Community Sports
6 - Mukilteo Beacon
www.mukilteobeacon.com
February 20, 2019
Kamiak’s Cantini advances to finals at Mat Classic XXXIK
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Junior standout finishes 2nd in 110 division in her third trip to state tourney BY DAVID PAN REPORTER @ YOURBEACON . NET
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iana Cantini appreciated the significance of the moment. Hours and hours of practice led the Kamiak standout to the pinnacle in her junior season – a spot in the girls 110-pound finals at Mat Classic XXXI Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Tacoma Dome. Even though Cantini ended up losing by fall to Rogers’ Salyna Shotwell at the 3-minute, 29-second mark, whatever disappointment she felt was minor compared to the thrill of battling for a state wrestling championship. “I’m extremely grateful for having the opportunity to be in the finals,” Cantini said. “It’s something I realize that not a lot of people have a shot at, so it’s really special to me and I’ll keep it forever.” Coming into her third appearance at state, Cantini was aiming for a top 5 finish after placing seventh at 105 at last year’s tournament. “I’m glad I was able to get second,” she said. Two years ago, Cantini watched as teammate Ally de la Cruz won Kamiak’s first-ever state wrestling title. At last year’s Mat Classic, de la Cruz finished sixth after having to withdraw from the tournament due to an injury. In the finals, Shotwell took a 2-0 lead in the first period and was able to counter any moves by Cantini. “She was very strong,” Cantini said of Shotwell, who finished third in the division at last year’s state meet. “She definitely dominated the match. I wasn’t given a lot of room to score. Usually, I like to get ahead. So when she got points, it definitely was different. I realized that she was definitely worthy of being in the finals and better than all of the other girls I wrestled.” Cantini opened the tournament with a pin of Chief Sealth’s Alisa Chin in 57 seconds. She followed up with a 7-1 decision over Lincoln’s Melissa Mercado and a 5-1 victory over Sedro-Woolley’s Cora Orton in the quarterfinals. Cantini’s best match of the tournament may have been in the semifinals where she won a 7-3 decision over Sunnyside’s Stephanie Blankenship. “She wrestled a great match. She was in perfect position,” Kamiak coach John Baldwin said. “No mistakes were
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s Beacon photos by David Pan t f Kamiak junior Diana Cantini celebrates her 7-3 victory over Sunnyside’s Stephanie Blankenship in the 110-pound semifinals at Mat Classic XXXI Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Tacoma Dome. Cantini went on to place second in the division. i f possibility.
Kamiak’s Diana Cantini battles Rogers’ Salyna Shotwell in the 110 finals at Mat Classic XXXI. made.” In looking over the state bracket
and her opponents, Baldwin said that he thought a top 3 finish was a strong
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Knights eliminated at district tourney BY DAVID PAN REPORTER @ YOURBEACON . NET
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amiak fell behind 15-3 against Inglemoor and was unable to overcome the deficit in a 67-56 defeat in a
loser-out Wes-King 4A District boys basketball tournament game Thursday, Feb. 14, at Bothell High School. Junior Charlie Powers scored a team-high 27 points for the Knights, who finished the see
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KNIGHTS page 7 u
KAMIAK
Athlete of the Week Congratulations to freshman Kylie Tiedemann for her hard work and dedication to the Kamiak cheer team. As a first-year team member, Kylie has progressed quickly, and mastered advanced cheer skills, perfecting her stunting abilities as a talented base. She always has a kind word for her teammates and a smile on her face.
“Second was definitely exceeding p expectations,” he said. Kamiak boys coach Bryan Stelling, d who also has worked with Cantini V since her freshman year, wasn’t surprised by her success. “To move up to second pace, that’s re- c ally a great accomplishment,” he said. e V “She’s really deserving. She works really hard during the season but also o in the offseason. … She’s just very w dedicated in everything she does.” Cantini was selected as a team cap- K i tain for the entire Kamiak wrestling program. This was the first year that t the school had an officially sanctioned t c girls team and Cantini has been a driving force for the Knights. “She’s been leading lot of the drills i s and teaching stuff,” Baldwin said. Cantini credited her family and teame mates for her success this season. r “I had great practice partners and parents willing to drive me and everything,” she said. “I was given a lot of support.”
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Beacon photo by David Pant Kamiak junior Richard Chung takes on Hazen’s Chinda Xayasanh in a 113-pound consolationG p match Saturday, Feb.16, in the Tacoma Dome. Chung won a 12-2 decision.
Marauders, Knights benefit from experience at state tournament
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Kylie Tiedemann
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Cheer Team
BY DAVID PAN REPORTER @ YOURBEACON . NET
T Dr. Lamba, Dr. Paul and Family
he Kamiak and Mariner wrestling teams gained some valuable at Mat Classic XXXI. While Saturday’s 4A state tournament at the Tacoma Dome was likely the final time on the mat for three seniors
(Kamiak’s Guage Holland and Samw Furlong-Benadetti and Mariner’s Ryans Fry), it was just the start for the rest of w the Marauders and Knights. Two Mariner sophomores – Jose Zamora Solorzano (106) and Jasonm Vasilchenko (220) along with junior t see STATE page 7 um