Latest Lakeside title one for the ages

TACOMA – Close followers of Lakeside wrestling have been spoiled over the past 15 years by a program that has won six state titles and finished second three other times.

But even they would agree that Saturday’s most recent title at Mat Classic XX was one for the ages.

All 10 Eagles state qualifiers placed. They were perfect in the morning, turning the evening’s state championship bouts into little more than a dual match between Lakeside versus the rest of Class 1A.

All nine of the Nine Mile Falls contingent advanced to wrestle for individual titles, with five winning championships.

The team won the tournament by 87 points, and their 233 total was the second highest in tournament history.

So, first-year coach Troy Hughes, what will you do for an encore?

“We’ve got six finalists back so we need to find another four,” Hughes said. “All we talk about really is that each kid perform his best and be the best he can be. When you do that, anything can happen.”

While the state title was all but assured after Friday, Lakeside’s journey to program history began at 10 a.m. Saturday when freshman Mike Baumgarden won the opening match of the semifinals. It ended around 9 p.m. when Ben Fuson lost a heartbreaker 3-2 at 285. All told, the Eagles’ wrecking crew won 17 of 22 matches on the final day of the tournament.

“These guys started the week after state last year,” Hughes said. “I shouldn’t say this, but I knew we had a shot to get them all here. But I tell you what: It’s kind of scary when you score so many points on the first day. You worry. But they were not satisfied. They wanted to finish what they started.”

In an all-Lakeside finale at 119 pounds, Jacob Lauderdale won his second straight state title 2-0 over Bryan Baumgarden. Though it was his teammate, Baumgarden didn’t take the loss lightly. Reid Chivers would add his second title this year at 189.

Three other wrestlers attained their holy grail as well, perhaps most fittingly at 135 pounds.

Kyle Johnson had been to the state finals twice, finishing third last year. But the disappointments taught him to get back on his feet and persevere, and he wasn’t about to miss on his last chance. Dominant throughout the tourney, it took just 31 seconds to complete the journey.

“To get so close and not quite get there made this one so sweet,” he said. “For four years it had been my dream.”

Two others also secured titles after second-place finishes a year ago. Wes McAdam built an early lead and held it at 171. Dustin Baldwin had his third pin of the tournament, after a 14-5 waltz in the semifinals, for the 215-pound title.

“This,” McAdam said, “is the greatest feeling I’ve ever had in my life. Give credit to the guys in the room. I trained with the best as you can see by all of them in the finals.

“Having nine means we put in the dedication and work. Every one wanted to be champions and that’s what we got today.”

Hughes said the team made its incredible run because they expected to. Lakeside became the fifth wrestling team to surpass 200 points. They were just a couple of pins shy of Warden’s 237 in 2003.

When asked how he’d feel if Lakeside didn’t reach such heights again, Hughes – who said he was merely the caretaker of a program Scott Jones put in place – had a ready answer.

“One of the first times I went fly-fishing, I caught my biggest fish ever,” the former state champion and college standout said. “I still love to fly-fish.”

At Lakeside, there will be more fish to fry in the future.

Northeast A League schools Chewelah had three placers. Newport and Kettle Falls had two each in the tournament.