State in mind

Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawks

Wrestling: 15-2 overall, 6-2 Wesco North

The Tomahawks finished the regular season in a tie for second place with Everett, but owned the head-to-head tie-breaker. To earn a ticket to the 2010 Mat Classic, the 4A wrestlers needed to have placed in the top eight at the District 1 meet Feb. 6 and in the top five at the regional meet Feb. 13 at Auburn High School. Marysville started the season with a pair of wrestlers in the state rankings in Demitri Robinson and Brian Donaldson, but a few more have shown the skill to compete at the Tacoma Dome.

Girls Basketball: 14-5 overall, 12-3 Wesco North

Coach Julie Martin’s girls have the opportunity to be the No. 2-ranked team at the District 1 tournament, which begins Feb. 16. Should they get that spot, they’ll have the inside track on winning the two games necessary to earn a state berth. Tournament play should fit the lady Tomahawks’ strengths this season with the depth they have shown, although they will need one player to lead the way when shots don’t fall. Morgan Martinis, Dacia Heckendorf or Andi Adams are likely candidates.

Boys Basketball: 7-11 overall, 4-10 Wesco North

The Feb. 2 loss to Stanwood mathematically eliminated the Tomahawks from earning that No. 5 Wesco spot and a chance to play in the District 1 tournament. Marysville was probably the youngest team in the Wesco North and has an exciting future with Ryan Shannon, Dome Kiblinger and Kyle Hinkley next season.

Boys Swimming: 11-1 overall, 10-0 Wesco North

The Wesco North champion Tomahawks will push to better their No. 7 finish at state by sending a number of swimmers, starting with Oliver Durand. The Marysville senior could race in any event, as he was the first swimmer in school history to qualify in every individual race, but he set the school record (1:44.15) in the 200 freestyle this season and will look to better his sixth-place showing at state last year. Also posting state qualifying times this year were Brandon Caldwell and Spencer Girard. Diver Zach Russell will likely get the chance to improve on last year’s 11th-place finish. Swimmers need to finish in the top three at districts to earn a state seed.

Grace Academy Eagles

Girls Basketball: 11-6 overall, 6-4 Northwest 1B

One thing is for sure: the lady Eagles know how to play in close games. Of their 17 contests, nine were decided by six or fewer points. In those games, Grace posted a 6-3 record. This experienced team of five seniors finished in second place of the Northwest 1B conference. Led by rebounding force Lauren Krumm, Grace will need to get two wins at the tri-district tournament for a spot at state.

Boys Basketball: 3-12 overall, 2-7 Northwest 1B

The Eagles finished their season just one spot out of the tri-district tournament with a fifth-place finish in the Northwest 1B tournament. Starting the season with a win over Northwest Yeshiva, the Eagles showed flashes of postseason potential, but struggled to maintain consistency throughout the year.

Lakewood Cougars

Boys Basketball: 5-10 overall, 4-5 Cascade

The Cougar boys team is in the District 1 tournament, just where they will be is still up in the air. The game against Archbishop Murphy Jan. 9 went a long way to deciding if the Cougars will get a No. 3 or 4 seed. Of course, with three games still on the schedule, coach Matt Hart’s boys have to keep winning to avoid needing a play-in game to make the bracket. Once at districts, the Cougars need two wins without losing twice to make it to state.

Girls Basketball: 0-15 overall, 0-9 Cascade

Coach Chris Walster has done an admirable job keeping his girls competitive in the face of losing three girls to season-ending knee surgeries — before December. Unfortunately, however, they are unable to make the fifth spot at for a play-in game to the District 1 tournament.

Wrestling: 3-8 overall, 0-4 Cascade

While the Cougars struggled as a team with Cascade Conference wrestlers, there are a few bright spots in this year’s Lakewood squad, starting with Keely Caldwell. Ranked 12th in the nation at 128 pounds, Caldwell could be Lakewood’s second state champion. Also on the verge of a state appearance is heavyweight Alex Wilson. Wrestlers need to finish in the top four of regionals for a spot in the Mat Classic.

Tulalip Heritage Hawks

Boys Basketball: 5-7 overall, 4-5 Northwest 1B

Hopes were high for the Heritage boys entering the season, but some players did not gel with first-year coach Matt Tait’s program’s principles. As a result, the Hawks are still trying to find out who they are, but are improving. The Hawks are sitting in fourth place and qualify for the tri-district tournament, now they need two wins without two losses to earn a trip to state at Yakima.

Girls Basketball: 6-9 overall, 3-5 Northwest 1B

The lady Hawks needed to win their Feb. 5 contest with Grace to earn a trip to the tri-district tournament. If they won that game, they would then need to get two wins in three games to play at state in Yakima.

Winter Postseason Schedule

Wrestling:

Feb. 13 — 4A Regional at Auburn High School, 10 a.m.

Feb. 13 — 2A Regional at Cedarcrest, 10 a.m.

Feb. 13 — Girls Regional at Sedro-Wolley, 10 a.m.

Feb. 19-20 — Mat Classic at Tacoma Dome, TBA

Boys Swimming:

Feb. 19-20 — State Meet at King County Aquatics Center, Federal Way, TBA

Girls Basketball:

Feb. 12-20 — 1B Tri-District Tournament, title game at Mountlake Terrace

Feb. 26-March 6 — 2A District Tournament, title game at Mount Vernon

Feb. 16-27 — 4A District Tournament, title game at Jackson