by Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORESSPONDENT

Chief Sealth got two wrestlers on their way to Bellingham next weekend for the 3A girls regional tournament after having both junior, Makayla Dorn, and, freshman, LaShayla Early qualify in the subregional tournament hosted by the Seahawks Thursday.

"Got two in," said Maurice Dolberry, the Seahawks coach.

And, two did not qualify for regionals, but, the team's all underclassmen so that's nice to know for Dorn.
"Young group of girls, all back next year," said Dolberry, who coaches the girls' team and the boys' team for the Seahawks, with the boys' hosting regionals next weekend.

Dorn, a junior, made it to regionals last year, and, pretty nearly made it to state, being the second alternate. Dorn lost her first match before winning three matches, and, losing the fifth last season. And, this season, her goal was to get to state. And, it looked like she would not even get past this subregional meet, to her eyes. But, Dorn fought back after a first round loss, like, she did at regionals last year.
First match for Dorn at this qualifier to get into regionals was against a Lakeside Lions' wrestler. And, things were going good for Dorn, at first, she got ahead, 2-0, in the first round, but, then, 'the bottom' fell out of that early-on, good, situation for Dorn.

"Before the start of the second round, I chose to be on the 'bottom,' and, she took me from there," said Dorn.

Her foe took Dorn into pin position, from that bottom position start, where one wrestler starts on bottom, kneeling, on all fours while the other wrestler kneels. The foe got to put her arms around Dorn's mid-section, not touching Dorn, but, next to it, completely ready to grab her and push Dorn to the mat as soon as the referee's whistle blows.

Dorn was trying to jump up from that bottom position as her Lakeside opponent thrust into her, grabbing her. Dorn wanted to use her quickness to get an escape. But, the Lions' wrestler quickly grabbed Dorn and went into an ensuing pin position after that.

That loss for Dorn, in the 110-pound weight class, sent her into a tearful spell, kinda sorta, as, she thought she would not make it on to regionals, with a long ways to go in the loser-out round--three wrestles--to qualify for regionals.

"I thought I was going to get kicked out of the tournament after the first match, but it turned out to be a really good day," said Dorn.

Dorn, in her second match, in the loser-out side of the bracket, took on a Garfield wrestler. And, again, Dorn found herself up 2-0, in the first round, just like she scored early, in her first match, but, then, was pinned. But, not this time for Dorn, she would do the pinning.
"I did a half-nelson and a cradle," said Dorn.

Besides, Dolberry, Andrea Amaya, is coaching the girls, a lot, she was assistant last year but move into a full-time role under Dolberry this season.

"I liked the shindot," said Amaya, standing nearby as Dorn explained her victory over the Garfield wrestler in the match.

And, Dorn, smiling, replied, said, "That is a move our coach (Dolberry) gave us, for when he got in a fight one time and he was right in next to the guy, swinging and missing, didn't touch the guy. The guy just stood there wondering what the guy was doing. And, then, he didn't miss, he grabbed him. It's like throwing a punch, and, then, instead, of punching them, you miss, but, do a move and take them down. They go straight to their back."

And, Dorn did that move against her Garfield foe prior to pinning her later on.
So, then, Dorn went up against a wrestler from her own team, Samra Tino, a freshman.
"It was kind of awkward, I had to wrestle my own teammate," said Dorn.

But, she did, and, won that one, and , she gave compliment to Tino.
"The reason I got to wrestle that last girl was all Samra," said Dorn.

So, then, she was going against a Redmond wrestler to go to state, or, not.

It was a good match, with both wrestlers getting points, and, Dorn led, 6-3, in the second round before getting a pin.
"I go to regionals, now," said Dorn, adding, "If I place top four, I will go to state. I just want to keep improving. That's why I was so upset after losing the first match. I thought, I took a giant step backwards after almost getting to state last year, being an alternate."

So, to explain the half-nelson will be Early, the other qualifier from the Seahawks', with Tino and Kerey Soeun, another freshman, at 120 pounds, both not making it to regionals.

But, Early, went against a Garfield wrestler in her first match and she just kept trying to get her foe who was not letting her get to her easily, which explains this next part.

"She kept doing stalls, I got awarded two stall points (one point, at different times in the match) and then finished off with a pin. I did a half-nelson. I take one arm and put it behind their neck. I got two points for a near-fall and then got the pin."

Dorn explained that she likes her coaches help this season, as, the hard work and endearing caring pays off now with a trip to Bellingham for the big regional meet, where a lot of very good wrestlers will be wanting to go to state too, with state at the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 20-21.

"Andrea gives the girls tips," said Dorn. "And, she used to wrestle here. Sometimes, she's our dueling partner. And, she's really good moral support.'

Amaya did wrestle, as a Seahawk, a couple years ago, she took fifth place at state. So, good help there, and, experienced help there who knows the ropes and such of what it takes to get to state. Amaya just wishes she'd taken on wrestling sooner.

"I started my senior year," said Amaya, smiling, but, frustration in voice. "So mad, I wish I would have started my freshman year like them."
And, Dolberry, he's good help, too, was asked Dorn.

"He's kind of like our coach who gives us tough love," said Dorn. "He shows us techniques, makes sure everyone is in line."