Wrestlers win league title with decisive tournament victory

Coaches sweep league’s Coach of the Year honors

Vashon High School wrestlers took the league title last Saturday, with a crushing 40-point tournament win over rival Klahowya.

Coach Anders Blomgren credited the smackdown to bonus points from pins and technical pins, as well as some come-from-behind victories.

The team also saw a VHS record 17 of its members qualify for Regionals — taking place this weekend in Bellingham.

Top tournament placers earning a trip north were Ethan McIntyre, Lewis Kanagy, Nico Nuxoll, Ryan Nelson, Jordon Rutschow and Richard Rivas in first; Jake Carman, Payton Bonaventura, Jake Bowden, Isaac Escovedo and James Ryland in second; Max Bringhurst, Nikhila Berntson, Yury Coucoules and Finn McClure in third; George Murphy and Alec Macomber-Straight in fourth. Levi Blasingim scored the alternate spot at Regionals with his fifth-place finish.

On top of his win, Kanagy was also nominated for Seattle Times’ State Athlete of the Week.

Blomgren, who along with brother Per Lars (assistant coach) and Corey McIntyre (middle school coach) was named league Coach of the Year, said that he expects to see some intense and hard-fought matches this weekend.

“We had a great section of fans [at the league tournament],” he added, “and hope to have the same the next two weekends, for Regionals and State.”