Overcoming Disappointment After A Frustrating Junior Season, Mead’S Mark Denholm Says This Year Is ‘Looking Pretty Good’

Wrestling

Mark Denholm had wrestling tendencies at a young age.

The Mead High senior would tease his three older sisters until one was willing to brawl. He says they would gang up on him at times, too.

Denholm also would wrestle with friends.

But his official start in the sport came in seventh grade at Mead Junior High.

“I like to fight,” the 18-year-old said. “I’m just aggressive I guess. I’ve always been really competitive.”

He wanted to play football but, with a 5-foot-6 and 122-pound frame, that wasn’t a realistic option. Wrestling was better because opponents are of nearly equal size, he said.

But equality didn’t matter at last year’s State 4A meet. Denholm, who competed at 115 pounds then, was overmatched and only won one match.

He had placed third in state at 101 as a sophomore.

“It was disappointing the way the season turned out in the end,” Panthers coach Scott Bliss said. “He thought he would place. He was disappointed but very composed.”

Denholm is showing poise this season. He’s counting on a high finish at the state finals.

“I have a really good chance this year,” he said. “I just have to be mentally ready and physically in shape. So far it’s looking pretty good.”

Bliss agrees. He believes Denholm can reach the state finals. Denholm was 13-2 heading into Wednesday’s dual meet with North Central. He will have a test this weekend in Saturday’s prestigious 24-team Washington Dream Duals meet at Mead.

“We talked about how to approach this season way back in the fall,” Bliss said. “This is his last shot in high school and he has to give it everything he possibly can.”

Denholm has even turned to some unique pre-match rituals.

Seconds before walking onto the mat each meet, his practice partner and good friend, Jesse McCarty, pops both of Denholm’s thumbs.

“One time he did it and it’s just become a good luck thing,” Denholm said. “It’s kind of weird.”

Yet out of the ordinary is OK with Denholm. He makes sure practices aren’t too serious.

“He has a funny sarcasm,” Bliss said. “He plays practical jokes on teammates. He makes fun of me and other coaches at times, which is appropriately appreciated.”

And thats way the Panthers can see that Denholm is enjoying himself during tough workouts, Bliss said.

That’s exactly why Denholm does it.

“I try to keep it interesting,” he said. “If it’s boring that’s how we lose a lot of kids. They get tired of practicing hard all the time. Before a dual match, that’s how we get loosened up, with humor.”

Denholm will need to stay loose Saturday during the Dream Duals.

He will weigh in, then take the Scholastic Aptitude Test before he wrestles.

Denholm wants to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. He said he has the congressional nomination but needs to raise his SAT verbal score. He has a 3.72 grade point average and hopes to wrestle in college and study engineering.

Though he likes to joke, Denholm knows when to focus and go hard. His teammates take notice, Bliss said.

“The thing we’ll miss most is his leadership,” the coach said. “He’s becoming more of a vocal leader but some people don’t have to be vocal leaders. They have an aura about them that makes other athletes want to be led. They want to step behind Mark and let him lead them.”