Kentwood Gets First Boys State Crown

TACOMA - For Kentwood High School, the waiting is over.

The Conquerors scored a big first last night when they ran away with the state Class AAA wrestling championship in the Tacoma Dome with 109 points. Not only was it their first wrestling title, but the school's first state team championship in any boys' sport after two close shots in football.

``That's a great feeling,'' said Jack Henderson, who co-coaches Kentwood with Lee Reichert. ``I'm glad it was us. I don't know anybody who works harder than we do. Our kids really work hard.''

In the heated battle for the second-place team trophy, Auburn's Brian Peterson edged previously unbeaten Mark Janke of Moses Lake in the 135-pound final, 4-3, to break a 70-70 tie between the two teams and all but put the Trojans out of reach with 74 points.

When the scrambling was over, Walla Walla finished third with 73 points, followed by Moses Lake in fourth with 70 and North Thurston fifth at 69 1/2.

Kentwood, which opened in 1981, has won state titles in two girls' sports, softball and volleyball. On the boys' side, the school is best known as a football power, qualifying for the state playoffs every year but one. They played in the past two Kingbowls, but lost both title opportunities, first to Ingraham and last fall to Curtis of Tacoma. Kentwood's baseball team was ranked No. 1 in the state last year, but lost at the regional level.

Four of the nine wrestlers Kentwood brought to state also were starters in football. But the Conquerors' biggest points came from their little guys, 101-pounders Jason Cleverley and Vann Belvoir.

Cleverley and Belvoir, both sophomores, became the first wrestlers from the same school to meet for the championship of any weight division in meet history. This is only the third year schools have been allowed more than one entry at any weight division.

Together, Cleverley and Belvoir accounted for 44 1/2 of Kentwood's 109 points.

``It's an accomplishment for two people at 101 coming out of the same school to finish as the top two in the state,'' Belvoir said before the title bout. ``Our coaches can relax a little bit.''

Cleverley came into postseason competition as Kentwood's junior varsity entry, but he and Belvoir were close in skill level and actually split time at varsity. Cleverley had Belvoir's number at sub-regionals and regionals, beating him twice, and made it three in a row with last night's 9-2 victory.

It was Kentwood's second straight 101-pound championship. Last year, sophomore Justin McPherren won the title. McPherren was considered a state threat at 115 this season, but came down with bronchitis just before regionals and failed to advance.

Mercer Island's Jay Jackson captured the 129-pound state title last night, drilling Savy Majera of Davis, 7-1. It was only the Islanders' second state champion, the other coming in 1968.

Garfield's Chris Dokter, the Metro League's only title hope, reached the semifinals at 115 pounds before losing and wound up fifth. Jefferson got its first state titlist in the sport as Corey Morris won at 141. Interlake's D.J. Wells lost in the 190-pound championship match.

Walla Walla heavyweight Jon Parson capped an impressive senior season by pinning Snohomish's Steve Hardin, a NCAA Division I football scholarship signee for the University of Oregon in 1:35. Parson finished the season with a 32-0 record - including 30 pins. His other two victories were forfeits.

Richland's Thomas Yamamoto bounced back from Friday's controversial quarterfinal loss to Everett's James Stephens by claiming third place. Yamamoto was trying to become the first wrestling in state history to win four straight Washington championships. He had to settle for three titles and a third place.

The 115-pound final was one of the early barn-burners. Stephens led Wilson's Tim Kitchen 6-2 in the final period, but Kitchen rallied to force an overtime period. After giving Kitchen an escape point, Stephens recorded a takedown with less than 10 seconds left to win, 8-7.

Cleverley and Belvoir were Kentwood's only wrestlers in the finals after five had reached the semifinals. The Conquerors had a seemingly comfortable lead after Friday's rounds with 51 points. But Henderson said he didn't feel comfortable. He felt Auburn (37), Moses Lake (37) and Snohomish (33) were all within range.

``We needed to go out and win some matches,'' Henderson said. ``Our kids were just ready to eat nails today for some reason. I guess the snow agrees with them.''

All but one of Kentwood's nine state qualifiers placed in the top six. The only casualty was senior Danie Lind at 148. Lind, third at 141 last season, failed to rebound from a recent ankle injury and was eliminated in two matches.

Moses Lake, ranked No. 1 in the final state coaches' poll ahead of Kentwood, fell out of contention during the first day, according to Coach Ron Seibel.

``When we came in, I thought it was going to be between Kentwood, Walla Walla and us,'' he said. ``I thought we had a shot at it, but we lost pace with Kentwood in the first round.''

Three of Moses Lakes' seven state qualifiers stumbled in their opening matches.

``Kentwood did a real good job,'' said Seibel, selected by his peers as Class AAA coach of the year. ``They had really good depth . . . Their real good kids are young kids, too. They have a chance to repeat next year.''

The Conquerors will return five of their place-winners, plus McPherren.