On paper, this wrestling season was to have the greatest compilation of high school wrestling talent Vashon High School had ever produced. Hopes were high, and the excitement was infectious.
The team knew it was going to be great; the coaches knew it, and the parents and die-hard Vashon wrestling community knew it. There are a dozen legitimate, state medal-contending grapplers on the roster, and all sights were set on a first-ever team state title.
As of today, the initial roster of 27 has been trimmed to 22 through attrition, and of those remaining, four are freshmen, and three more are first-time wrestlers, leaving just 15 with high school experience.
As soon as this season began, grapplers started dropping like flies. Every week, unexpected injuries would pop up, taking as many as eight or nine athletes out at a time.
Dislocated joints, cracked and broken bones, concussions, strained muscles and pulled ligaments turned Vashon’s dream team into an orthopedist’s dream team.
But this is a scrappy group. They are tight-knit and have a true and abiding respect and love for each other. It really is a band of brothers forged through sweat and shared misery. This little team has dug in and fought back — resiliency has become their motto and they are living it. As they enter the run for the post season, all but three wrestlers are back on the mat, enjoying the infamously grueling practices.
These young men are learning valuable life lessons about facing adversity, handling disappointments, adapting expectations and realizing that sometimes a victory isn’t always a win. The group has not spent its time wringing hands and lamenting lost time, but has worked hard.
Coach Anders Blomgren is pleased with the team’s work ethic.
“I’m not going to lie, this season has been a new test for us. But we really have gone back to our core philosophy: work hard and have fun together as a team,” Blomgren said. “We have had to let go of immediate expectations and focus on the process. Chop wood and carry water. And, like our pops always said, ‘If it comes too easy, it ain’t worth a damn.'”
Blomgrens’ brother and fellow coach, PerLars Blomgren, added that the team is ready for the post season.
“While the season hasn’t exactly gone as planned, we are still primed for an epic post-season run. The guys are like caged, rabid dogs eager for their prey: state tournament medals and trophies.”
Even with the unexpected events of the season, Washington Wrestling Report ranks Vashon fourth in the 1A state classification. Numerous Pirates have earned individual rankings in the report, including seniors Logan Nelson and Chase Wickman, who are both ranked number one in their weight classes.
On Saturday, the Pirates will host a sub-regional wrestling tournament, the first step on the road to the state tournament. Wrestling will begin in the high school gym at 9 a.m. The top four wrestlers in each weight class will move on to the regional tournament in Silverdale on Feb. 13.
— Cheryl Pruett is the mother of two VHS wrestlers
