Dylan Reubenking / For Nisqually Valley News staff
Rainier senior Dorien Cano, a two-time state medalist entering his final Mat Classic appearance, dominated his way to the boys 1B/2B 175-pound finals, on Friday, Feb. 20, and Saturday, Feb. 21.
In his first three matches, he earned three pins in a combined two minutes and 51 seconds, including a 15-second pin to start the tournament in round one.
In his first trip to the state semifinals since his freshman year in 2023, Cano took over in the second period, scoring two reversals and a takedown and finishing it off with a pin to advance to the finals.
“I just went with the flow. I didn’t stress myself out. I rested when I needed to. I didn’t overdo things. I didn’t save my energy,” Cano said.
In the finals, Cano struggled to find an advantage against the taller and longer Chub Plank of Tonasket, who pinned him in three minutes and seven seconds.
“He was very technical. I could tell he was more technical than me the second that I stepped in there with him,” Cano said of Plank. “His biggest skill set that he had against me was he was very lengthy, and that’s kind of my kryptonite.”
Above all else in his successful wrestling career at Rainier and 14 years total in wrestling, Cano is proudest to have wrestled alongside younger brother Dominic, who placed seventh at state for his highest finish yet. Dominic battled through pain to triumph in the seventh-place match.
“Honestly, I’m more proud of him than I am myself. I’m always going to be right behind him. I just hope he continues to do great things and realizes that he can be that guy to eventually take state,” Dorien said of Dominic.
Rainier junior Blake Roberts also earned a spot on the podium, taking fifth at 285 pounds.
On the girls side, Tenino junior Maleah Chacon, 120 pounds, and Rainier junior Ryleigh Cruse, 235 pounds, both secured their second career state medals, with Chacon placing fourth and Cruse taking fifth in their respective divisions. Similarly to Kunkel, Cruse bounced back from two straight losses in the semifinals and consolation semifinals to find a way to win in the fifth-place match. She earned a pin in 80 seconds in her final match of the season, placing fifth for the second straight state tournament.
“I was really down on myself after the first loss, but after losing again and then getting hurt in the fifth-place match, I had nothing else to lose,” Cruse said. “I went out and actually wrestled how I should have in the last two matches. I’m proud of myself because this season was a lot harder than last season.”
