MOUNT BAKER
MOUNTAINEERS
Coach: Clyde Blockley
Last year: Finished first in the NWC standings with a record of 4-0. ... Placed second at regionals and had eight wrestlers advance to state. ... Finished sixth at the state tournament with 57 points and had Aysha Schwinden place fourth at 195, Kaela Piehler place sixth at 155, Dani Mata place seventh at 130, Lacy Cannon place seventh at 137 and Megan Young placed seventh at 130.
Wrestlers to watch: Aysha Schwinden (Sr., 190); Megan Young (Sr., 130-137); Lacy Cannon (Jr., 137-145); Nicole Boardman (Jr., 112-118); Jessica Mata (So., 118-124); Jamie VanderYacht (Sr., 170)
Outlook: Mount Baker has 27 girls out for wrestling, but only eight have ever wrestled before. Coach Clyde Blockley is relying on his upperclassmen to bring the younger wrestlers along. The first-timers have a strong group to model their work ethic after. Although the Mountaineers lost senior leaders Raney Lepper, Dani Mata, Rachel Hollinsworth, Kaela Piehler and Laura Torrero, a few with state experience remain. Aysha Schwinden (170), Megan Young (130-137) and Lacy Cannon (137-145) wrestled at the Tacoma Dome last year, and Blockley said Young and Cannon, in particular, are assuming leadership roles. "Just hard work and believing in yourself," Blockley said in a phone interview when asked a key to Mount Baker success in 2012-13. "(Young and Cannon) are showing them how hard we work in the room, and just leadership has been the main thing for them."
2012 SCHEDULE
Nov. 30 at George Yonlick 5 p.m.
Dec. 1 at Jump On In Invitational 9:30 a.m.
Dec. 12 Bellingham* 6 p.m.
Dec. 15 at John Rogers Holiday Tournament 10 a.m.
Dec. 19 Mt Baker Invite 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 2 at Lynden* 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 at Woolley Women's Wrestling Tournament 10 a.m.
Jan. 12 at Fife Tournament TBD
Jan. 12 at B-E Women Invite 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 at Foss Tournament 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 23 at Sedro-Woolley* 6 p.m.
Jan. 26 at Lady Wolfpack Invite 9 a.m.
*NWC match
Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.
