Inglemoor Viking grapplers have their sights set high

The Inglemoor High wrestling team, a perennial 4A Kingco power, is usually well-represented at the Tacoma Dome’s Mat Classic, the state wrestling tournament. The 2011-12 season looks to be no exception, as the Viks have a number of talented and hungry varsity returners itching to get on the state medal podium. “I’ve been really impressed,” said Paul Schulfer, who took over the team this year after longtime coach Kevin Corbett retired from coaching high school wrestling. “It’s a good group. They’re picking up things easily and working really hard.”

The Inglemoor High wrestling team, a perennial 4A Kingco power, is usually well-represented at the Tacoma Dome’s Mat Classic, the state wrestling tournament.

The 2011-12 season looks to be no exception, as the Viks have a number of talented and hungry varsity returners itching to get on the state medal podium.

“I’ve been really impressed,” said Paul Schulfer, who took over the team this year after longtime coach Kevin Corbett retired from coaching high school wrestling. “It’s a good group. They’re picking up things easily and working really hard.”

Schulfer said that his crew this year is “polarized,” with a core group of experienced juniors and seniors as well as a strong sophomore class that will solidify the program’s future.

Leading the way for the senior returners is Ben Carson, wrestling at 220, who was a state participant last season, and fellow upperclassmen and co-captains Sam Gastineau (170) and Ian Bedo (145) who look very solid at the midway point of the season.

Juniors Josh Koukal (195) and heavyweight Andrew Stocker came close to state berths last year and look to make a deeper run at Districts next month.

“They’re doing really well, and they’re kind of our key guys,” said Schulfer on the juniors. “And we’ve got some small sophomores that are exciting to watch.”

Filling the lower weight classes will be James Epps, wresting at 106, and Mitchell Barker at 120, helping the Vikings fill those slots that other teams will have to forfeit.

In fact, the only weight class that Inglemoor currently forfeits is 113.

“We have strong competitors in our varsity lineup,” Bedo said. “I’m positive we can take the district championship.”

While the 4A Kingco league isn’t typically known for its wrestling talent when compared to the rest of the state, Schulfer takes pride in creating a tough tournament schedule for his kids, which includes stops at Mariner, Monroe, Snohomish and Marysville, so they are better prepared for the postseason.

And considering that Kingco is matched up against the stacked South Puget Sound League (SPSL) at the regional championships, they’ll have to be.

“We try to schedule tournaments against good, tough teams so we can see some of the people we might see in regionals or at state,” Schulfer explained. “It’s good to get exposure to better (wrestlers), and also get an idea of what some of the other schools are doing.”

As far as a number the Vikings wish to advance to Tacoma, Schulfer said that his five or six returners that made deep postseason runs last year have a great shot.

“The upper weights have really good chances, Gastineau, Bedo, Koukal, Carson, and Stocker,” listed the second-year head coach. “Those are the guys we expect to get to state and hopefully even place. As long as we can keep everyone healthy, we should do pretty well.”

And the wrestlers themselves, particularly the seniors, know that this year will be their final chance to shine under the bright lights of the Dome.

“We just gotta stay mentally tough, make sure we’re strong for the postseason weeks, and give it our all,” Bedo said. “For our seniors, it’s the last time wrestling.”

Viking sophomore Mitchell Barker takes down his opponent in a dual meet against Redmond. Photo by Matt Campbell, www.sportspixs.com