Daniel and Elijah Washburn grew up wrestling with each other, as brothers do. The siblings have wrestled on the same teams for nearly a decade, first at Piranhas Wrestling Club and now at Mount Baker High School.
“I definitely wouldn’t want to be on the other team,” Elijah said when asked about what it’s been like competing alongside his brother.
Both placed second at the Mat Classic state tournament last year in their respective weight classes, making themselves known to wrestlers statewide along the way.
Elijah Washburn and his brother Daniel, right, practice with the Mount Baker team on Monday, Jan 30. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Being brothers meant having a built-in training partner growing up. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re separated only by a year; Elijah a 170-pound senior and Daniel a 145-pound junior.
“It’s fun, too,” Daniel said. “It gives you somebody to help push you and help make you better. When we’re training, I can’t let Elijah do better than me, so I got to go harder.”
That friendly rivalry has existed since they were born.
“We always wrestled from the moment [Daniel] could crawl,” Elijah said. “He used to beat me, especially when we were the same size. As an older brother, it’s hard to lose to your younger brother, but I’m proud of him.”
The siblings are homeschooled, which gives them more flexibility in their schedule — something they’ve used to their advantage.
“It gives you some extra time to get up and get your school done right away,” Daniel said. “Then you could go work out in the shop or wrestle around a little bit before practice.”
The Deming residents have a wrestling room built in their home’s shop where they drill and wrestle whenever they get the chance.
Mount Baker coach Ron Lepper consoles Daniel Washburn Feb. 18, 2022 after Washburn lost in the 145-pound championship at Mat Classic XXXIII in the Tacoma Dome. (Photo by Joshua Hart)
Their father wrestled in high school and placed third in state his senior year, so it became a defining moment when both brothers placed second at last year’s Mat Classic.
“Placing second was nice because we were like ‘alright, he’s proud of us,'” Elijah said. “I mean, he’s always been proud of us, but it was a lot of fun.”
Daniel said one of the most valuable things they do with their dad is take an hour or so after dinner to work on moves in their wrestling room.
In addition to their dad, the entire family also plays a large role in their success as they also have three sisters who have been supportive of their careers.
“You get done with a dual meet and your sister comes and hugs you, you get a lot of cheerleaders,” Elijah said.
Elijah also said they couldn’t do it all without their mom.
“She’s always helping us,” he said. “Besides getting us food and stuff, she’s got all these vitamins and everything. She’ll give us a back rub when we’re sore. We really appreciate her.”
Mount Baker’s Elijah Washburn tries to climb out of the grip of Toppenish’s Abel Nava Feb. 18, 2022 in the 160-pound championship at Mat Classic XXXIII in the Tacoma Dome. (Photo by Joshua Hart)
Despite growing up training together, the brothers have distinctly different wrestling styles. Mount Baker wrestling coach Ron Lepper described Daniel as very methodical, with an arsenal of moves. On the other hand, he described Elijah as very fluid in the way he consistently pressures opponents.
Lepper said he immediately saw potential in the brothers the first day they showed up to the school’s mat room during the shortened 2021 season.
“It was as-soon-as-they-walked-in-the-room kind of thing,” Lepper said. “They just wanted to learn, they just wanted to keep getting better. Whether it’s conditioning, technique, drilling or live wrestling, those guys are always pushing to make themselves better and their partner better.”
Daniel and top-ranked, undefeated Elijah join senior Jorey Johnson — the top-ranked 113-pounder in the state — to create an impressive trident on top of a robust Mount Baker wrestling program.
Next, the Washburn brothers will compete at the sub-regional tournament at Meridian High School on Saturday, Feb. 4. This is the first stage of the postseason as they look to return to the Tacoma Dome for Mat Classic XXXIV in mid-February.
