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Joe Beam Invitational

1/13/07

Squalicum senior Jesse Winchester buried his face in his warm-up jacket, coughing and sniffling after winning the 171-pound weight class at the annual Joe Beam Invitational.

Like the rest of his Storm teammates, there was nothing, not even a nasty cold, that was going to stop him from claiming a title at the prestigious wrestling tournament.

“Our goal for our team was to score more than 300 points and win this tournament,” Winchester said. “We had that many points by the start of the consolation finals. I think everybody is feeling really good about things right now.”

Squalicum claimed three individual champions and placed 17 wrestlers in the top four on its way to 343 points and the team title. Brad Barron and Levi Johnson joined Winchester as top medalists.

It’s the first time the Storm have won the Joe Beam team title, coach Mark Parrish said.

Mount Baker finished second with 271.5 points, and Blaine was third at 235.5.

“The thing about this tournament is that it’s really all about team,” Parrish said. “This is a team title. That’s what makes this so good. Every week we’re making progress. Every week our kids just want to improve.”

While Squalicum was running away with the team honors, several individual wrestlers were making things look easy in their own weight classes.

Mount Baker’s Colton Steagall claimed his fourth Joe Beam title in as many years, taking the 130-pound title. Teammate Buck Contreras won for the second straight season, outlasting Squalicum’s Erik Tuttle 11-5.

In all, six Mountaineer wrestlers took home top honors, including four straight champions from 119 pounds to 135 pounds.

Blaine also crowned three wrestlers, with two wins coming by default. Borderite sophomore Jacob Humphrey wrestled just one match at 112 pounds that wasn’t an exhibition, a 24 second pin in the semifinals, to claim his title.

Contreras was awarded outstanding wrestler honors in the 103 to 140 pound class. Sehome’s Steven Ayers took the award for the 145 to 285 pound category.

“It’s a good one to win,” Contreras said. “This is my second time, but it’s still a big deal.”

Ayers and Mount Baker’s Evan Smit probably had the match of the night at 285 pounds. The two heavyweights, who are favorites to win a Class 2A state title this season, wrestled to a 5-5 tie in regulation, before Ayers got a takedown in the first 20 seconds of overtime to win the match 7-5.

Smit nearly pinned Ayers in the first round with a head-andarm takedown, then scored an escape point with 14 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Ayers is now 16-0 on the season and Smit 17-2.

Despite quality competition the tournament lacked some of the gleam that it has had in the past. Ferndale and Lynden decided not to come because of the weather conditions, and defending champion Bellingham elected to take part in a different tournament.

“Even though snow kept some of the schools from coming it was still a great accomplishment for us,” Parrish said.

If there was any doubt that it truly was a team title for the Storm, look no further than their number of entrants. Squalicum, which has one of the bigger programs in Whatcom County, put 38 wrestlers in the tournaments.

Parrish said everybody, including the assistant coaches, played a big role in bringing the trophy to Squalicum.

“I’ve been talking to the kids all season about this tournament,” Parrish said. “I’ve been preaching team since the start. The rewards come to the team that sticks together and wrestles the best.”