By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News
Seventeen wrestlers from Marysville Pilchuck High School stepped into the Tacoma Dome to compete at the Washington State Wrestling Tournament, known statewide as Mat Classic. The two-day event tested the Tomahawks’ conditioning and composure. The wrestlers experienced the emotional highs and lows that only the highly competitive 2A division tournament can deliver. From overtime thrillers to narrow defeats and hard-fought podium finishes, when the final matches concluded, Marysville Pilchuck walked away with a 5th-place team finish in the state.
Head coach Marcus Haughian said upperclassmen showed up long before the season officially started in February. They were talking about goals, asking questions, and building anticipation. That excitement, he explained, created a ripple effect throughout the program.
“All my wrestlers would come into my classroom throughout September and October and talk about how excited they were for the season. When you have seniors and upperclassmen excited to work hard and get in the room, that creates its own positive impact,” Haughian said.
That early mindset translated into results throughout the year. The Tomahawks broke the school record with 18 dual wins, placed third at the Pac Coast Tournament in Vancouver, captured their league dual title, and won the district championship on their home mats. By the time they reached Tacoma, Haughian said his team didn’t feel overwhelmed; they felt prepared.
“To us, going into Mat Classic really felt like any other tournament,” he explained. “We weren’t nervous. We were confident and anxious to go prove what we could do on the mat.”
“Not giving up,” senior Aiden Eagle said. “There were multiple matches all year where I was down, and I had to make sure that I didn’t stop and was able to push through.”
Aiden Eagle carried that confidence into the 190-pound bracket. After placing 8th at state last season, Eagle made the decision to drop from 215 pounds to 190 for his senior year, believing the change would put him in a better position to compete at the highest level. Standing on the podium again, this time finishing 4th, felt like validation of that choice and the work that followed.
His path through the bracket was emotional, particularly when he had to face teammate and fellow senior Steven Morales. The two had switched between 190 and 215 all season and met multiple times in high-pressure matches, including overtime battles at districts and again at state. Eagle admitted that competing against someone you train beside every day adds another layer of difficulty.
“It was nothing against my teammate,” Eagle said, “but I was glad to beat him and move on to the last rounds.”
“My brother pushed me the hardest,” Eagle said. “Every day we were yelling at each other and getting on each other to go harder. He helped me get better and didn’t let me get easy shots on him.”
Eagle was one of five Tomahawks to finish on the podium. Senior tribal member Garrett Turner began his tournament at 126 pounds with momentum, going 2–0 on the first day and looking poised for a deep run. After dropping his next two matches, he narrowly missed placing, a reminder of how thin the margins are at state. His brother senior Dylan Turner, wrestling at 132 pounds, won one of his matches on Friday and added another victory on Saturday before closing out his senior season.
At 165 pounds, senior tribal member and Cole Jones Longstreet (σξ̌ʷυʔξ̌ʷυʔ) started strong on Friday and advanced confidently into day two. After losing his first match Saturday morning, he battled through the consolation bracket with determination, winning two matches before falling in a close contest that ultimately left him 8th in the state. His ability to regroup after a setback embodied the resilience the team preached all year.
Senior Gunner Janes followed a similar pattern. After going 2–0 on Friday, he faced adversity early Saturday but fought back to secure 8th place on the podium. Steven Morales also finished 8th at 190 pounds after enduring multiple overtime matches against top-level competition. Senior Maxwell Woodall delivered one of the team’s top performances, finishing 4th in his bracket and contributing key points to the team’s overall standing.
Marysville Pilchuck’s state representation extended beyond the podium. Tribal member Cheylah Moses, who wrestles for Marysville Pilchuck, earned her spot at the state tournament and competed inside the Tacoma Dome. While she did not place, qualifying for Mat Classic is an accomplishment that reflects months of discipline, preparation, and resilience. Competing at the state level requires earning that opportunity through districts and league competition, and Moses’s presence at the tournament enhances the growing strength and visibility of Marysville’s wrestling program.
In addition to the success seen in the 2A division, the Tulalip Community was also represented in the 1A bracket by tribal member Jacoby Tait, who wrestles for Cashmere High School. Competing at 190 pounds, Tait earned a 4th-place finish in the 1A division, marking his second straight year qualifying for and placing at the state tournament. His continued presence on the podium highlights not only his individual dedication but also the growing impact of Tulalip athletes competing across classifications throughout Washington State.
Haughian said what impressed him most was not simply the medals, but the way his wrestlers handled both success and disappointment in the same arena.
“They left it all out on the mat. Whether they won or lost, I feel like every single one of our kids tried their absolute best. I don’t think I can think of one kid that didn’t go out there and give everything they had,” he said. “This was not an accident. This was hard work, dedication, effort, attitude, and mindset all mixed into one. We became a family. I loved every minute of it.”