Wrestling And Rocket Science -- Slader Relaxes With His Rockets Before Big Meet

Like a professional prize fighter, Gavin Slader has retreated to the quiet and serenity of his family's second home to relax and train before the biggest wrestling meet of his life.

The emphasis here is relax.

Head north on I-5, take the ferry to Whidbey Island, drive past the high school to the two-story house about two miles down the road, walk around back and into a barn and that's where you will find Slader, working feverishly on his latest hobby.

The Lakeside senior likes to build rocket engines. The kind of engines that carry 10-foot model planes about a mile high in the sky.

"It keeps me busy and it relaxes me," he said. "I need that right about now."

In less than 24 hours, Slader will be one of 12 Metro League athletes competing for a Class AA state championship.

The two-day tournament, held at the Tacoma Dome, is the biggest meet of the year for high-chool wrestlers. About 600 athletes will wrestle under the spotlights in the double-elimination tournament.

"It can be a little overwhelming and last year, I wasn't mentally prepared," said Slader, who wrestled for Class A South Whidbey High and was eliminated on the first day of competition.

But much has changed in a year.

Slader transferred to Lakeside, compiled a perfect 25-0 record en route to the 141-pound league and regional championships and has obtained the one ingredient missing from last season - confidence.

"I'm feeling much better about my chances this year," he said. "So much of wrestling is mental. If your mind is not into it, you can get beat by anybody."

Slader has spent the week preparing his mind and body. With the help of Lakeside wrestler Nacine Khemis and several former South Whidbey teammates, he has gone through intense daily workouts.

"That went pretty well. I basically went over a lot of review type of work," Slader said. "I don't want to try and learn any new moves because if a move isn't in your inventory by this time of year, it's not going to be any use to you at state."

Slader is on leave from the high school working on an independent winter project. He transferred to the small private Seattle school because he said it offered more diverse academics than his former school.

His course load includes calculus, Japanese literature, Modern World and Physical Thought (with an emphasis on Albert Einstein and general relativity), drafting, physics and Spanish.

"Let's just say, that by the end of the day, I'm happy," Slader said.

Slader, who lives in Seattle, chose to attend Lakeside even though the wrestling program was canceled because of a lack of interest last season.

This season, the Lions competed with only five wrestlers and lost most of their matches.

"I heard they didn't have a team, but I went there for the academics," Slader said. "That's what was important."

Coaches' poll

(Compiled by Washngton State Wrestling Coaches Association; state tournament poll)

Class AAA - 1. Auburn 53 points; 2. Wenatchee 52; 3. Olympic 51; 4. Oak Harbor 50; 5. Kentwood 34; 6. Mead 32; 7. South Kitsap; 8. Bethel 17; 9. University 15; 10. North Central 14. Others - North Thurston, Snohomish.

Class AA - 1. Burlington-Edison 53 points; 2. East Valley (Spokane); 3. Fife 42; 4. Lake Stevens 36; 5. Lynnwood 33; 6. Tahoma 26; 7. Mount Vernon 24; 8. Othello 19; 9. Sunnyside 18; 10. Peninsula 15. Others - Ferndale, R.A. Long, Tumwater, Bellingham.

Class A-B - 1. Blaine 42 points; 2. (tie) Medical Lake and Warden 41; 4. Toppenish 39; 5. Elma 35; 6. Vashon 32; 7. (tie) Cashmere and Zillah 29; 9. Connell 21; 10. Deer Park 18. Others - Castle Rock.

------------------------------------------------------- State wrestling tournaments

[ WHAT: Mat Classic V (Class AAA, Class AA and Class A-B state wrestling tournaments). [ WHERE: Tacoma Dome. [ WHEN: Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 5 p.m. (quarterfinals) to 9:15 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. (semifinals) to 1:30 p.m.; 4:30 p.m. (5th-6th), 5 p.m. (3rd-4th), 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (championship matches). [ WHO: The top 16 wrestlers in each weight classification at Class AAA, AA and A-B. [ CLASS AAA TEAMS TO WATCH: Auburn, Wenatchee, Kentwood, Olympic, Oak Harbor. [ AAA WRESTLERS TO WATCH: John Taylor, North Thurston, 115 (1992 state champion at 101); Scott Surplus, Richland, 178 (1992 state champion at 158); Ben Celver, Auburn, 141 (5th at 135 in 1992); Jesse Carkner, Bellarmine, 158 (5th at 158 in 1992, 5th at 141 in 1991). [ CLASS AA TEAMS TO WATCH: Burlington-Edison, East Valley (Spokane), Fife, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Tahoma. [ AA WRESTLERS TO WATCH: Jens Pulver, Tahoma, 135 (two-time state champion); Royce Repenn, Liberty (Issaquah), 168 (1992 state runner-up at 158); Sean Morgan, Lynnwood, 158 (defending state champion). [ METRO LEAGUE ENTRIES (Class AA meet): Sonny Graves, O'Dea (101); Greg Wejak, Ingraham (108); Randy Peters, West Seattle (115); Kevin Storey, O'Dea (122); Ken Tameno, Hale (122); John Grub, West Seattle (129); Sophy Math, Hale (135); Gavin Slader, Lakeside (141); Willie Tafil, Hale (148); Matt Rosauer, Eastside Catholic (148); Chris Minton, Franklin (148); Pat Gogerty, Hale (168); Jim Dougherty, Ingraham (178); Justin Poe, Ingraham (190); Steve Quinn, O'Dea (heavyweight). [ TICKET INFO: Single session, $6 adults, $4 students and senior citizens; all day, $10, $6; all sessions, $14, $8.