AA Wrestling -- Connors' 4Th Title Sets State Record

TACOMA - Pat Connors couldn't let the shirt tell a lie.

Connors, a senior at R.A. Long High School in Longview, became the first wrestler in state history to win four championships last night at Mat Classic VI.

Connors won the Class AA 129-pound title with a 13-4 victory over Ferndale's James Summers.

Prior to the tournament, gray t-shirts were printed up emblazoned with "4X STATE CHAMPION" in black letters.

"Baseball teams do it for the World Series. It was just something we had just in case," said Connors, who capped a 33-0 season. "I knew if everything went right the past two days, I could do it."

Burlington-Edison easily defended its team championship, finishing with 111 points, 26 ahead of Toppenish, the defending Class A champion. Tahoma was third with 82.5 points.

Lynnwood senior Sean Morgan become the first wrestler in school history to win three state titles.

Connors won the state 101 title as a freshman, 108 as a sophomore and 115 last season. The fourth title was a farewell gift to R.A. Long Coach Fred Kalal, who announced his retirement.

"Every year, I ask Pat if he's going to get me a Christmas present," Kalal said. "He always says, `Wait 'till February.' Every year, it's the same thing, but I think this year is a little different."

Connors, who combined technique, mental toughness and tenacity to subdue opponents, concludes his high school career with a 123-4 record.

After the final whistle blew, Connors thrust both hands into the air, then pumped his right fist.

After putting on his warmups, Connors, who wore his lucky light blue shoes he uses only for title matches, sprinted to the northwest corner of the Tacoma Dome to share his victory with the Lumberjack fans.

Other fans in the Tacoma Dome shared in the glory as well, giving Connors two standing ovations.

The key to keeping the pressure from becoming his toughest enemy was simple, Connors said.

"I was totally relaxed (prior to the finals)," he said. "That's what I've been working on all year, being relaxed when I get out on the mat."

Morgan decisioned Tahoma's Tim Kuraspediani 9-6 for the 158 title. Morgan beat Kuraspediani by the same score for last year's 158 crown. Morgan was the 148 champion as a sophomore.

"This feels great," Morgan said. "It feels about the same as the other ones."

Really?

"Maybe this one's a little bit better," Morgan said, citing the historical significance of his achievements.

Morgan finished the year with a 33-0 record. He was 104-10 for his career and the first Snohomish County wrestler to win three Washington state titles, according to Lynnwood Coach Kevin Judkins.

Morgan suffered a serious knee injury and a broken foot, among other injuries, during his wrestling career.

Team scores - 1, Burlington-Edison 111. 2, Toppenish 85. Tahoma 82.5. 4, Yelm 75. 5, White River 65. 6, Fife 62. 7, Sedro-Wolley 58. 8, East Valley (Spokane) 55.5. 9, Lynnwood 52.5. 10, Mount Rainier 45. 11, Mount Vernon 42. 12, Gig Harbor 41.5. 13, Ferndale 41. 14, (tie) Pullman and Liberty 37. 16, Othello 34. 17, Lake Stevens 33.5. 18, Monroe 32. 19, Selah 31. 20, (tie) Olympia and Aberdeen 30. 22, West Valley (Yakima) 29.5. 23, Peninsula 29. 24, (tie) Bellingham and Sehome 27. 26, R.A. Long 26. 27. Anacortes 20. 28, West Valley (Spokane) 19. 29, (tie) Capital and Tyee 17. 31, (tie) Eastmont and Ellensburg 16. 33, (tie) Stanwood and Grandview 15. 35, Enumclaw 12. 36, Sunnyside 11. 37, W.F. West (Chehalis) 10. 38, West Seattle 9. 39, (tie) Arlington, Shelton, Lynden, Prosser and Centralia 7. 44, (tie) O'Dea and Bainbridge 6. 46, (tie) Cheney, Colville and Hazen 5. 50, (tie) Eastside Catholic, Blanchet and North Mason 3. 53, (tie) South Whidbey, Lindbergh, Kennedy and Renton 2. 57, Evergreen (Seattle) 1. No score, Mount Si, Meadowdale, Kamiak, Highline, Sequim, Franklin Pierce, Nathan Hale, Ballard, Roosevelt, Ephrata.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

