Champs Perform In The Clutch

Although they wrestled 33 pounds apart at schools in two different enrollment classifications, state champions Chris Padayao and James Clark had something in common. Both won their titles by defeating the person who had beaten them in regional finals matches the previous week.

Padayao is the State A-B 115-pound champion from Lakeside High School.

Clark won at 148 pounds for AAA school Mead.

Between them they had a combined 61 wins and 7 losses during the season to accomplish goals most wrestlers only dream about.

Intensive camp spurred Padayao

Last summer Padayao thought he could win a state title after surviving the 14-day Jay Robinson Intensive Camp in Oregon. He knew he could after pinning unbeaten tournament favorite Omar Flores of Goldendale in the second round of their quarterfinal match at Mat Classic VIII in Tacoma. The rigid boot-camp atmosphere of the Jay Robinson Camp was a little more than Lakeside coach Scott Jones thought was necessary.

“They lost 30 kids by the second day who couldn’t make it through,” he said.

The idea was to push those who lasted mentally and physically beyond what they thought they could endure in order to make them better wrestlers.

Padayao was named outstanding wrestler of the camp.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “It taught me how to wrestle when I’m tired and don’t think I can go on. It pushed me harder than before in training and wrestling.”

Still, he was a long shot to win at state because in two previous tries he hadn’t placed. He had also lost five times during the year, including to Jason Ogle of Almira/ Coulee-Hartline in the Region IV finale the previous week.

Then he won twice at state on Friday.

“We knew Flores was talented, and when Chris ended up sticking him, he knew (he could win the title),” said Jones. “The first thing he said after winning was, ‘This is mine.”’

Padayao won easily in the semifinals and beat Ogle 11-7 in the title match to finish the season with a 29-5 record.

“The only thought in my head going into the tournament was I was going to be a state champion,” said Padayao. “Even in my hotel room I kept thinking good thoughts in my head and wrote, ‘Champion, champion, champion’ on a piece of paper.”

He’s Lakeside’s third state winner. The previous two, Bart Orth and Terry Jolley, saw him win.

“The past champs pulled Chris aside and gave him a vote of confidence and words of wisdom,” said Jones. “It was a self-fulfilling prophesy after that.”

Baseball begins for Padayao on Monday. It’s a sport he still enjoys to the point he had a baseball player sewed on his letter jacket.

“I think I’ll get that changed and get a wrestler put on the back,” he said. “It’s turned out to be my favorite sport.”

Seven Lakeside athletes qualified for state, and six placed. Freshmen Matt Westenfelder and Trevor Blackwell were fifth and seventh. Sophomore Anthony Layton and junior Nate Bohl were sixth. Sophomore Aaron Laughery was eighth, losing twice by a point and once by two. Sophomore Jason Belyea went unplaced but lost to the state runner-up and fourth-place finisher.

Next year will be lone senior Padayao’s turn to inspire them.

Weight gain? No problem

When James Clark wrestled a year ago, it was at 135 pounds. Moving up two weights to 148 proved no problem, despite the fact he was shorter than most of his opponents.

“I haven’t gotten taller, but I’ve put on muscle,” said Clark. “The guys try to use their leverage, but it doesn’t bother me.”

Clark won his first 28 matches this year entering the finals of the Region IV tournament. Had he envisioned an unbeaten season or state championship?

“Maybe not after last year,” said Clark, who was eliminated in three matches. “But I went to a lot of camps and wrestled freestyle.”

In regionals the Tuesday before state, Clark lost 7-6 to Ryan Gutzwiler of Wenatchee. He had beaten Gutzwiler 10-4 at Mead’s tournament of champions earlier. The two ultimately met in the State AAA finals, where Clark pulled out a 6-5 victory with a late escape and takedown as time ran out.

The two now have split four matches against each other. Was this win the most important? “I think so,” said Mead’s latest state champion. “It was good for me to lose last week. It helped clear my head.”

Clark was one of two Panther finalists and three state placers. Jon Rugan second at 115 pounds, was a runner-up for the second straight year.

“I don’t want to settle for second best,” the tearful Rugan said after his loss. “I just ask myself so many times, ‘What can I do better?”’

Mead 141-pounder Lyle Beerbohm finished sixth.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo