TACOMA — Nine high school wrestlers from the North Olympic Peninsula are aiming for state medals starting today at Mat Classic XXII in the Tacoma Dome.
The nine already are in the top 16 in their respective weight classes at state and have survived league, subregional and regional competition for this final shot at state placing.
Half of all wrestlers in each classification, eight, will return home with a state medal. Only one at each weight will reach the pinnacle in his sport, the state championship.
Port Townsend’s Brett Johnson has the best shot of an individual title (see related story on this page) from the Peninsula but all nine wrestlers have an opportunity to earn a medal.
Johnson, ranked No. 1 in Class 1A 160 pounds, opens state action at 12:32 p.m. today against unranked Dillon Dimler of Montesano.
Johnson, 29-1 on the year and a two-time state placer, has a tough match in the quarterfinals later today against either the fourth- or ninth-ranked wrestler in state.
Johnson’s teammate, Kris Windle, begins action at 152 pounds against Goldendale’s unranked Nolin Bare at 12:08 p.m. today.
Windle is a surprise state qualifier after claiming second at regionals last weekend.
Port Angeles has a potential Class 3A state champion in Adam Raemer, who is ranked No. 1 at 145 pounds with a 31-5 record.
Raemer, a senior, jumped to No. 1 after beating former No. 1 Brandon Yeik of Yelm twice in the past two weeks, winning by injury default in the regionals. The two are set to meet in the finals if they get that far.
Raemer opens against unranked Nate Beckett of Mercer Island at noon today. He would get the eighth- or 10th-ranked wrestler in the quarterfinals later in the day.
Port Angeles teammate Nathan Cristion, 26-9 and ranked No. 7 at 189 pounds, takes on unranked Chandler Breaux of Kennedy in the first round at 1:10 p.m. today.
A tough match awaits Cristion in the quarterfinals with No. 2-ranked Anthony Whitmarsh of North Central lurking in his bracket.
Forks is sending five wrestlers to state with heavyweight Tanner House and 112-pounder Cutter Grahn with the best chances for a high finish.
House, a senior with a 30-1 record with 28 pins, is ranked fifth at 285 pounds in 1A. He opens against Ashton Gottschalk of Naches Valley, who is tied for the No. 8 ranking.
The two wrestle at 1:28 p.m. today.
Grahn, meanwhile, takes his No. 5 ranking against unranked Mason Edlund of Rochester at 10:24 a.m. today.
Tyler Cortani, who claimed eighth at state last year, also is wrestling at 112 pounds for Forks.
Cortani, ranked 11th, has a much rougher state road as he battles No. 1-ranked Sam Chapman of Vashon Island in the first round at 10:24 a.m. today.
Tanner’s little brother, sophomore Dayne House, and Travis Petrovich round out the Forks wrestlers at state.
Dayne House, tied for No. 7 ranking at 119 pounds, will compete against unranked Chance Petrich of Tenino in the first round at 10:40 a.m. today.
Petrovich, meanwhile, takes on eighth-ranked Dylan Ellison of Newport at 12:16 p.m. today in the first round. Petrovich is rnked at No. 9.
The tournament concludes Saturday with the championship matches set for the evening.