101 - Jason Parlari, White River, dec. David Pedrosa, Toppenish, 4-3. 108 - Chad King, East Valley (Spokane), won by technical fall over Andy Cook, Burlington-Edison, 22-6, third round. 115 - Sofiane Hansen, East Valley (Spokane), dec. Ben Cruzat, Tahoma, 9-7. 122 - Jacob Davis, Mount Rainier, dec. Eric Smith, Burlington-Edison, 9-7 (OT). 129 - Pat Connors, R.A. Long, dec. James Summers, Ferndale, 13-4. 135 - Dennis Hallman, Yelm, dec. Ben Kirk, Olympia, 14-9. 141 - Jason Granger, Burlington-Edison, dec. Chris Pisani, Aberdeen, 11-3. 148 - Tim Beaudin, Yelm, dec. Jeremy Brummett, Fife, 6-5. 158 - Sean Morgan, Lynnwood, dec. Tim Kuraspediani, Tahoma, 9-6. 168 - Royce Repenn, Liberty, dec. Ryan Downey, Ferndale, 3-1. 178 - Ty Michaelson, Sehome, dec. Nathan Kamp, Mount Rainier, 1-0. 190 - Ryan Wade, Sedro-Woolley, dec. Gabe Mitchell, Yelm, 6-0. Hvy - Chad Wright, Fife, pinned Ian Smith, Peninsula, first round.

THIRD-FOURTH PLACES

101 - Aaron Lehinger, West Valley (Spokane), dec. Brandon Burnett, Sedro-Woolley, 7-4. 108 - Isaac Lind, Tahoma, dec. Carlos Trujillo, Eastmont, 5-1. 115 - David Ragsdale, Capital, dec. Alvard Tijerina, Toppenish, 5-1. 122 - Jeremy Lawson, Pullman, dec. Tim Turnbull, Selah, 2-0. 129 - Juan Valencia, Grandview, dec. Ryan Ho, Bellingham, 3-2. 135 - Donny McMoran, Burlington-Edison, dec. Justin Springer, Monroe, 2-1. 141 - Jeremy Ault, Pullman, dec. Roberto Martinez, Othello, 5-3. 148 - Aaron Nowak, Ellensburg, dec. Joe Lowrance, Sedro-Woolley, 4-3. 158 - Josh Sneva, Mount Vernon, dec. Shane Ducatt, White River, 14-11. 168 - Brett Casey, Gig Harbor, dec. Bubba Henery, Burlington-Edison, 7-2. 178 - Josh Jelsing, Lake Stevens, dec. Bryan Robertson, Burlington-Edison, 6-3. 190 - Wayne Carlson, Lynnwood, dec. Mike Hayden, Gig Harbor, 14-6. Hvy - Willy Sheriff, Tahoma, dec. Mike Bakker, Fife, 10-6.

FIFTH-SIXTH PLACES

101 - Pablo Melo, Othello, dec. Scott Jones, Toppenish, 8-3. 108 - Joe Hyland, Anacortes, pinned Jordan Ottow, Monroe, 1:19. 115 - Justin Jayo, Enumclaw, dec. Corey Mark, Aberdeen, 4-2. 122 - Josh Pena, West Seattle, dec. Jesus Baldovinos, Lynden, 8-6. 129 - Joe Royal, West Valley (Yakima), dec. Dennis Maxon, Tahoma, 9-5. 135 - Scott Robertson, Selah, dec. Jesse Candanoza, Prosser, 7-5. 141 - Shawn Day, Chehalis, dec. Ruben Saldivar, Toppenish, 9-2. 148 - Ray Vodegel, Lake Stevens, pinned Miguel Cardenas, Toppenish, 4:02. 158 - Ryan Aney, Monroe, dec. Matt Query, Fife, 5-2. 168 - Chris Hahto, White River, dec. Carlos Gonzalez, Othello, 14-8. 178 - Mike Fields, White River, dec. Satori Snow, Gig Harbor, 11-4. 190 - Tony Hoiby, Stanwood, dec. Webster Bergford, Olympia, 9-6. Hvy - Steve Boon, Mount Vernon, won by injury default over Sid Sweowat, Toppenish.