Bremerton's Michaelson leads West Sound foursome of Mat Classic wrestling champions

During the first three seasons of Lars Michaelson's high school wrestling career at Bremerton, he shared the spotlight with older brother Thor, a two-time state champion for the Knights now competing at Stanford University.

Saturday night at Mat Classic XXXV, there was only one Michaelson to celebrate. For this Knight, it was his night.

Lars Michaelson became the first wrestler from West Sound to conclude his career with three individual state titles when he dominated Washington's Joel Garcia in the 190-pound division in Class 2A. Had the COVID-19 pandemic not cancelled Mat Classic in 2021, it's likely Michaelson would have joined North Kitsap's Jake Velarde and Kingston's Bobby Reece III as four-timers from West Sound.

Asked if he felt like he was the best wrestler competing at the Dome this week, Michaelson didn't want to come off sounding cocky, but admitted: "I'd like to say so."

How dominant has Michaelson been during his four years? He went 122-4 overall and 43-2 this season, dropping a pair of matches at a prestigious tournament in California over the holiday break. He never lost to an in-state opponent during the regular season or postseason, going 12-for-12 at Mat Classic.

There's more: he never allowed a takedown in any match against a wrestler from Washington during his career.

Against Garcia, Michaelson scored 12 takedowns through the first two periods to lead 24-10, with all of Garcia's points coming on escapes that Michaelson allowed without hesitation in order to set up his next attack. Michaelson ended the match by earning an escape after choosing the down position to start the third period.

Heading to Stanford to join Thor after graduation in June, Lars finished his career with the Knights with a 122-4 record, including a 43-2 mark this season. He thanked his mother Beth and father Ty, who is Bremerton's head coach, for all their support as an up-and-coming wrestler.

"I'm pretty much set for life now, thanks to my parents pushing me," Michaelson said. "Now I get to go to one of the best colleges, get a great education."

South Kitsap's Hartford adds second title

As a former Mat Classic champion, South Kitsap senior Stone Hartford felt pressure this winter, chalking it up to the price of success.

"I had a looming fear of winning it once my sophomore year," Hartford said, "and never being able to do it again."

Instead of crumbling under the weight of expectation, Hartford joined elite company Saturday night by edging Chiawana's Jordan Tobias, 4-2, in the 144-pound final in 4A. He joined Brent Chriswell and Mitchell Neiner as the only South Kitsap wrestlers to win two titles at state. There are 15 others Wolves who were crowned champions once.

"Growing up, you see everybody's name on the wall one time," said Hartford, who placed third as a junior. "Three-timer was the goal. I had that opportunity taken from me, so be it. Be the next best thing you can be, win it two times."

Hartford, who capped off his win over Tobias with a running backflip, finished his senior season with a record of 42-1. Unsure if he'll continue wrestling in college, Hartford definitely wants to stay involved with the sport and could easily see himself staying in Port Orchard and helping train the next generation of Wolves.

He's already got his coaching quotes down: "You can take the dog out of the fight, but you can't take the hair off its back."

South Kitsap had two other placers on Saturday as freshman Dylan Sternod grabbed third at 103 pounds after reaching the semifinals, while sophomore Brennen Williams finished fourth at 120 pounds.

Pinning machines Hudson, Evans become champs

Olympic junior Kevin Hudson wasn't the biggest heavyweight in the 2A tournament, but that didn't prevent him from pinning four opponents on his way to Saturday's 285-pound title. He flattened Othello's Mason Perez in the third period after building a sizeable 6-3 lead through the first four minutes.

Despite giving up a good 20 pounds to Perez, the 260-pound Hudson was motivated to get physical with his opponent.

"He gave me a dirty look at the beginning of the match," said Hudson, who put Perez onto his back out of bounds early with a bull-rush move that didn't score any points because Perez landed out of bounds, but it set the tone for the encounter. "I promised my friends, family, teammates that I'd make this match entertaining."

After embracing Olympic head coach Tim Aiken and his assistants after the victory, Hudson sprinted up to the second level of the Tacoma Dome to hug his parents.

"They've supported me," said Hudson, who placed seventh as a sophomore.

The Trojans had two other medalists in 215-pound senior Alexander Bullman (fifth) and 285-pound junior DeQuan Freeland (seventh).

In the girls 1B/2B/1A/2B tournament, North Mason junior Sadie Evans became the first female from her school to win a title when she pinned Napavine's Maya Kunkel in the second period in the 155-pound final.

After finishing third as a sophomore, Evans now has a chance next winter to become only the second two-time state champion from West Sound on the girls' side.

"Returning state champ. They'll be pretty cool," Evans said.

Like Hudson, Evans earned all four victories at Mat Classic by pin. Kunkel had Evans in a cowcatcher move, but Evans reversed it near the edge of the circle and put Kunkel to her back for good.

"It's cool that the first year we have a girls team, we have a state champ," said North Mason girls head coach Erin Evans said of her daughter. "I'll take that."

Other state placers

Central Kitsap junior Deijah Diego had an eventful Saturday in the girls 4A/3A tournament after reaching the semifinals. She lost to Chief Sealth's Sophia Andreini 6-5 in the round of four, then found herself trailing Auburn Riverside's Gillian O'Neal 6-2 in a consolation round match that featured a 10-minute stoppage for a protest. Once the match resumed, Diego caught O'Neal for a two-point takedown and earned three nearfall points right before the final whistle to prevail 8-6. Diego eventually placed fourth, one spot ahead of South Kitsap senior Rosemary Brooks.

North Kitsap grabbed four top-eight finishes in the 2A boys tournament: junior Dayton Heymann was sixth at 138 pounds, junior Jaxon Johnson was sixth at 144 pounds, senior Ben Gomez was third at 175 pounds and junior Zakaria Hammou was third at 215 pounds.

Bainbridge's boys scored a pair of top-eight finishes in the 3A tournament as 175-pound junior Garrett Goade placed seventh and 157-pound senior Wyatt Chabot took seventh. Spartans junior Sage Swalley added an eighth-place in the girls 4A/3A tournament at 170 pounds.

Central Kitsap senior Carter Chadwick placed seventh in the 3A boys tournament at 138 pounds. In 1A boys, Klahowya sophomore Carson Wintch took sixth at 120 pounds and sophomore Sean Price took sixth at 150 pounds.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Bremerton's Michaelson leads foursome of Mat Classic wrestling champs