By CARL BLOMGREN

For The Beachcomber

Considered one of the most competitive 1A/2A wrestling tournaments in the state, the annual Rock Wrestling Tournament was held at Vashon High School on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Put on by Mike Mattingly and Dave Chapman, the tournament brought coaches and wrestlers from nine high schools to the Rock to compete — Vashon, Orting, Lakeside/Nine Mile Falls, Quincy, Lake Stevens, Everett, Kentlake, Forks and Mount Baker. Rick Chwaszczewski, the voice of Vashon wrestling, announced the fights.

The champ in every weight class, like Glacier Northwest, took a Vashon rock with them when they departed from the Island.

Vashon High School grapplers, true to the resistance movement, tried their best to keep all the rocks on the Island, but were unable to do so.

However, Coach Anders Blomgren was upbeat about the outcome.

“All the teams in this tournament were very formidable,” he said.

Orting is presently ranked first in the state (1A). Not surprisingly, they placed first in the tournament with 238 points, far ahead of Lakeside, who took second place with 144.5 points. Six Orting wrestlers placed first, earning rocks.

“Wrestling in a tough tournament exposes the flaws in every wrestler’s technique, which, given practice and attention, can be corrected,” Blomgren said. “The goal is to have every wrestler peak in February for the state tournament.”

Vashon placers included Madeleine Wolzcko (sixth), Sam Chapman (second), Graeme Britz (fifth), Rogen Lopez (second), Geran Webb (third) and Tim Jovanovich (fifth).

Next up is a home match on Friday, Jan. 9, versus Point Townsend. Varsity competition begins at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, the Pirates travel to Everett for the Everett Classic, a daylong tournament that starts at 9:30 a.m.

See ya’ Friday at 6 p.m.!

— Carl Blomgren is the father of wrestling coaches Anders and Per-Lars Blomgren, who both wrestled their way to state championships while students at Vashon High School.