SEQUIM — Dakota Hinton is not your typical wrestling star.
“In spite of his success, Dakota is on an even keel, he has good balance and focus on what he is doing and why,” Sequim wrestling coach Len Borchers said.
A lot of state-ranked wrestlers can act a little “crazy,” but not Hinton, Borchers added.
“Dakota is a remarkable kid.”
After a heartbreaking finish at state last year, going 1-2 in a tough bracket and just missing the medal rounds by an overtime loss, Hinton went out this year to leave no doubt he was to be reckoned with on the state level.
Sequim’s ace went 37-4 overall, capturing third place in Class 2A state at 170 pounds — the top finish on the North Olympic Peninsula.
He was voted the All-Peninsula MVP for the 2011-2012 season.
The senior wrestler lost two of his first eight matches this year, and he wasn’t happy about his start.
“I knew I had to pick it up and do better,” Hinton said.
His coach, though, doesn’t see it as a slow start.
“Dakota lost to two of the top wrestlers in state in early tournaments,” Borchers said.
Hinton lost to a No. 2-ranked opponent and also lost to returning 3A state-runner-up Connor Boyce of Everett.
“[Boyce] is a tough, tough, kid,” Borchers said.
“Both of them were quality matches. Dakota got an indication of what it would take to compete at that level.
“He stepped it up after that.”
Hinton competed at a tough weight and ended up wrestling 10 to 12 state top-10 athletes, Borchers said.
Confidence-builder
That gave Hinton confidence and experience against the best going into postseason matches.
Hinton — no lightweight himself — pins most of his opponents.
He pinned his way through districts and regionals before going 4-1 at state, losing only to eventual state champion Tyler Coates of Ellensburg in the semifinals.
Hinton had three pins in his four wins at state.
He had to pin the same wrestler twice to earn the third-place medal.
Hinton pinned Jason Jorgensen of Deer Park in 1:06 of the quarterfinals. He faced Jorgensen again in the third-place final and pinned him in overtime.
“In the first match, he shot in, made a mistake and I took advantage,” Hinton said.
Jorgensen was a lot more cautious the second time around.
“We had similar styles,” Hinton said.
But all it took was one mistake by Jorgensen in overtime for Hinton to end his prep career as the third best wrestler in state.
The wrestler, who excels in his one sport, said his strength on the mat is being on the defensive, capitalizing on the mistakes of his opponents, and thus the high rate of pins.
“I have a good sense of balance, and I like to do throws.”
Borchers said he wouldn’t call Hinton’s style “defensive,” but that the standout senior did have a knack of capitalizing on others’ mistakes.
“Dakota excelled at that this year,” Borchers said.
“If you made a mistake against him, he had the ability to put people away.”
Hinton’s primary weapon on the mat is the whizzer, which is a type of throw, Borchers said.
“He was good at throwing people on their backs.”
Hinton isn’t finished with the sport and the whizzer yet.
He plans to compete in club wrestling at Central Washington University in Ellensburg for two years and will try to springboard from that to a college program somewhere.
“They have a quality club at Central,” Hinton said.
“We’ll see how that goes.”
Borchers said his prized pupil has the tools to succeed at the next level.
“He’s impressed me as a kid,” Borchers said. “He enjoyed it and he worked hard at it.
“Her certainly has the talent to go on.”
Hinton will be missed at Sequim, Borchers said.
“He’s a great kid to have in the room.”
At Central, Hinton will major in religious studies and minor in philosophy.
Hinton’s goal is to be a state policeman, following in his dad’s footsteps in a sense. His father is a state park ranger.
Whatever Hinton ends up doing, there’s no doubt that he will be well-grounded about it.
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Sports Editor Brad LaBrie can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at brad.labrie@peninsuladailynews.com.