By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News
The Marysville Pilchuck wrestling team continued its strong season on January 14 with a 55–14 victory over Stanwood High School, improving to 17–1 on the year and matching last season’s win total. Although the score reflected another dominant performance, coach Tony Hatch said the match was more challenging than it appeared, as his team had to respond after a slow start and adjust to an opponent that came in ready to compete.
“Stanwood, we weren’t sure what they were going to bring to us,” Hatch said. “When you’re winning every match like we’ve been doing lately, everybody’s gaming up for you, and I think some of the guys might’ve looked past these guys a little bit and weren’t ready to step on out.”
Hatch explained that despite falling behind early, the team’s composure and experience showed late in the dual. “They came at us and really tested us. I think it shows the character of our guys that we can change gears and come back to get the win after falling behind.”
After finishing 17–0 a year ago, this season’s group has once again put itself in position for a deep postseason run. Hatch said the only blemish on the record, a close loss to Arlington earlier in the season, continues to motivate the team as it balances success with the physical demands of a long schedule.
“That loss still haunts us a little bit,” Hatch said. “These guys have really been hitting it hard, and we’ve got a lot of guys that are beat up and need a little time to heal,” he added, noting that managing health will be important as districts and states approach.
The roster features eight Native American wrestlers, including five senior Tulalip tribal members, Garrett Turner, Dylon Turner, Martell Monger, Marcus Smith, and Cole Jones-Offstreet, whose leadership has played a key role throughout the season.
Looking ahead to the postseason, Hatch believes hunger and consistency will define how far this team can go. “We’ve got some really hungry guys,” he said. “A handful should place top eight at the state tournament, and then a couple guys who could sneak in and get on the podium.”
Hatch also emphasized the importance of mental preparation as the pressure increases. “Try to keep them smiling and keep them happy, make sure they’re actually wrestling their best. They know they’ve outworked everybody.” At the same time, he said the program’s future remains bright. “We’ve got a lot of young guys coming up, some young tribal members and some young guys from the community, and they’re and learning a lot from the older guys. I’m really excited about it.”
Senior Cole Jones-Offstreet provided one of the night’s highlights with a 30-second pin. He said staying focused has been a priority for him this season, especially on nights when the team faces adversity. “Even though we were struggling tonight, you never want to give up on your opponent, so I made sure I went out there and put up a strong performance.” He added that he has worked to expand his offense. “I try to go for more leg attacks,” he said, before crediting the team’s discipline as the postseason nears. “Everybody is practicing hard, there’s a good support system, and even when we’re tired and injured, we’re pushing through.”
When asked about the team’s ultimate goal, Jones-Offstreet did not hesitate. “State championship,” he said.
Another milestone came from senior captain Garrett Turner, who reached the 100-career-win mark, continuing a recent trend for the program. With his achievement, Marysville Pilchuck has now produced a 100-win senior in back-to-back seasons, underscoring the program’s consistency and development. Turner said pacing himself has been a key adjustment as the season has gone on. “I’m putting too much pressure on these guys sometimes and working my gas tank a little too much.”
He added that focusing on details has made the difference. “I’ve been working on pressure, not trying to force scrambles, and getting better with my hand fight. Working on the little details helps a lot.”
As a senior leader, Turner said his role is to keep the team focused and energized heading into Districts and State. “Just keep them confident, keep our boys hyped, and ready to explode.” Reflecting on earlier matches, he said controlling his pace will be critical. “I’ve had a couple matches where I went too fast and got too excited, so I’m going to try to calm down a little before districts,” he said, before sharing his postseason goal. “I want to be a state finalist.”
Marysville Pilchuck now turns its attention to the postseason schedule, beginning with Dual State on January 31 at Orting High School at 9 a.m., followed by the district tournament on February 6 and 7 at a site to be determined, and the Mat Classic state tournament on February 20 and 21 at the Tacoma Dome.