He wants to put the Kentridge High wrestling program back on the map.
But first-year coach Todd Lantz knows it’s never easy in the South Puget Sound League North Division, which produces multiple state champions on an annual basis.
“I want to get these guys revved up,” said Lantz, who is Kentridge’s fourth coach in the last six years. “I want to be middle of the road or above (in the SPSL North). I want to be at least .500 or above in our dual meets. This division is pretty tough with Tahoma, Auburn and Kentwood … they’ve all have a long tradition of winning.
“I want to get Kentridge in that mix.”
It has been quite some time since the Chargers have been in the thick of things. In fact, during the last decade, Kentridge has advanced just seven wrestlers to the state tournament and of those, only three have medaled. Furthermore, Kentridge hasn’t had a state champion since Titus Folden won the 178-pound crown in 1998.
Alas, things are quickly changing this winter on the Kentridge mat. While the Chargers still have youth on their side, they also have two of the strongest building blocks in the North Division in senior Nick Aliment (125) and junior Jeff Seid (171). Toss in top returners Spencer Sargent (119), Tyler Heinz (125), Billy Johnson (135), Chris Bailey (160), Andrew Weitzel (189) and Steven Gilman (215), and Kentridge has reason to believe its state fate could be drastically different this February.
“I think we’re going to be really good,” said Aliment, who took eighth at state two years ago, but missed the cut last season after dropping a double-overtime heartbreaker for the fifth-and-final state berth. “We have a really solid core of good wrestlers back.”
The Chargers also have a nice crop of youngsters ready to make an impact, including Aliment’s younger brother Kevin (112) and sophomore Kenny Hobbs. Hobbs put some of that potential on display during last weekend’s Panther Classic in Sumner, bringing home a solid third-place finish.
“Hopefully this season peaks right,” said Lantz, a 1997 Lindbergh High graduate who later wrestled at Highline Community College. “Our goal is to get as many kids to state as possible.”
Since Folden’s title, the Chargers haven’t advanced more than two wrestlers to the Mat Classic in any single year. The last time Kentridge pushed more than two wrestlers to state was 1997, when it advanced three.
That said, with Nick Aliment and Seid back in fold, the Chargers have a higher ceiling this winter than in previous years. After falling just short of state a year ago, Aliment’s motivation to return — and place — is higher than ever.
“Losing at regionals last year really threw me for a loop,” said Aliment, who went 29-5 last season and is just one of three Chargers. “It was really tough. I remember not caring for a really long time. For a month, I didn’t care about wrestling. It took me a while to step away and remember what I liked about wrestling.”
This winter, Aliment is motivated once again.
“Definitely,” he said. “I definitely don’t want a repeat of last year. It’s my senior year and I need to go out strong.”
While Aliment struggled in last year’s postseason, Seid thrived, emerging as one of the North Division’s top newcomers. Seid finished the season with a 28-8 overall record and earned a state berth competing at 160 pounds.
Now that he’s had a taste of state, Seid is ready for return trip.
“This year, I am trying to go top three,” he said. “That’s my goal. I have to work harder … train like a mad man.”
If Seid can do just that, and Aliment along with the rest of the Chargers can continue to ascend, Lantz will have accomplished his ultimate goal.
The Chargers will be back on the wrestling map.
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