Mat Classic XXXIV state wrestling preview: Who will emerge from packed group of Class 4A contenders?

To meet the fast-growing demand of girls wrestling, the WIAA has added an additional championship classification this weekend for Mat Classic XXXIV.

There will be two girls tournaments - a large-school classification (4A/3A) and small-school classification (2A/1A/B) that will crown state champions.

Here is a preview of the two-day tournament in the Tacoma Dome:

SCHEDULE

Session I Friday - First round, quarterfinals and consolation are from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Session II Saturday - Semifinals and consolation are 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Session III Saturday - All championship matches go from 3:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.

2022 TEAM CHAMPIONS

Class 4A - Chiawana. Class 3A - Mead. Class 2A - Orting. Class 1A - Toppenish. Class 2B/1B - Granger. Girls - Toppenish.

RETURNING 2022 INDIVIDUAL WINNERS

4A - Isaiah Medina, Chiawana, sr. (now at 113 pounds/won it at 113); Elias McDonald, Sumner, jr. (120/106); Stone Hartford, South Kitsap, jr. (132/120); Mitchell Neiner, South Kitsap, sr. (138/126); Alejandro Fernandez, Sunnyside, sr. (132/132); Jake Hubby, Hanford, sr. (152/138); Cody Miller, Sumner, jr. (145/152); Christopher Neal, Tahoma, sr. (182/170).

3A - Jacob Chapa, Southridge, jr. (now at 113 pounds/won it at 106); Elijah Cater, Silas, sr. (126/120); Ethan Freund, Kelso, sr. (138/132); Q'veli Quintanilla, University, sr. (145/145): Alex Ford, Prairie, sr. (170/160); Jaxson Gribskov, Hermiston, sr. (182/182)

2A - A.J. Salguero, Orting, soph. (now at 120 pounds/won it at 106); Quentin Harding, Orting, soph. (126/113); Bryan Dickerson, Orting, jr. (132/126); Apollo Cruz, Orting, jr. (138/120); Thor Michaelson, Bremerton, sr. (170/160); Lars Michaelson, Bremerton, jr. (182/170); Dalton Reed, Orting, sr. (182/182); Sofian Hammou, North Kitsap, sr. (220/220).

1A - Adan Estrada, Toppenish, jr. (now at 113 pounds/won it at 106); Marcos Torrez, Toppenish, jr. (138/132); Kiyanno Zuniga, Toppenish, soph. (145/126); Jermiah Zuniga, Toppenish, sr. (152/145); Mitchell Helgert, Naches Valley, sr. (160/152); Kaiden Kintner, Toppenish, jr. (182/170); Byron Newby, Deer Park, jr. (195/182); Joshua Luna, Toppenish, sr. (195/195).

B - Rodger Cate, Lake Roosevelt, soph. (now at 106 pounds/won it at 106); Jose Toscano, Granger, sr. (138/126); Cody Northwind, Granger, jr. (160/152); Conan Northwind, Granger, sr. (182/170); Johnny Swartsel, Okanogan, sr. (195/160).

Girls - Libby Roberts, University, soph. (now at 105 pounds; won it at 105); Zeta Lee, Mount Tahoma, jr. (110/110); Ashley Dayana Naranjo, Moses Lake, jr. (115/115); Karianne Baldwin, Glacier Peak, jr. (125/125); Bianca Johnson, Moses Lake, sr. (130/120); Alanna Haney, Chiawana, sr. (140/135); Alondra Morales, Royal, sr. (145/140); Clarissa Wangen, Curtis, jr. (155/145); Ruby Rodriguez-Rios, Toppenish, sr. (155/155); Alivia White, Marysville-Pilchuck, sr. (190/190); Faith Tarrant, Prairie, soph. (235/235).

4A PRIMER

It sets up to be a pretty big week for three-time defending champion Chiawana, which can break the tie with Kentwood (1989-92) and Lake Stevens (2006-09) and become the first largest-school classification program in state history to win four team titles in a row (Moses Lake won five titles from 1963-68 when it was mainly one boys tournament). But the Riverhawks - who placed second to Sunnyside (280.5-242.5) in last week's Region IV tournament - have their work cut out for them, especially against Region I champion Tahoma (16 state entrants, three regional winners), Region III champion Sumner (nine state entrants, four regional winners) and, of course, Sunnyside (15 state entrants, four regional winners). Chiawana has 12 wrestlers in the field, including four regional champions.

READ: Must-see 14 boy wrestlers to watch at Mat Classic.

3A PRIMER

Based on recent history, bet on an eastern Washington program - likely one from the Greater Spokane League - to take home a Mat Classic team title. It has happened in the past four WIAA tournaments as Mead stopped Mount Spokane's three-year run by winning it a year ago. And after winning the Region IV title with 320.5 points last weekend over Hermiston (302) and University (235) the Panthers are the team to beat in Tacoma. They have 14 combatants, including two regionals champions in Josh Neiwert (132 pounds) and Chris Grosse (220). The teams most likely to chase them down are Hermiston (12 state entrants, four regional winners) and University, led by the Quintanilla brothers (Q'veli at 145; Czar at 106).

2A PRIMER

Unless something unforeseen happens, this team race is all but in the bag for the defending champions. Orting blistered the field at the Region III tournament, scoring a whopping 367 points with eight regional champions as part of its 17-wrestler troop to state. And the Cardinals have headliner talent with five returning state champions - four of which are underclassmen (Salguero at 120; Harding at 126; Dickerson at 132; and Cruz at 138).

1A PRIMER

Remember last year when Toppenish did the unthinkable - crack the 400-point barrier at a state tournament? Well, the Wildcats are going backing up too much as the overwhelming favorites this weekend. They scored 429.5 points, powered by 11 winners, to run away with the Region III title last weekend. Six of them are returning state champions, led by Zuniga, who is going for a third Mat Classic championship in the 152 class.

2B/1B PRIMER

Tonasket saw its extended run of dominance ended last year by Granger in a doozy of a battle. But the Tigers are ready to reclaim the throne. They won the Region II title a week ago, outscoring Granger, 228.5-140. They will bring 10 entrants to Tacoma, including six regional champions. The Spartans do have three returning state champion in two with the Northwind brothers and Toscano, but that makes up half of their state roster. The team best equipped to spoil the party is Forks, the Region I champion with 16 wrestlers in the field, including five regional winners.

GIRLS PRIMER

Much like their boys, the defending state champion Toppenish girls put up ungodly numbers in their runaway regional victory last weekend - 365 points, paced by 11 regional champion. They are heavy favorites to repeat in the Class 2A/1A/B team race this weekend. ... The 4A/3A chase should comes down to three programs - favored Moses Lake, upstart Curtis and two-time champion Yelm (2017-18). The Chiefs and Vikings won regional titles last week.

READ: Must-see 10 girl wrestlers to watch at Mat Classic.

TICKETS

Tournament passes are $35.50 for adults, and $23.50 for students and senior citizens. Single-day tickets are $20.50/$13.50.

(Featured file photo by Vince Miller)