Mat Classic X / Class 3A State Wrestling Meet -- Bundy Keeps Promise, Wins Title -- Moses Lake Easily Claims 14Th State Team Crown

TACOMA - Mike Bundy has never been one to break a promise.

And he made sure he didn't break tradition last night at the Class 3A state wrestling meet at Mat Classic X.

After putting in what the Lake Stevens High School senior wrestler termed a mediocre performance Friday, Bundy guaranteed yesterday's performance to be up to par.

"I won't settle for less," Bundy said, adding that fans would see his best performance of the meet yesterday.

Bundy stayed true to his word, beating Prosser senior Matt Ellis in the 168-pound championship with a 5-2 decision to become the first two-time state champion from Lake Stevens. Bundy, a four-time state competitor with a perfect 41-0 record this season, including 27 pins, won the AA 158-pound title in 1997. He ended his prep career with a 126-15 record.

Bundy led 2-1 after the first period, then made a crucial two-point takedown after a single-leg grab with three seconds remaining in the second.

"He made a mistake and I countered off that," said Bundy, who also placed third at 148 as a sophomore. "I did everything I wanted to do this season."

Bundy, one of only four Western Conference Vikings to win individual state titles, pinned two opponents this weekend and didn't give up a takedown in any of his four matches.

Said Viking Coach Brent Barnes: "He just didn't make any mistakes. He was very solid. He had a great tournament."

Lynnwood senior Brian Wiehle, another WesCo wrestler, was one of three local wrestlers to win, clinching the 158 title after fighting off a last-second takedown. He is the fourth Royal to win a state championship, and finished his senior season with a 30-1 record. Wiehle's only loss was against Bundy at 168 in a dual meet during the regular season.

Mercer Island senior Ben Mahdavi won the heavyweight title with a 6-4 decision.

Bundy also was instrumental in the Viking's third-place finish in front of a two-day total Mat Classic record 36,036 fans.

Top-ranked Moses Lake had clinched the team title before the championship round began, easily winning with 164 1/2 points. It was the Eastern Washington school's 14th team championship. Sophomore Jaime Garza won the 101-pound title to become the 51st individual champion in the program's history.

Third-ranked East Valley (Spokane) finished second with 93 points, followed by No. 2 Lake Stevens (89), Bellingham (67) and Chehalis (66).

Notes

-- Five other KingCo wrestlers placed. Cedarcrest's Eric Pedeferri, who dropped to the consolation round after losing 4-3 to Putter in a semifinal early yesterday, placed fifth. Newport's Kyle Siverts was fifth at 190. David Szczepanik of Mount Si placed seventh at 129, and teammate Ben Veyna was fourth at 108. Issaquah heavyweight Jeremy Parker placed sixth.

-- O'Dea's Josh Martinez placed sixth at 115 and Troy Turner finished sixth at 158. Teammate James Whitescarver, a junior, placed eighth at 148.

-- Other WesCo wrestlers to place included:

Arlington's Michael Wiemann placed sixth at 101. Lake Stevens' Quinn Cooper was seventh at 115, Theo White placed sixth at 122 and teammate Andy Olson was fifth at 178.

Mariner's Joe Val was seventh at 141 and teammate Saul Kiwanuka was third at 178. Lynnwood's Troy Rosevear was seventh at 168. Royal sophomore Michael Christian was third at 215.

Edmonds-Woodway's Jeremy Ball was eighth at 178 and Warrior teammate Joe Gizzi was seventh at 190.