Blaine wrestlers going to state after regional tournament is canceled

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association canceled all regional wrestling tournaments throughout the state last weekend due to weather, so all 15 Blaine wrestlers who qualified for regionals will be going to the state tournament this weekend in Tacoma.

To accommodate all the wrestlers, the state tournament will have 32-entry brackets, rather than the original 16.

For Blaine wrestlers, that changes things a little – the Borderites would have faced 2018 state champion White River High School in the regional tournament last weekend. Blaine senior Aidan Button, one of Blaine’s top wrestlers, would have matched up against White River’s two-time state champion Nate Moore.

Button will still likely wrestle Moore, but it may be deep into the tournament, whereas a loss at regionals would have earned Button a lower seed at state.

“We like our chances with Aidan. Jacob (Westfall) has a really good bracket, Alex Hall has a good matchup, Gavino Rodriguez has a good matchup,” said Blaine head coach Tom Hinz. “It’s just a twist in the whole thing.”

The recent snow days throw another twist in the tournament, as missed practices make it hard to stay fit for competition and a sudden lack of exercise could make it hard for some wrestlers to make weight, Hinz said.

On top of that, the bigger tournament presents logistical challenges as well.

“We reserved eight hotel rooms for state thinking there’s no way we need more than that and now we need nine,” Hinz said. And it’s hard to find a ninth room, as wrestling teams throughout the state are in the same position.

The state tournament begins on February 15 at the Tacoma Dome, and finals are February 16.

Blaine wrestlers competing are Connor Ellis (280), Owen Hansen (220), Jacob Westfall (195), Gavino Rodriguez (195), Luke Westfall (182), Colton Pederson (170), Aidan Button (152), George Cheatham (152), Ethan Deming (145), Jack Cheatham (145), Alex Hall (138), Jack Cheatham (132), Alex Mercado (126), Josy Delgadillo (120) and Adam Macauley (113).