A lot has changed for Jackson McKinney in the year since he burst onto the Washington wrestling scene.
The Skyview senior went from not placing at state as a sophomore to finishing second at Mat Classic. He has also committed to wrestle at Oregon State.
Saturday, McKinney rose to the occasion at the Pacific Coast Championships at Mountain View. He beat Camas senior Samuel Malychewski 3-2 to win in the 195-pound title in a battle of state-title contenders.
McKinney was among three local champions Saturday in a tournament that gathers top Northwest wrestling programs. Tanner Craig of Camas rallied past an Oregon state champ to win the 132-pound championship. Union’s Noah Talavera beat Hockinson’s Dale Anderson to win the 145-pound title.
Last year, McKinney won a Pac Coast title at 182-pounds. From that tournament, he went on to win Clark County and regional titles before reaching the state championship match.
“Last year he was always kind of under the radar,” Skyview coach Dave Armstrong said. “It was his breakout year. This year he’s not going to be able to avoid that. He’s got a big old target on him.”
Saturday, McKinney triumphed in one of the event’s marquee matches against a wrestler who placed fourth in state at 182 pounds.
McKinney took a 2-1 lead with a takedown midway through the second round. Malychewski pulled even with an escape shortly afterward.
McKinney scored the winning point early in the third round, which he started in bottom position. He then held off Malychewski’s attacks to avenge a loss in a dual meet earlier this season.
“We just keep getting better and better,” McKinney said. “He throws something new at me. I throw something new at him. You wrestle a guy so much you become friends at some point.”
Another all-local final saw Talavera beat Anderson 18-3. It concluded a dominant tournament for Talavera, who pinned three opponents and won two matches by technical fall.
“I was being super offensive the whole time,” Talavera said. “I kept going, kept the pace up and got it done.”
Talavera reached Mat Classic last year but didn’t place. This year, the junior has different goals and a different mentality.
“I know I’m an upperclassmen and that I’ve worked really hard,” he said. “I have the mentality that I can beat anyone out there.”
Craig, a junior, placed eighth in state last season at 126 pounds. Now he’s the top-ranked wrestler in 4A at 132 pounds thanks to a new mindset.
“Last year, was would think in my head before the matches that these guys can beat me,” Craig said. “I’ve placed at state. I can wrestle with them. I can wrestle with the top guys in state and win.”
Saturday, Craig trailed 3-0 to Joey Coste, an Oregon state champ from Westview. But Craig took a 6-3 lead with a flurry late in the second round, which included a three-point near fall. He went on to win 9-4.
Two other local wrestlers reached Saturday’s finals.
At 152 pounds, Danny Snediker of Union lost 5-2 to South Kitsap’s Sebastian Robles, last year’s state runner up and top ranked in 4A this year. Snediker is ranked No. 3 in the weight class.
At 138 pounds, Camas three-time state placer Rylan Thompson was pinned by Cael Brunson of West Linn in the first round.
