Pirates wrestle at annual Rock Tournament, with renewed girl’s tourney

More than 200 wrestlers competed over two days.

By Alex Bruell • January 3, 2024 2:00 pm

Vashon wrestlers took high placements at the annual Rock Tournament last week — and it was the first Rock in two decades to include a day for girl wrestlers, too.

Between 200 and 300 athletes competed at the hot, sweaty Vashon High School gym over Thursday and Friday, representing schools from across Washington State.

Girls have wrestled at the Rock for many years, and even this year, two girls competed in the boys tournament, said assistant coach Stephen Murphy. But for the first time since the 2002 Rock, the tournament this year also included a dedicated day of competition for girl wrestlers on Thursday.

“According to folklore, (the 2002 Rock) was the first girls’ wrestling tournament in the state of Washington,” Murphy said. “So we’re excited to be doing that again here, 21 years later. … I’m really enamored by the opportunities that are available, and … what it teaches people about themselves to go out on the mat and compete.”

The Vashon High School wrestling team currently has about 30 boys and 8 girls.

The girls’ tournament, held Thursday, was attended by seven teams, Murphy said. Three Vashon wrestlers — Alex Keyes, Sydney Shannon, and Amelia Medeiros — took home the coveted gold rock award for first place. (Winning teams take home painted rocks instead of trophies.)

The boys’ tournament the following Friday featured 16 teams in total, from as far east as Newport and Lakeside.

From Vashon, notable placements by weight class included:

• At 106, freshman Sylvia Stamat placed 6th.

• At 120, sophomore Taevin Gilbert placed 5th.

• At 144, senior Colin McIntyre placed 1st and senior Michael Ryland placed 4th.

• At 165, senior Chase Bradrick placed 1st.

• At 285, senior Sawyer Ranney placed 6th.

The Rock wrestling tournament started in the 1987-88 wrestling season. The event is hosted by, and fundraises for the Vashon Wrestling Community. Alumni regularly return to help manage the tournament, Murphy said, and the tournament is only the culmination of a year-long effort. Dozens of alumni and family supported the event this year, he said.

“The event(s) take a lot of work by a lot of people,” Murphy said in an email. “But we, as wrestlers, don’t shy away from hard work, and doing it together makes tighter bonds and lasting friendships and family.”