Dome-ward bound: FH's Willy Dunn claims fourth straight Mat Classic appearance | Wrestling

Friday Harbor heavyweight Willy Dunn is headed through the front door this time around.

Dunn, a senior, wasted little time in claiming the heavyweight crown at the 1A regional tournament, hosted Saturday by Bellevue Christian, and clinched a fourth consecutive appearance at the state's premier post-season wrestling tournament, the Mat Classic.

He faced two opponents and pinned them both in the first round.

"I barely snuck in last year," said Dunn, who secured a bid to the Classic a year ago with a sweep of the consolation bracket and a third-place finish at regionals. “I really had to claw my way in.”

With those back-to-back victories, Dunn added another achievement to distinguished prep career.

And he barely broke a sweat.

He captured his first-ever regional title, adding a first-place medal to go along with those he earned at three previous regional tournaments, a second, third and a fourth place.

While Dunn is the only one of eight Friday Harbor wrestlers to secure a slot in the Mat Classic brackets, he won’t make the trip to the Tacoma Dome alone.

Tate Brumsickle (152) won two out of four matches, including 21-6 decision over teammate Eli Baker, to finish fourth at the regional tournament, qualifying for a possible Classic berth as an “alternate”. He would compete in the Classic if any of the 16 wrestlers in the 152-pound division withdraw.

The XXII Mat Classic, a two-day tournament featuring wrestlers from across the state competing simultaneously in the various school-size classifications,  gets under way Friday at the Tacoma Dome.

Dunn will hit the mat on Saturday, the second day of the Classic.

Like before, he will be one of 16 wrestlers competing for the state 1A heavyweight title.

“I’ve definitely gotten better over the years but you’re pretty much faced with the same thing every year at the Classic. The level of competition is different,” Dunn said. “I got my work cut out for me, that’s for sure.”

 

Contact Journal of the San Juans Editor Scott Rasmussen at srasmussen@sanjuanjournal.com or 1-360-378-5696.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.