One season removed from a fifth place finish inside the Tacoma Dome at Mat Classic XXXV in 2024, Yelm head coach Ben Hawk and several members of the YHS girls wrestling team have big expectations as the final week of the season rolls in.
Yelm’s Samantha Blank (135), Kylie Minker (190) and Kaitlyn Dover (235) are three wrestlers out of a field of 10 Tornado athletes set to compete at Mat Classic XXXVI. Although 120-pound state champion Madisyn Erickson has graduated from YHS, the three athletes have their sights set on a grand finale in the Tacoma Dome.
“I’m looking to grow not only as a wrestler, but as a person as well. Different experiences in wrestling have helped me with a lot of different things in life and, ultimately, yes, I want to win a state championship,” Blank said. “After two second-place finishes in a row, it’s time for a first-place finish. There’s a lot of good competition in 4A, though.”
Throughout her entire tenure as a YHS wrestler, Blank has had a state championship in her sights. As a freshman, she finished in third place at Mat Classic XXXIII, and as a sophomore she placed second at Mat Classic XXXIV. To cap off her junior season last year, Blank once again placed second at the big dance at Mat Classic XXXV.
With back-to-back runner-up finishes, Blank wants to bring home championship hardware at Mat Classic XXXVI.
“It’s 100% been fuel to the fire. Not only do I put more work in inside the mat room, but you have to do it outside of the mat room, too. You can’t just do it inside the mat room because you’re only getting two hours a day. You have to put in a lot of work, even outside of the mat room. There’s definitely been a lot of fuel to the fire this season,” Blank said. “I’m thankful for everything, especially my mom and my dad. They’ve been my biggest supporters. I owe it to them. To Amy and Tad, my OG coaches, the ones who taught me everything I know — and to the coaches I’ve had along the way, thank you,” Blank said. “One note that I will make, don’t let people bring you down. Don’t let what other people say get to you, because that’s only going to bring you down as well.”
Blank and her teammates, Minker and Dover, were all thrilled to see 10 Tornados punch their tickets to the state championship tournament on Thursday, Feb. 20, and Friday, Feb. 21.
“It’s amazing. The only thing you really want is for your team to be there with you,” Blank said. “You definitely want that family that you’ve been working your butt off with to have that same opportunity that you do too. You get to spend more time with the people you love, and it’s honestly pretty dang cool.”
Minker added, “It means a lot to me to be able to go to the Tacoma Dome with my teammates. I’ve been wrestling since I was little. I was kind of on my own when I was little, but going with my teammates makes it a fun experience overall.”
Last year, Minker competed in Mat Classic XXXV and picked up a win in the annual state competition after taking a year off from wrestling during her sophomore season. She’s hoping to land a top-three finish in the Tacoma Dome this week.
“I’m excited but a little bit nervous. It’s my senior year, so I’m hoping that I do very well. I’m hoping to go out on a high note — at least top three,” Minker said. “I’m just hoping that I go out and dominate them all. I want to finish on a high note.”
Minker added that she’s entering the state tournament in 2025 with a much better mindset than she did one year prior.
“I’m going in knowing it won’t be as easy, knowing these are going to be harder matchups. I’m going to try to dominate right off the bat — not try to feel it out as much,” Minker said. “Last year, I was taking it a little easy, hoping it was going to be easy — but it wasn’t.”
Dover said she’s thankful for the opportunity to compete in Mat Classic XXXVI after an injury caused her to miss the tournament in 2024. The senior is thrilled to share the mat with her team and coaches one last time on the biggest stage.
“The season has been going pretty good so far. I was a bit nervous in the beginning of the season because we had a new coach, and a lot of my old teammates had already graduated. Ben taking over the program has really shined. I couldn’t have asked for a better senior season. He’s an amazing coach. I love my teammates, and I love my practice partner. It’s been an all out amazing season,” Dover said. “I’m just hoping to leave everything on the mat. This is my last season, and I’ve been really working hard this year. I’m just expecting good wrestling, and no matter how my matches go, I’m going to leave my all out there.”
Dover said she’s trying to soak in the fact she’s entering the final week of her high school wrestling career.
“When I go out there on the mat, it’s me, my opponent and the mat. I’m wrestling like it’s my last season — because it is. I’m really hoping to bring home the state title. I’m going to leave everything out there, and if that isn’t enough, I’m OK with that. I have wrestled hard this season, and I haven’t given up even against my hardest opponents,” Dover said. “I’m really hoping to prove myself at state this year and show everyone that I have what it takes to get that state title.”
