Odds are that South Whidbey’s wrestling team is going to lose most of its head-to-head meets this season.
With less than a dozen players on the squad, the Falcons will forfeit several of the lighter weights, meaning that before they even start the match, they will trail in dual meets against Cascade Conference opponents.
That stings some of the Falcons, such as senior Trevor Miller and sophomore Logan Madsen. But they know that their coach Jim Thompson’s mantra — that mat time and the district tournament are all that matter — is true. Their eyes are already focused on February — the end of the regular season — when the postseason begins.
“Hopefully taking first and sending a bunch of guys to state,” Miller said.
Added Madsen: “We’re gonna be someone to beat.”
Last year, the Falcons sent a few wrestlers to the 1A state tournament. Only one returned to the team this year — the other two graduated — and that is heavyweight senior Pierce Jackson, who Thompson said could have an unobstructed path to the state tournament again because all of the region’s top heavyweight wrestlers graduated.
As has happened in past years for the Falcons, Thompson has a glut of guys in the middle weights, from 132 pounds to 160. Without any smaller wrestlers, the Falcons will forfeit bouts between 106 and 120 pounds.
“No matter if we win all our matches, they’ll win,” Miller said.
Despite the potential losses to league opponents Archbishop Murphy, Granite Falls, Sultan, Lakewood and Cedarcrest, Miller and Madsen said they were looking forward to the two home matches they’re scheduled for this season.
A Falcon wrestling match is a production. The lights inside Erickson Gym are cut, with only a lone white lamp light beaming down onto the bright blue mat for each bout. During a close match, the noise can be raucous as two grapplers circle and collide.
“I’m pretty positive people will come out and support us,” Madsen said.
The majority of South Whidbey’s contests, however, will be away from the island and at large tournament-style meets. Two of the largest include the Everett Classic on Jan. 3 and an overnight trip to River Ridge High School in Lacey on Jan. 24.
For many of the Falcon wrestlers, the season is one of transformation. Many, like Miller, start at a higher weight and are given a plan to drop pounds to compete at a lighter class. In Miller’s case, shedding 15 pounds to be eligible for the 190-pound class by season’s end meant he would have to skip much of the offerings on Thanksgiving.
“It’s not that simple,” said Miller, further explaining that portion control is a big part of his plan to go from the 220 to 190 weight class.
Past Falcon teams have focused on being aggressive from the opening whistle, rather than waiting to react to an attack. That philosophy remains for this year’s squad, Miller and Madsen said.
“I think we’re going to be a really fast team,” Miller said.
Added Madsen: “We definitely still see a lot of aggression.”
