Allison Blaine, a sophomore at Hudson’s Bay High School, is the all-region girls wrestler of the year, as pictured at Hudson’s Bay High School, Thursday February 22, 2018. ( Ariane Kunze/The Columbian
Allison Blaine couldn’t sit still.
Her older brother, Aaron Blaine, was a wrestler. Her parents would bring 5-year-old Allison to his practices.
“I was so bored sitting in the stands,” Allison Blaine said. “So I decided to try it with all the other little kids on the mat. I would just go out there, play around and have fun.”
From that beginning, a state champion emerged.
Blaine became the first Hudson’s Bay girl to win a state wrestling title on Feb. 17 at the Tacoma Dome. That capped an undefeated sophomore season.
For her accomplishments, Blaine is The Columbian’s All-Region girls wrestler of the year.
Blaine’s state title at 135 pounds was long in the works. She got hooked on the sport shortly after that first foray as a 5-year-old and began competing in tournaments for Peninsula Wrestling Club in Portland.
But the key moment in Blaine’s championship journey was a match that remains her only defeat in high school competition. Her loss in the state semifinals as a freshman motivated her throughout this season.
“I just don’t want to lose again because it wasn’t fun,” Blaine said. “I did not like it at all. Losing is something that pushes me. As a person, I’m very competitive.”
Hudson’s Bay coach Chad Ortiz said it’s a special competitor who is motivated, not discouraged, by defeat.
“It really starts at a young age,” Ortiz said. “She just surrounded herself with good mentors, good coaches and good wrestlers. It was taught that you’re going to have these ups and downs. You’re going to fail. It’s figuring out how to recover from that failure.”
Blaine headed into her sophomore season with a lot of confidence. In November, she went 3-1 against collegiate wrestlers while competing unattached at the Mike Clock Open in Forest Grove, Ore.
Despite rolling through districts and regionals, she was nervous heading into the Mat Classic state championships.
Nerves arrive before every match, she said. But once the whistle blows, her mind switches gears.
“As soon as I step on the mat, my brain goes blank,” she said. “I’m feeling the moves and I don’t really think about anything else. There’s one goal in mind and that’s to win.”
Blaine pinned her first two Mat Classic opponents, then won a tough semifinal match 5-3 against Ivy Kraght of Kentwood.
In that evening’s finals, she beat Kiara Pierson of Sequim 4-2, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit.
“The moment that (the referee) raised my hand, I was still in the match,” Blaine said. “I wasn’t thinking, I just won the state title. But as soon as I turned around and saw my family, I was so ecstatic. I saw all of their expressions and realized I just won the state title.”
Ortiz believes Blaine is a great ambassador for the sport. He plans to bring her to local middle schools to help inspire the next crop of Hudson’s Bay wrestlers.
“It’s not just a boys sport anymore,” Ortiz said. “This is a wrestler. This is a state champion. This is someone who has worked hard and reached a goal.
“If you want to do it, you can do it too.”
ALL-REGION GIRLS WRESTLING
Hikaru Abe, Skyview
A returning state champion, the senior placed third in state at 105 pounds, one of the toughest weight classes.
Neveah Cassidy, Union
Sophomore placed fourth in state at 145 pounds, reaching the semifinals.
Ashlyn Daugherty, Woodland
Junior placed third at 100 pounds, her second straight top-five placing at Mat Classic.
Annabelle Helm, Union
Junior became a three-time state placer, finishing third at 145 pounds. Regional champion.
Krista Warren, Union
Junior reached the state finals at 140 pounds, helping the Titans to second-place team finish at Mat Classic.
Brooklyn Wurm-Wertz, Washougal
Senior ended her prep career with best finish at Mat Classic, placing fourth at 140 pounds.
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