Wrestling | Pin at 145 jump-starts Kentwood on way to another SPSL North title

COVINGTON — His green singlet had him seeing red.

Eight times in his high-school career Ryan Patterson had put on the championship uniform Kentwood wrestlers wear in tournament finals; eight times he had lost.

"The green singlet has been my curse," he said.

But Patterson broke that curse Wednesday night, helping the Conquerors capture a second straight South Puget Sound League 4A North Division dual-meet championship.

Breaking out the green uniforms, second-ranked Kentwood tore No. 9 Tahoma apart, 47-18. Both teams were 6-0 coming into the match.

Patterson, who has been working with trainer Sheri Hedlund on both his physical and mental approach, helped fuel the victory with an explosive, first-round pin at 145 pounds. That gave the Conquerors a 25-12 lead and they were well on their way to a second straight dual-meet title. And it gave Patterson a boost of confidence heading into the postseason.

"That was huge. I won in the green singlet," he said as he improved to 18-6 this season.

While there were several exciting bouts, the match proved to be somewhat anticlimactic when forfeits went to some of the top wrestlers in the gym. Tahoma's Kevin Tao, a defending state champion, didn't get to wrestle. Same for Kentwood's Lance Larsen, who placed third at state last year, and 103-pound teammate Ruben Navejas, a freshman phenom now 30-0. Tahoma also forfeited at 285 and was without its No. 1 135-pounder, both due to academic ineligibilities.

One state champ who did wrestle was Kentwood senior Brandon Rodgers, who recorded a 9-1 decision over Jordan Higa at 119 to improve to 29-2. That gave Kentwood a 13-0 lead.

A pin by Tahoma's Tyler Lamb and the forfeit to Tao closed it to 13-12. But Josh Kutterer, a senior who bumped up to 135, pulled out a roller-coaster, 7-6 decision to start a string of five victories for the Conquerors. Cody Quinn, third at state last year, continued his comeback after last fall's knee surgery, holding off tough John Buban at 140, 5-2, to up his record to 9-0. Then came Patterson's stick.

Both coaches juggled their lineups, and Kentwood's moves paid the biggest dividends. Now the Conquerors take aim at the postseason and their ultimate goal of winning the state championship.

"We're definitely gunning for state right now," Patterson said.