Tahoma HS wrestling team prepares for new season
MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. — The Tahoma Bears are back and hoping to improve on their 5th聽place finish last year at Mat Classic 2022. Since 1990, Tahoma has finished in the top 10 at state in all but three years, winning state in 1990, 1995, 2012 and 2017. With one of the top coaching staffs in the state, Tahoma looks to maintain their winning ways this season. The Bears are led by Coach Chris Feist, entering his 17th聽year as the head coach. In his time at Tahoma, Coach Feist has coached 24 state champions and 93 state placers.
The Bears compete for multiple U.S.A. clubs during freestyle season, including Bear Claw, Rooster Savage, Mat Demon, Takedown Express, and others. Many wrestlers have put in a ton of time and effort in preparation for this year鈥檚 season and can’t wait to compete.
This year鈥檚 team returns nine state participants and three state alternates. The team is led by some awesome young men, both on and off the mat! One of those returning is the 170-pound State Champion, Chris Neal. Chris plans to move on to wrestle in college next season and is looking to defend his state title. After spending a lot of time in the weight room with the team in the off-season, Chris plans to move up to 195 pounds this year. Senior, Nathan Curry, hopes to move up on the podium this year. Nathan finished in 6th聽place as a freshman and took 3rd聽last season. Nathan broke his thumb during the regional tournament but was cleared to compete and made the best of it. Back at 100%, Nathan hopes to see the top of the podium at 126 pounds. Junior, Joe Sullivan, took 2nd聽last year at 106 pounds. He has put in a ton of work in the off-season and looks to compete at 132 pounds this year.
Other state returners from last year鈥檚 state team include Jackson Stoops, Cyrus Comia, Cooper Lambro, Baylor Black, Tommy Nunez, Trey Monaghan, and Alex Mondt. Key newcomers include Colby Hill, Crew Lambro, Alex Othon, Isac Deonigi, and Adriano Perez. The team is currently ranked #2 in the state based on the preseason rankings from www.washingtonwrestlingreport.com
We have been very fortunate to have received great support from our local community and businesses.
The Bears will compete in the following tournaments this season:
Ed Arima 鈥� Sumner, WA
Rose City 鈥� Portland, OR
Tri State – Coeur d’Alene, ID
Sierra Nevada Classic 鈥� Reno, NV
Dick Pruitt 鈥� Kent, WA
Lake Stevens 鈥� Lake Stevens, WA
Rumble in the Valley 鈥� Prosser, WA
Bears Currently Wrestling in College:
Michael Gasper 鈥� Clackamas (Two-Time All-American)
Steele Starren 鈥� Clackamas (Two-Time All-American)
Jonah Houser –聽Norwich University
Levi Kovacs 鈥� Utah Valley
Yusief Lillie 鈥� Utah Valley
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