Travis was a Bull, more than in name. He continued a nice top eight or better place run in his last three years of high school wrestling at state for the Kennedy Lancers, including this year's Bull run that pitted him in the consolation final for third-fourth place. He won the match, giving him the highest placement of any wrestler from all our area schools at the Tacoma Dome's Mat Classic XIX held Feb. 16 and Feb. 17

Wrestlers from Tyee, Mount Rainier and Kennedy, made it to the second day of state.

"I've always been right there," said Travis Bull, who wrestled in the 135 pound weight class for the Lancers.

Others that were a little farther down in placement included teammate, Marc Avery-Airhart, who lost his first wrestle and came back to win all but his consolation final for seventh-eighth place at 215. Patrick Fleming of Mount Rainier, at 152, made it to the consolation final but lost, and, lastly, at 112, Jesus Torres of Tyee, took fifth, winning by pin.

But Bull was the big winner, as they say on the "Price is Right."

"He's a good wrestler," said Bull, speaking of his consolation final foe, Tyler Hove (Peninsula), that Bull beat, 11-4.

State is tough, and Bull took second last year, eighth the year before that, and third this year, and he knows that getting to the placement wrestles-top eight is as easy as stopping a bull from charging.

Bull beat Hove, but it was closer than the final score.

"It's a shame that one of us had to go out with a loss," said Bull.

Bull led 1-0 after the first round, then 4-2 after the second, before putting together a nice set of moves in the final two minutes for a big run-up of points for a takedown, two near-falls and escape - in the third round to explain his major decision win over Hove.

Bull spoke, too, when prodded, of his semifinal match, a so-close 3-2 loss, to Mitchell Amidon of Auburn-Riverside.

"The guy had a good technique," said Bull. "Our techniques differed so much. I like to force the action, and run up the score. He was content to sit back and make others make mistakes. I don't want to take anything away from him. But it's always tough, especially with finals when you have already tasted it."

Bull referred to making the finals last year and placing second.

"Wrestling has been so good to me, I wanted to end on a good note," said Bull, seconds after first hugging his coaches, Craig Daley and Nick Koelker. Sweat dripping from his body, Bull smiled and said what a champion would say, perhaps.

"You know what, I wanted to be in the finals (first-second place), but you can only do so much."