All-Region girls wrestling: Abby Lees, Washougal

Abby Lees was never in tune with playing second fiddle.

Jessica Eakins, Washougal, Sr.

Caitlin Horrocks, Skyview, Sr.

Sierra Joner, Battle Ground, So.

Yaneli Martinez, Washougal, Jr.

Morgan Ratcliff, Washougal, So.

Natasha Williams, Skyview, Sr.

After placing second at Mat Classic in 2014, the Washougal sophomore spent this season with a state wrestling title as her only goal.

But when she lost to Sunnyside’s Jessica Cardenas at a midseason tournament, Lees feared her season might end with another runner-up finish at Mat Classic.

That’s when Washougal coach Heather Carver offered some tough love.

“She said ‘I’m so sick of coming in second,'” Carver said. “I sort of got in her face and said ‘If you’re sick of it, you’ve got to be the one to change it.'”

From that point, Lees was unbeatable. After dominating her first three matches at Mat Classic, Lees beat Cardenas 4-1 to win the state title at 155 pounds.

“It was a dream come true,” Lees said. “My dad doesn’t smile a lot. So when he had that big smile on his face and I saw it, it felt really nice.”

For her accomplishments this season, Lees is The Columbian’s All-Region Girls Wrestler of the Year.

That pep talk during a tournament in Warden flipped a switch for Lees. She said she started wrestling with more energy in matches and pushing herself harder in practice.

“I wasn’t going to let anybody stop me,” she said. “A little bit (of energy) can make a big difference. Even if you make one tiny mistake and don’t have the energy to get back up, you could be on your back the next second. You could be done and pinned.”

But Lees’ quest for a state title started long before the season. It began the moment she lost in the 155-pound state title match as a freshman.

“Ever since I saw the other girl’s hand get raised,” Lees said, “I said ‘I want that.'”

As part of her offseason conditioning, Lees joined Washougal’s cross country team. She wasn’t fast, but she stuck with it hoping to boost her endurance on the wrestling mat.

Washougal qualified as a team for the state cross country championships in November. Lees finished last out of 141 runners in the 5,000 meter race.

Lees laughs about that now. She said she’d eagerly endure finishing last in a cross country race if it meant winning a state title in wrestling.

“It was important because last year I would get burned out in matches,” Lees said. “That didn’t happen this year.”

And with two trips to the state finals in her first two years of high school, Lees doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.