MARYSVILLE Facing the states top wrestling program can be a daunting challenge, but M-P wrestling coach Craig Iversen looks at it as an opportunity.
One of the benefits of getting them is theyre one of the premier teams in the state. Its good for all Wesco schools, Iversen said after taking on Lake Stevens at home Dec. 20 where they ultimately lost 62-18.
And while the Vikings proved as tough as reputed, the Tomahawk wrestlers got a chance to measure their mettle and a few came out on top.
One such wrestler was senior Michael Pfeiff. Pfeiff took on Lake Stevens junior Zach Teuber in the heavyweight class, and while they circled each other to a 0-0 tie in the first round, Pfeiff had Teuber pinned to the mat less than two minutes later, giving the Tomahawks a morale boost.
Pfeiff said Lake Stevens reputation wasnt a big factor when he faced Teuber.
My thought was we have heart, so just go out and wrestle as hard as I can, he said, adding that the team worked extremely hard in practice to prepare for the league rivalry. It was the most focused weve ever been.
Pfeiffs athleticism played a factor in his win, tiring down his opponent.
Iversen credited Pfeiff with a great match.
That was one of the best matches he ever had, Iversen said, adding of Teuber, Just getting that win, hes one of the better heavyweights in the state.
Other wins for the Tomahawks included Tannon Hillis at 215 pounds, who pinned Lake Stevens Blake Lehuquet in 3:35 for the first Tomahawk victory of the night. At 103 pounds, freshman Demitri Robinson continued an impressive debut season pinning Viking sophomore JoeMae Alewine just 35 seconds into the match.
The other 11 matches went to Lake Stevens, nine of the victories by a pin.
At 160 pounds, Jake Carlton lost by decision 5-2, while sophomore Jake Lervold went by technical fall to Lake Stevens Shawn Pennington.
These guys are ranked No. 1 in the state, won state last year and return seven state wrestlers from last year, Iversen said, adding that he was happy with his young team. We had nice intensity.

At M-P H.S.

140 Anderson (LS) pinned McChesney, 3:38; 145 Eacrett (LS) pinned Madonia, 3:19; 152 King (LS) pinned Johnson, 3:08; 160 Welch (LS) dec. over Carlton, 5-2; 171 Mahn (LS) pinned Cushing, :53; 189 Grow (LS) won by forfeit; 215 Hillis (M-P) pinned Lehuquet. 3:35; 285 Pfeiff (M-P) pinned Teuber, 3:44; 103 Robinson (M-P) pinned J. Alewine, :35; 112 Zweifel (LS) pinned Donaldson, 1:33; 119 Stilwell (LS) pinned Dinh, 1:06; 125 Villani (LS) pinned Burns, 4:22; 130 B. Alewine (LS) pinned Shumaker; 135 Pennington (LS) tech. fall over Lervold, 16-0.