Tulalip Wrestlers take 2nd and 3rd at State Championship

Killian Page pins his opponent in his second match, continuing on undefeated until the final match, placing second.
Killian Page pins his opponent in his second match, continuing on undefeated until the final match, placing second.  Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News

By Andrew Gobin, Tulalip News

Four wrestlers on the Marysville Pilchuck High School wrestling team that went to state are from Tulalip. Drew Hatch, Killian Page, Keith Pablo, and Austin Brown all did exceptionally well in getting to the state championship, with Page taking 2nd place in his weight class, and Hatch taking 3rd place in his.

Drew Hatch lunges, shooting the hips, knocking his opponent off balance. He placed third in state.
Drew Hatch lunges, shooting the hips, knocking his opponent off balance. He placed third in state.  Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News

Juniors Drew Hatch and Killian Page had an excellent season on the way to state. Undefeated, Hatch ranked second in his weight class going into the championships. Even though he was fighting a fever, he stepped on the mats, losing his second match, coming back winning 5 straight matches and taking third for the 170 weight class. Page went to state undefeated as well. Taking time to warm up and get focused, he was a force in the 160 weight class, remaining in the championship bracket until the final match, placing second after he lost the final match to the last year’s returning champion

Keith Pablo starts his second match. He had many reversals and finished strong as a freshman at the state championships.
Keith Pablo starts his second match. He had many reversals and finished strong as a freshman at the state championships.  Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News

Freshmen Keith Pablo and Austin Brown made it to state their first year on the team. Although Pablo lost his first two matches and was not able to continue, he took each match right to the end of the time limits, refusing to be pinned.

Austin Brown Flips his opponent twice in the second match. He went on to take first in Folk Style for the Marysville Club Wrestling team.
Austin Brown Flips his opponent twice in the second match. He went on to take first in Folk Style for the Marysville Club Wrestling team.  Andrew Gobin/Tulalip News

Brown had a rough season, according to his coaches. What brought him to state was his spectacular performance in districts and regionals. In his final match, although he lost, Brown flipped his opponent twice like it was nothing. He went on to the State Championship for the Marysville club team, taking first in Folk Style wrestling.