A good ending to a greater career for Jones

TACOMA – Sometimes there’s no fairytale conclusion. But it doesn’t mean there wasn’t a happy ending.

Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) finished third behind Royal and Orting in the State 1A wrestling tournament Saturday at Mat Classic XIX, leaving Scott Jones 17 points shy of a sixth straight title in his coaching swan song.

The Eagles scored 146 points, third highest in school history, had four finalists and two champions to bring his brilliant coaching career to a successful end, at least for now.

Jones will leave education at the end of this school year to enter the world of business.

Certainly it would have been fitting to finish with another state championship.

“It’s still a good ending,” Jones said. “I think it’s been a great honor to have the opportunity to work with kids and serve the sport. I’ll be Lakeside’s No. 1 fan next year.”

The two Eagles titles came early and late on championship night and were won by a pair of sophomore newcomers. Jacob Lauderdale won at 112 pounds, 4-2 in overtime, and Reid Chivers was dominant at 189, 9-2.

Lauderdale, scored a takedown in overtime against familiar foe and league rival, Newport’s Daniel Swain. The two have met often and Lauderdale figured they have split their matches.

“Daniel’s a great wrestler and very strong,” Lauderdale said. “I was lucky to catch him out of position.”

It is the second straight second-place finish for Swain. Lauderdale was fourth while at Reardan after surrendering a penalty point and losing to the eventual champion, he said. Ironically it was a penalty point on Swain that forced overtime and presented his opportunity.

“We were moving to Arizona,” Lauderdale said of his arrival at Lakeside. “It fell through and a friend found us a house quick.”

Chivers grew up in the district but moved to Bellingham last year where he finished fourth in State 3A.

“It was a great experience, but we missed family and friends,” he said.

Chivers pinned his way to the finals before dominating for his first title.

“Two more to go,” he said.

Lakeside second placers were Wes McAdam at 152 pounds and Dustin Baldwin at 189, both are juniors who lost narrow decisions to solid foes. Of the team’s three other placers, including third-place Kyle Johnson and Kyle Cartwright, all but one returns.

“All the kids are rookies to the finals and all had opportunities to win,” said Jones. “The great thing is they will be stronger next year.”

And if the torch is passing from Jones to a pair of assistants, he was quick to point out that if he had to lose, Royal was the fitting champion, guided by one of his early state placers, Ben Orth.

“I told Ben, if we can’t get it, someone from Lakeside should,” he said. “Royal was so impressive with its depth.”