by Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

For Chief Sealth's 195-pound wrestler, junior, Daron Camacho, state had a metal ring to it, earning the fifth place award to put around his neck--a shiny, weighty, bronze-colored, medal--at the 3A Washington State Mat Classic Championships at the Tacoma Dome.

And, teammate, junior, Antonio Chiles, at 182, he was a state participant, but, losing his first two matches, but, being there, nonetheless, too, which, only the top 16 from each of the 14 weight classes get to do. And, also, Makayla Dorn, for the girls side of things, she made it to state in the 110 weight class, lost first two, too, so, she did not place top eight, getting no medal either.

For Chiles participation at state, the Seahawks coach, Maurice Dolberry said, "He's a first-year wrestler, and, to make it to the state tournament is awesome."

Also, Ryan Davis was an alternate for the Seahawks at state, but, didn't get to wrestle because no wrestlers were unable to wrestle because of injury or sickness, or, something that would have allowed Davis to step onto the mat in the given absent party's place.

Camacho started off the wrestles at state well enough, getting a technical fall, otherwise known as a pin, on his foe from Enumclaw, that flattening of his foe coming at the 3:12 point of the match, in round two.
Then, against the eventual state champ from Mercer Island, Evan Condon, it was Camacho getting fallen, at the 1:57 mark of the first round, so, only three seconds left to get into the second round.

"I just hit a wall," said Camacho. "I am confident about next year. It was a good experience wrestling the state champ. He rode me on top, something we didn't work on throughout the season. Something I need to work on. He rode me over with a power-half."

So, this was a good experience for Camacho, and, one that's been in the family before, just the family member, an older brother, didn't get as far as Camacho got.

"My older brother was a state participant, Daven, at 215," said Camacho. "I was the first one to place at state."

Camacho is also a good football player, having played running back and rushed for 1600 yards this past season for the Seahawks in being named All Metro League.

So, after the loss to Condon, in the second round, quarterfinal, Camacho moved to the consolation bracket and beat Colton Ferro of Arlington by pin, at 2:33 of round two. Then, Camacho beat Junior Villaro of North Central, a Spokane school, by an 18-7 score. Then, Camacho had a tough one next that, if he had won, he would have wrestled for third-fourth place.

His coach, Maurice Dolberry, explained that the way Camacho lost the match, by a 12-8 score, was fine with him because Camacho was doing things aggressively and not holding back.

"He was behind, 7-4, when he did the throw, and, he gave up five points," said Dolberry. "The throw is called a 'lateral drop,' and, the kid countered or a two-point take-down and a three-point near-fall."

So, that got the foe of Camacho's to 12 points. And, then Camacho came back at the tail end of the third round, getting a reveral for two points and a near fall for two points but that was only four points, and, so Camacho lost by the 4-point difference.

"I like the fact he's attempting to throw people, not cringing away from doing big moves," said Dolberry. "Some people shrink from doing that. Daron gave up five points on attempting that one move. If we wrestle that match 10 times, we win nine. I absolutely don't mind him trying that move (lateral drop) at all."
It's a devastating move, the lateral drop, as, Dolberry explained it.

"It's a throw, where you take your opponent from feet to back," said Dolberry. "A wrestler hooks one arm over and one arm under an opponent and then arches back and throws opponent over his shoulder. He's done it already a few times in tournaments this past season."
Sounds devastating, throwing your foe like that.

"It's a high risk, high reward move," said Dolberry.

And, this time, for Camacho, the risk overtook the reward.

But, Dolberry is confident that Camacho is only going to be better next year at that move, and, in this sport.
"He is going to come back next year, since he's only a junior, and, win the whole thing," said Dolberry.
Camacho had a great record this season, having an, overall, 30 wins, six losses mark, with two losses in the Metro, and, four in tournaments the Seahawks participated.

"We're ready for next year," said Camacho. "We're hungry."
Dorn had a hard time in her two wrestles, as, Dolberry explained her time at state.
"The first girl she wrestled put her in a chin whip," he said.

Sounds vicious.

"It is, especially when you not been in it before," said Dolberrry, referring to Dorn not seeing a move quite like that all season. "You whip them to on their back, holding their chin, stepping over them, squeezing their head."
That was a pin against Dorn in her opening wrestle at state, needless to say, , at 3:36 of round two. Then, in her next match, Dorn saw another move that was she was not familiar.
"Girl she wrestled against was just more physical," said Dolberry. "Makayla did things correctly, both matches, just saw things she's not seen before."

What was the move in the second match that got Dorn?

"A stack," said Dolberry. "Your head is pulled between your own legs and they make you do a somersault."
Sounds like a very bad position to be in, definitely, a Twister game position that would stymie that best of flexible folk.

So, how does one prevent 'the stack' is a good question.

"You have to sit down on your butt to get pressure of the shoulder, and, then, you have to look up. You have to use your momentum to reach up to break their grip."

So, that's good to hear for Dorn, because she's a junior, she can learn from this experience, and, be ready for next year to go father than this year.

And, sounds like Dorn, will be ready just fine next season to shoot for the top.
"She's a sponge, she listens to everything you tell her, she works really hard," said Dolberry of Dorn. "One of the best compliments she's received is, 'She doesn't wrestle like a girl.'"
Dolberry likes these kids who wrestle for him, they are like Merril Lynch used to say in its commericial's for its commercial insurance/brokerage business, 'A Breed Apart.'
That's what Dolberry likes those who take on wrestling under him, as, he, just finished up his 17th season of coaching the sport.

"There are kids who just walk to class and go home," said Dolberry. "And, there are wrestlers. Wrestlers work hard, have a mentality, able to handle adversity."
And, that would be for the boys, what about the girls?
"We don't make that distinction," said Dolberry. "A lot of schools have a different program, philosophy, for their girls wrestling. In our gym, we don't do that. You get trained like a wrestler."
So, a young team, not just at state, where Dorn, Chiles, Camacho, were all juniors, but, more than that, too.
"We're a young team," said Camacho. "I feel confident, definitely, for next year."