By RIK FORSCHMIEDT
For The Beachcomber
Sylvie Shiosaki didn’t remember her final match on Saturday, but she did know she had just won her second consecutive championship at Mat Classic XXI, the state wrestling tournament. Last year she won the 112-pound bracket.
Midway through her final wrestling match, leading Shelton senior Sarah Brownstein 2-1, the Pirate senior took a bump to the head that left her swaying as she tried to take her position in the center of the mat. After an examination and wiping blood from her mouth, the tournament medical team finally allowed Shiosaki to return to the competition, and she promptly scored two points on the way to a convincing 9-2 decision.
Asked if the match was the hardest of her distinguished career, Shiosaki said she couldn’t remember much about the whole tournament.
As to how she felt as a two-time champion, Shiosaki replied, “I haven’t realized it yet. I’m really confused right now.”
She wasn’t confused when the referee blew the final whistle, however. Shiosaki jumped up and raised her arms in triumph as she faced the cheering Pirate fans who had been watching for two days from the second deck of the Tacoma Dome.
Shiosaki rarely went the full six minutes in her career and was never beaten by a girl. She pinned Emily Dyer of Sedro Woolley, Kelsea Williams of Hoquiam and Elle Mustion of Kelso, to reach the championship final.
Her championship and sophomore Madeline Wolczko’s sixth place at 103 pounds gave the Pirate girls a tie for 12th in the team standings.
Wolczko won two 12-0 major decisions on Friday to make it to the championship semifinals before losing three on Saturday and having to settle for sixth. While Wolczko was not happy with her Saturday performance, coach BJ Nelson thought she did great.
“She wrestled her heart out,” he said. “The three girls she lost to were all top three at state last year.”
Freshman Iris Spring, 125 pounds, was eliminated the first day but gained valuable mat time against top competition.
“I thought the girls performed well,” said Nelson. “We won and lost close ones.”
