Both have had longstanding state-tournament success - the Cardinals in Class 2A, and Toppenish in Class 1A (and 2A before that). Both came into Mat Classic XXXVI with big-match champions - ones who came into the weekend on four-peat quests.

Gonzaga Prep's Israel Acosta celebrates after winning his 4A boys 144-pound title match at Mat Classic 36 on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. (Madison McCord/For The Spokesman-Review)

The match referee lifts up the arm of Orting’s Madison Watts after she defeated Aberdeen’s Felicia Bell to win the Class 2A, 125-pound state title on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Mat Classic XXXVI at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash. Pete Caster/Pete Caster / [email protected]

To meet the fast-growing demand of girls wrestling, the WIAA has added two more additional classification brackets this weekend for Mat Classic XXXVI, bringing the total number of girls tournaments to four (4A,

Anderson: “It was meant to be, you know? I could not see Toppenish beating us. ... It just doesn’t go through my mind, taking second.”

Seventeen Valley wrestlers won individual championships in Tacoma and three teams brought home team titles in an onslaught of accolades at Mat Classic XXXVI in the Tacoma Dome.

Although Whatcom and Skagit counties did not have a state champion this year, the two combined for 27 athletes reaching the podium, including six wrestlers advancing to their respective championship matches.