Mount Baker’s Smith highlights All-Whatcom County girls’ wrestling team
Mount Baker’s Natalie Smith has been selected the 2015-16 All-Whatcom County Girls’ Wrestler of the Year by The Bellingham Herald. Here is a look at the 2015-16 seasons turned in by Smith and the other first-team selections:
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR NATALIE SMITH
School: Lynden
Year: Senior
Weight: 125
What she did: Capped senior season off with a dominating performance during Mat Classic XXVIII, winning a 125-pound state title while going 4-0. ... Finished with a 42-0 record and beat four-time state champion Jordyn Bartleson in a head-to-head match. ... A four-time state placer, taking home an eighth, a seventh and a third-place medal before winning title. ... Won a district title and helped Baker place second at state with 73 points.
FIRST TEAM
Player | School | Yr. | Wt. |
Maria Torrero | Mount Baker | Fr. | 100 |
Placed second during the NWC Championships and took fifth at the regional tournament. ... Did not wrestle at Mat Classic XXVIII state championships. | |||
Gabrielle Mata | Mount Baker | So. | 105 |
Placed third at the regional tournament. ... Went 0-2 during Mat Classic XXVIII. ... On Baker team that placed second at state with 73 points. | |||
Alexcina Coleman | Nooksack Valley | Fr. | 110 |
Won a title at the NWC Championships at 115 pounds and took fourth at the regional tournament. ... Went 1-2 during Mat Classic XXVIII, helping Nooksack Valley place sixth at state with 57 points. | |||
Lynette Samano | Nooksack Valley | So. | 115 |
Placed third during the District I Tournament. ... Went 1-2 during Mat Classic XXVIII. ... Helped Nooksack Valley place sixth at state with 57 points. | |||
Korbyn Cadle | Mount Baker | Jr. | 120 |
Won a title at the NWC Championships and took second at the regional tournament. ... Went 2-3 during Mat Classic XXVIII, earning an eighth-place medal and helping Mount Baker place second. | |||
Julie De La Cruz | Nooksack Valley | So. | 125 |
Placed second during the NWC Championships and second at the regional tournament. ... Went 3-3 during Mat Classic XXVIII, earning a sixth-place medal and helping Nooksack Valley place sixth. | |||
Karina Martinez | Lynden | Jr. | 125 |
Placed second during the NWC Championships and took third at the regional tournament. ... Went 2-3 during Mat Classic XXVIII, earning an eighth-place medal while helping Lynden place 19th. | |||
Emma Bruntil | Nooksack Valley | So. | 130 |
Capped dominant season with a state championship. ... Won a regional title and a NWC Championships title. ... Beat four-time state champ Jordyn Bartleson at the Woolley Woman’s Tourney. | |||
Miana Rabang | Nooksack Valley | Jr. | 135 |
Placed second during the NWC Championships and took third at the regional tournament. ... Went 4-2 during Mat Classic XXVIII, earning a fifth-place medal to help Nooksack Valley place sixth. | |||
Kali Spady | Lynden | Jr. | 140 |
Won a title at the NWC Championships and added a regional tournament title. ... Went 2-3 during Mat Classic XXVIII, earning an eighth-place medal while helping Lynden place 19th at state. | |||
Marissa Amarando | Mount Baker | Sr. | 140 |
Placed second during the NWC Championships and took third at the regional tournament. ... Went 1-2 during Mat Classic XXVIII, helping Mount Baker place second at state with 73 points. | |||
Rachel Nichols | Mount Baker | Sr. | 145 |
Placed second during the NWC Championships and took third at the regional tournament. ... Went 3-2 during Mat Classic XXVIII, earning a fifth-place medal to help Mount Baker place second. | |||
Aniecea Camacho | Mount Baker | Sr. | 155 |
Placed second during the NWC Championships and took second at the regional tournament. ... Went 1-2 during Mat Classic XXVIII, helping Mount Baker place second at state with 73 points. | |||
Shelby Sears | Mount Baker | Fr. | 170 |
Came on toward the end of the season, placing second during the Sub-Regional Tournament. ... Placed fifth at the regional tournament. ... Did not compete at Mat Classic XXVIII. | |||
Thalia Veliz | Lynden | Sr. | 190 |
Won a title at the NWC Championships and added a regional tournamenttitle. ... Went 5-1 during Mat Classic XXVIII, winning five straight matches, earning a third-place finish. | |||
Akeimi Schwinden | Mount Baker | Sr. | 235 |
Won a title at the NWC Championships and added a regional tournamenttitle. ... Lost a heartbreaking overtime match 5-3 during Mat Classic XXVIII, settling for a second-place medal. | |||
COACH OF THE YEAR CLYDE BLOCKLEY
Team: Mount Baker
What he did: Guided Mount Baker to a regional tournamenttitle and led the Mountaineers to a second-place state finish with 73 points. ... Coached two wrestlers who reach their respective state championship matches in Natalie Smith and Akemi Schwinden.
Honorable mention
Player | Team |
Nicole Whittern | Nooksack Valley |
Aryanna Tejada | Bellingham |
Natalie Schweigert | Lynden |
Kailey Gee | Lynden |
Taylor Van Brocklin | Mount Baker |
Stephanie Carrillo | Lynden |
Michelle Mata | Mount Baker |
Aaliyah Gallegos | Lynden |
Emily Gallegos | Lynden |
Emily Parson | Nooksack Valley |
Senaida Veliz | Lynden |
Becca Averys | Nooksack Valley |
This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 10:20 AM with the headline "Mount Baker’s Smith highlights All-Whatcom County girls’ wrestling team."