5 Mat Classic 2024 championship matchups you should not have missed in the Tacoma Dome

Night was full of unexpected first-time winners - and finished up with a longtime coach going out in glory

TACOMA - At the end of the night, 98 state champions were crowned at the WIAA state wrestling championships known as Mat Classic.

Here are five highlighted matches from championship Saturday in the Tacoma Dome:

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Josh Neiwert found a home with powerhouse Mead

Photo by Joshua Hart

Mead had all the depth and camaraderie of a wrestling room ready to bust out and win another WIAA Class 3A title.

Except its most accomplished wrestler - Josh Neiwert - was still finding his way within the program.

Even though he won a Mat Classic title in 2023 after transferring from Gonzaga Prep, the acclimation season still was a bit bumpy.

"He struggled last year because he had to learn to be part of a team." Mead coach Phil McLean said. "But he come so far - the farthest in being a team member."

Neiwert sparkled on the mat Saturday night by dominating Lincoln of Tacoma's Tavarre Lee, 12-6, to repeat as 132-pound champion.

He also beamed about what he accomplished with his team.

"More than winning, I am more grateful to be a part of this team," Neiwert said. "It was something in my first two years I never thought I would be a part of."

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Cody Miller's quest conquered at Sumner as he leaves 143-0

Photo by Joshua Hart

Fun-loving Cody Miller always has a quip - and a chuckle to back it up.

But on Saturday night, he was quiet but satisfied.

He accomplished what he set out to do - become Washington's second boy wrestler to complete a four-year career undefeated at 143-0.

Miller met old youth-wrestling pal Landon Porter, of Olympia, in the 157 finals, scoring a third-period fall in 5:07 after racing out to a 10-0 lead in the opening period with three near-falls.

"When he wants something, he is going to get it," Sumner coach Matt Harshman said.

And he did, like a bolt of lightning to jolt an already-jazzed packed crowd.

"I came in crazy-strong," Miller said. "I needed to dominate."

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First-year wrestler steals show in tight 4A/3A girls team race

Photo by Joshua Hart

On paper, the moment appeared to belong to a Curtis comeback.

Defending state champion Ryley Nager had ripped through the 170 bracket in the Class 4A/3A girls tournament - just like she had in matches and tournaments through the regular season.

Her finals opponent? First-year Selena Mares-Castro, of Auburn Riverside.

But this wasn't an ordinary first-timer in the Tacoma Dome. Mares-Castro matched Nager move for move in regulation, and eked out a 4-2 overtime victory.

Mares-Castro's win denied the Vikings the team victory. It instead went to Peninsula - 122-119.

"I was nervous at first because I didn’t know she had won a state title," Mares-Castro said. "But I thought, 'I am going to be the new person (to win it all).'"

Mares-Castro said her newfound interest in the sport stemmed from her little brother asking her to wrestle with him.

"I started wrestling last March, but I did not believe in myself until our first tournament in high school where I was winning match after match  and lost in finals."

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Lars Michaelson leaves this Mat Classic as undisputed top combatant in Washington

Photo by Joshua Hart

Even in winning a third Mat Classic title Saturday, Bremerton's Lars Michaelson admitted something was missing.

It was older brother, Thor - his training partner who is now at Stanford.

"I definitely felt less-prepared," Michaelson said. "I feel fine on the mat … but with Thor not here, he was a great partner who pushed me. I felt like I was missing something."

In his final match against Washingon's Joel Carcia in the 190 finals in Class 2A, Michaelson 12 takedowns in the first two periods, then ended his career with an escape - and 25-10 technical fall victory.

Now that he, too, will be off to Stanford in a few months, does Michaelson feel he's been the best prep wrestler in Washington this season?

"I don’t know. I would like to think so," said Michaelson, who has never been taken down by an in-state opponent.

"But saying that would be a little cocky."

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Gaylord Strand's final match after a 50-year career at Yelm ... is a winner

Photo by Joshua Hart

Yelm sophomore Jonah Smith wasn't going to let his high school coach go out empty-handed.

Not after 50 years guiding the same program.

And Gaylord Strand didn't. He was in the corner of his 20th career state champion - and first at heavyweight - as Smith handled Ferndale's Wyatt Strait, 9-2, to win the Class 3A title at 285.

As soon as the final buzzer went off, Smith came to his corner and picked up Strand, carrying him to the center of the mat.

"Going out with a win in the state championship - that is the way to go," Strand said.

Also a standout lineman on the football team, Smith gave a good 30 pounds in weigh to his opponent, but utilized his quickness to score three takedowns in the match.

"I've been working for this moment since I can remember when I was 6 years old and wrestling, waiting to get here," Smith said. "I just wanted to win it."

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