As the winter season comes to an end, Whatcom and Skagit prep teams travel across the state to compete in various Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) state championships.
Action begins with state wrestling and boys swim and dive on Thursday, Feb. 20.
State wrestling
The state wrestling tournament, also known as Mat Classic, begins with 3A and 4A boys and girls on Thursday at the Tacoma Dome. There will be 24 mats laid out, four for each division, and wrestling will run from about 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the first day.
Although there is not a livestream, fans can keep track of Mount Vernon, Ferndale or Sedro-Woolley wrestlers on Trackwrestling. For tickets, a two-day pass is $37 for adults and $25 for students. A one-day pass is $22 for adults and $15 for students.
1B/2B/1A/2A boys and girls will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21 while the 3A/4A finals take place from about 3:30–8 p.m. The final day will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Some of the wrestlers to watch include Mount Baker’s Tyla Olson competing in the 1A 140-pound division, Lynden’s Yaretzi Nava Gonzalez at 2A 120 pounds, Squalicum’s Claire Hume at 2A 130 pounds and Ferndale’s Kennedy Medley at 3A 145 pounds
State swim and dive
The boys swim and dive meet will run from Thursday, Feb. 20 through Saturday, Feb. 22 at the King County Aquatic Center. On each day, the 1A/2A schools will compete from 7–11 a.m. while 3A schools will follow from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Bellingham, Sehome and Squalicum will have five combined divers competing on Thursday. The event can be live-streamed on the NFHS Network.
An NFHS Network monthly pass costs $11.99 and the annual pass is $79.99. The pass will allow you to livestream all three days as well as other high school sporting events. Live results can also be found on WIAA’s website.
Some of the top swimmers to watch include Squalicum’s Hayden Nelson, Sehome’s Kai Arthur and Koen Mathey, and Anacortes’ Finn McFarland and Caleb O’Donnell.
State basketball
The opening round of the 1A and 2A state basketball tournaments begin on Friday, Feb. 28, while Lummi Nation boys and girls will begin their path to the 1B title on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Every game will be livestreamed on the NFHS Network and brackets will be posted here.
The defending state champion Lynden girls will enter the tournament as one of the clear-cut favorites and top seeds in the 2A tournament. They will travel with a few other schools from Whatcom or Skagit counties. Since the district tournament does not end until Feb. 22, results were not available prior to publication.
At the 1A classification, Lynden Christian boys and girls will enter as top seeds and one of the favorites to reach the championship game, pending a District 1/2 crossover game on Feb. 22 at King’s High School.
The Nooksack Valley girls team and Meridian boys will compete in a crossover game for a chance to place at state.
Lummi’s boys and girls will travel across the state to the Spokane Arena, where the Blackhawks should provide some fierce competition to fellow 1B schools.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
