sr./145

Notable: Three-sport standout has solid state credentials.

Nick Conlan/Auburn/Jr./275

Notable: Tough Trojan is right there with KW’s Herrick.

THE STATE’S TOP 10

1. Lake Stevens 119

2. Tahoma 102

3. University 80

4. Kentwood 75

5. Graham-Kapowsin 74

6. Mead 73

7. Auburn 64

8. Heritage 51

9. Emerald Ridge 50

10. Moses Lake 43

CIRCLE ON THE CALENDAR

• Auburn at Tahoma, Friday, Dec. 11: Early season showdown will determine favorite for league crown.

• Tahoma at Kentwood, Thursday, Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m.: Plenty of big names on tap for this one.

• Tri-State, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Dec. 18-19: In many ways this tournament is regarded as bigger than the state tournament. Tahoma and Auburn will be competing.

• SPSL North sub-regional tournament, Feb. 5-6, Kent-Meridian High: A great opportunity to see all of the local talent in one place.

• Regional tournament, Feb. 14, Auburn High: A primer for the state tournament, many of the state’s top 10 will be there, including Tahoma, Auburn, Kentwood, Lake Stevens and Snohomish.

• Regional tournament, Feb. 14, Auburn High: A primer for the state tournament, many of the state’s top 10 will be there, including Tahoma, Auburn, Kentwood, Lake Stevens and Snohomish.

• State tournament, Feb. 20-21, Tacoma Dome: One of the most unique and exciting high school sporting events of the year. If you haven’t been to a state wrestling meet, you’re missing out.

STILL GOING STRONG

There’s little Cody Quinn didn’t accomplish in four years at Kentwood High.

The former Conqueror took second at the state meet last year and became the school’s first-ever four-time state placer. Along the way, he racked up a rather impressive record of 139-23, including a 38-5 mark last winter.

Quinn, however, hasn’t stopped competing. The former middle-weight standout now is competing at North Idaho College in Coeur d’ Alene, where he is competing in the 149-pound weight class.