Deer Park wins 1A state wrestling

TACOMA – How’s this for drama? Trevor Eicher of Deer Park did it again.

It was the perfect encore to his senior season. Just like two years ago when he was the last Stag to wrestle and they needed his win for a state championship, the scenario repeated itself Saturday at Mat Classic XXVIII in the Tacoma Dome.

Eicher needed just 1 minute, 20 seconds before pinning Connell’s Noel Orozco in the final at 220 pounds, catapulting Deer Park over Colville for the State 1A title.

Much of the heavy lifting, though, came by teammates who had 10 pins in the consolation matches. That allowed Deer Park to dig out of a big deficit and overtake the Indians.

Eicher became just Deer Park’s second three-time state champ, joining Phil McLean in an exclusive club.

“It’s cool for that kid,” Deer Park coach Matt Jorgensen said. “To win your team two state titles in your career ….”

Eicher’s celebration was businesslike. He acknowledged a large Deer Park contingent in the bleachers but did none of the silly chest pumping or other gyrations that have become all too common.

“It was pretty important to me,” Eicher said of finishing as a three-time champ. “I wanted four but my elbow (injury) my (freshman) year stopped me.”

Eicher, 36-1, put it away early unlike the stress he gave his coach two years ago.

“I had to put it away,” he said. “I saw the cross face and I capitalized on it.”

Jorgensen was glad Eicher took care of business.

“We were trying to play it safe,” said Jorgensen, whose teams have won seven state titles in 12 years. “I know he wanted to do it big, but he’s a team wrestler. He said whatever you want coach.”

Eicher was Deer Park’s lone champion.

Colville had three of four finalists capture state titles. Freshman Trevor Morrison won by pin at 106 and another freshman, Trent Baun, won 1-0 at 113.

Ryley Smith dominated at 170, winning 11-0 by major decision.

“They had 10 pins in the back door and that just sealed it,” Colville coach Randy Cloke said of Deer Park’s charge. “Hats off to Deer Park. We’ll be back. Three state champs, not a bad evening.”

Dalton Young (132) and Garrett Brown (160) of Lakeside defended state titles. For Young, it was his third in a career that now has 124 wins against no losses.

Young was on his opponent like sticky on braces, winning by pin in 3:46.

“I’ll savor this one,” said Young, whose four victories at state were all by pin. “I want to finish undefeated.”

Lakeside coach Brad Perry applauded Young.

“He’s got it figured out,” Perry said. “He knows every position and is dominant. No weaknesses right now. We’ll keep trying to find them because he’s still trying to get better and get to that next level, college and hopefully the Olympic level some day.”

Brown won easily with a 9-0 major decision.

Sebastian Hyta of Freeman, a state runner-up a year ago, finished his career as a state champ with a 10-5 win at 195.

Immediately after the referee raised his hand, Hyta leaped into the arms of coach Chad Ripke, who was engulfed by the much bigger Hyta.

“This means so much because he had a lot of self doubt,” Ripke said. “The coaches always believed in him. He’s the hardest worker in the room. He’s a kid who does things the right way.”

TJ Baun of Colville was a runner-up at 120.

The Northeast A was well represented as 22 others placed.