Washington high school wrestling at Mat Classic semifinals recap 2024: Returning state champions meet
Photo by Joshua Hart
TACOMA, Wash. - Of the seven Mat Classic XXXV tournaments going on this weekend, only one bracket featured the possibility of two returning state champions meeting.
And they did - in the WIAA semifinals Saturday morning.
Two-time state champion Jacob Chapa, of Southridge, erased a deficit with a frantic third-period rally to upend Andrew Flores, of Lincoln of Tacoma, 5-2, in the Class 3A 120-pound semifinals.
"I feel like all my matches ... I do something to turn them around at the end," Chapa said.
Flores, who won the state title in this weight class in 2023, controlled the action early, registering a takedown at the end of the first period - and threatening multiple times to add to his lead.
"We wrestle very similar. so it was hard to wrestle him," Chapa said. "He was lower than me - I am super tall and lanky - so my head was always above his, and it was easy for him to get those shots in."
Chapa - who was just cleared to wrestle three weeks ago after sitting out much of the season academically ineligible - trailed 2-1 entering the final period, but got the decisive take down at teh 1:25 mark. Suddenly, the Suns' standout found a second wind, and turned his opponent on his back with 45 seconds to for a two-point takedown.
After that, Chapa rode him for much of the remaining time - and celebrated on his feet by throwing his hands in the air after a comeback 5-2 win.
Now, he is in position to leave Washington wrestling as a three-time champion. He will face Hermiston's Aidan Larson in the 120 finals Saturday night.
"That is my main goal, to make my family happy, make my coaches proud," Chapa said.
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AFTER LENGTHY ABSENCE, OLYMPIA WRESTLER IN 157 FINALS
Photo by Todd Milles
Without question, the loudest eruption of cheers from the Tacoma Dome grandstands on Saturday - and maybe the entire weekend - came for Olympia's Landon Porter.
Porter had just thrown Tahoma's Cyrus Comia on his back in the final 20 seconds to wrap up a 9-5 state semifinal victory in the 157-pound bracket in Class 4A.
Next up: Longtime pal Cody Miller, of Sumner, who is 142-0 and trying to finish off an unbeaten career.
"Me and him have known each other since we were 4 years old," Porter said. "He has always gotten the best of me."
Porter is a remarkable story - a kid whose right hand consists of just "skin, tissue and muscle" and no bone after he umbilical cord wrapped itself around the hand and cut off all circulation before he was born.
"Winning hand fights is a little hard, but other than that, nothing is too hard for me.," Porter said.
And yet, after many years spent in youth wrestling, Porter got burned out and quit the sport five years ago.
But, out of the blue, he decided to turn out as a senior for his only high school season at Olympia.
"I knew I was going to regret it if I didn’t," Porter said.
Another motivating factor? His father, Ben, who made the WIAA finals three decades ago as a senior a Forks High School. Landon wanted to match the feat. and did Saturday.
"I knew it was my senior year ... so I dug deep," Porter said.
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UPDATED TEAM SCORES
Class 4A: Tahoma 189.5, Chiawana 169.0, Skyview 97.0, Lake Stevens 91.5
Class 3A: Mead 260.5, Hermiston 128.0, Lincoln of Tacoma 115.0, University 110.0
Class 2A: Orting 275.0, Othello 120.0, White River 99.0, W.F. West 88.0
Class 1A: Toppenish 286.0, Castle Rock 158.0, Wapato 88.0, Omak 82.5
Class 'B': Tonasket 198.0, Forks 116.5, Goldendale 104.5, Okanogan 96.5
Class 4A/3A girls: Peninsula 110.0, Curtis 109.0, Glacier Peak 91.0, Davis of Yakima 79.0
Class 2A/1A/B girls: Toppenish 144.5, Orting 89.5, Othello 87.0, Royal 81.5
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