Kodiak wrestling coach reflects on successful season

The Cascade High School wrestling team finished their 2018-19 season - a season that turned out to be their most successful campaign in decades.

Although wrestling is an individual sport, the Kodiak grapplers celebrated numerous milestones as a team, including winning its first Caribou Trail League conference championship in 32 years. 

Cascade blazed through the regular season, finishing 8-0 in conference duals and 9-1 overall, to capture the league championship. Outside of league action, several Cascade wrestlers claimed hardware from various tournaments around the state. As a team, the Kodiaks took home the Sky Valley Invitational title another milestone in the program’s history.

The Kodiaks followed the conference title win with a District 6 championship after winning the district tournament on Feb. 2. It was the first time the Kodiaks, who had 14 wrestlers place in the top three of their weight classes, had captured a district championship in the program’s history.

"This is by far the best season I’ve had as a coach and the best we’ve had in a long time,” Head Coach Jesus Sandoval said.

The Kodiaks’ efforts were recognized in the CTL as 14 wrestlers made All-League teams while Coach Sandoval was named the conference’s “Coach of the Year.”

Coach Sandoval attributed the team’s success to the number of wrestlers who turned out for the program, as well as their hard work and dedication to the sport.

After districts, Cascade was set on sending 14 wrestlers to the regional tournament in Omak on Feb. 9 - until Mother Nature intervened and snowstorms forced the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association (WIAA) to cancel regional tournaments across the state. The WIAA settled on a 32-wrestler bracket format where all wrestlers who qualified for regionals advanced to Mat Classic XXXI state tournament.

Cascade went from having 14 wrestlers qualified for regionals to 14 state competitors, the most in CHS history.

At the state tournament, numerous Kodiak wrestlers picked up wins in their brackets. In the end, Reinhart finished second in the 285-pound bracket while Seely took seventh in the 132 division.

Coach Sandoval said every wrestler who competed in the state tournament, whether they made it to the podium or wrestled only two matches, had a great experience wrestling in the Tacoma Dome.

The Kodiaks lose five seniors to graduation: Ricardo Barragan, Axel Martinez, Daniel Sandoval, Jose Valdez and D’Andre Vasquez.

As for next season, Coach Sandoval noted several athletes plan to return to CHS mat squad next year.

“We have kids who are going to attend different camps and setting goals for next year,” Coach Sandoval said. He added that every wrestler who competed in the state tournament already has a goal for next season - return to the Mat Classic.

Part of the preparation for next season includes establishing a weight room training regiment for athletes who want to workout during the offseason. Some Kodiak wrestlers will also attend the annual Pasco Summer Team Camp, which hosts 50-55 schools, according to Coach Sandoval. Cascade wrestlers will have an opportunity to accumulate mat time and wrestle in team duals throughout the duration of the camp. Wrestlers will also have the opportunity to participate in other camps, like the J.Robison Intensive Wrestling Camp and the Cashmere Summer Dual Camp and Clinic.

“We have a busy schedule for the summer that will allow guys to get in a lot of mat time and experience,” Coach Sandoval said. “They will be learning technique from different people. The season is three months, but most guys who are successful at state will wrestle all year. We want to implement (ways) for the program and help athletes be more successful.”

All in all, Coach Sandoval said he is proud of the Kodiak team and what they accomplished this year.

“This sport isn’t for everyone and we have a good group of kids,” Coach Sandoval said. He added that many athletes have younger siblings who are also looking forward to wrestling at the high school level.