21-02-2025
Mat Classic XXXVI, Day 1: McEwen, Windsor among South Sound locals in state semifinals
Capital High's Lazarus McEwen doesn't wrestle like a freshman.
The budding star wrestles like a seasoned vet — because he is.
'I've been at this for 11 years,' he told The News Tribune, smiling after his second win inside the Tacoma Dome on Thursday. 'Good shots and tilts. … I have to (take) fast shots, play at a fast pace, and be aggressive.'
To nobody's surprise, one of the South Sound's untouchable wrestlers moves on. McEwen will face Sedro-Wooley's Giovani Panfilo-Ortiz in Friday's 3A 106 semifinals after notching two falls and a technical fall in the opening rounds. Orting coach Jody Coleman expects the freshman to 'tech his way' through the bracket.
A near-perfect 46-1 this season, McEwen's only loss came in California to the current U17 world champion. He's the reigning Edmonds Invite, Gut Check, Pac Coast, Rockwell Rumble (Utah), and Tri-State champ, now in search of his first state title at Mat Classic XXXVI — perhaps the first of many.
'(Laz) wrestles like Laz wrestles,' Capital wrestling coach Jimmy Belleville said, who won four straight Mat Classic titles with Black Hills from 2006-09. 'He just does his thing, has his own game plan, and he's ready to go.
'He goes. He just doesn't stop. He continues to progress and make every attack count.'
McEwen received a first-round bye in the 3A 106 bracket's first round before dropping Auburn Mountainview's Mohammad Orozgaani via technical fall (1:30) in the Round of 32. It wasn't long before the Capital freshman dominated again, this time over Edmonds-Woodway's Isaiah Meyer with a fall that took only 67 seconds.
Safe to say Day 1 of McEwen's first Mat Classic was a success?
'It's pretty fun,' he said. 'I've gone to the kid's state (tournament), so I've been here before… but high school is pretty different.'
Silas freshman Adrian Windsor is making similar headlines one weight class above McEwen from the 3A 113. The undefeated ninth grader won his first pair of Mat Classic matches via fall in a combined 79 seconds, and he'll be the favorite to advance through tomorrow's state semifinals.
'I'm sticking to what I do, setting up my attacks and making sure I'm ready to go,' Windsor said. 'It's not really too big for me. I travel all over the world… (that) calms down the nerves, because I know I've wrestled better kids out of state.
'I just have to stay calm and do what I do.'
If the name isn't familiar already, Windsor will star in Gregory Marks' Westbrook: A Wrestler's Story, premiering in Nov. 2025. The Tacoma-based fiction film features the likes of Josie Bissett and Chael Sonnen and follows the rise of the local high school's wrestling team, a struggling program on the brink of cancellation.
'I hadn't thought about acting,' Windsor said, 'but once (Marks) hit me up, I was very interested. Ever since then, I've liked it.'
Nine seconds: That's all it took for Libby Roberts to storm through the Round of 32 at Mat Classic XXXVI.
The University High School senior continues her chase for a historic fourth state title — something only 22 total wrestlers (and just four girls) have completed in Mat Classic history.
Spectators can't blink without running the risk of missing a Roberts win. She took down Central Valley's Mary Healy via fall (0:09) in the opening round, then dominated Kennewick's Hannah Palmer by fall in similar fashion, a bout that took 13 seconds. Two matches for Roberts, and just 22 total seconds spent on the mat.
Inevitable, unstoppable, untouchable — use whichever adjective you want.
'Just go out there and get the job done,' Roberts told The News Tribune, standing beside Mat 1 moments after her second win. 'I'm definitely focused on wrestling hard the entire time. Getting to my holds, staying in position.'
She won again Thursday night, another fall in 38 seconds over Kelso's Marina Jimenez-Gonzalez, to return to Friday's 'Final Four.'
Roberts is considered one of the dominant wrestlers in state history, now two wins away from becoming the fifth girl to win a fourth Mat Classic title; Prairie's Faith Tarrant is chasing the same feat this weekend.
The last girls wrestler to capture a fourth state title? Davis High's Cameron Guerin finished her four-year run in 2018.
'Winning a fourth state title would mean a lot to me,' Roberts said. 'There's only a certain number of people who have been able to accomplish that, and I would love to add to that list.
'This journey has been incredible. A lot of time is put in with a lot of different people. It's been such a blessing having these amazing coaches by my side the entire time.'
Lincoln and Decatur's football programs didn't meet on the gridiron last fall, but two of their top players just did at Mat Classic XXXVI: Decatur's star running back Nehemiah Washington emerged in the second period to fend off Abes LB Dre Sio-Fetaui in a calculated, physical 3A 215 quarterfinal at the Tacoma Dome.
'We line up pretty well size-wise and strength-wise, so it really comes down to the technique,' Washington said.
The Gators senior picked up the pace and scored a second-period takedown, enough to win via 5-2 decision. Washington secures his spot for Friday's 3A 215 semifinals with Shorecrest's Carter Nichols.
'Just got to go, that's the mentality,' Washington said. 'Just got to go get it.
'It means a lot (to make the semifinals). It's my last year wrestling, so I've got to leave it all out on the mat before we leave. It's a great opportunity. I'm very blessed.'
