All-Region boys wrestling: Jackson McKinney, Skyview

Jackson McKinney walked off the mat as a state champion in his last high school match. But it wasn’t the end of his wrestling career.

The Skyview senior is just getting started.

His future is a big reason McKinney caught the eyes of the coaches at Oregon State, where he earned a scholarship to wrestle.

McKinney started wrestling after being cut from the basketball team his freshman year.

But despite being relatively new to the sport, he’s not just raw potential.

In rolling through one of the toughest weight classes at the Mat Classic state championships last month, McKinney showed he’s a force right now.

Just ask Skyview assistant coaches Ty Toppen and Dennis Einerson, who have the bruises to prove it. The pair tag-teamed in practice, pushing McKinney harder on the mat than any of his teammates could.

“I’ve probably taken a few years off of their life,” McKinney said. “They’ve truly made me better and probably the wrestler I am today.”

But his journey to a state title at 195 pounds wasn’t easy. After placing first at the Pacific Coast Championships and Clark County Championships, McKinney caught mononucleosis in mid-January.

The illness drained his energy for a month. Then, he lost to Sam Malychewski of Camas in both the district and regional title matches, the latter coming via a first-round pin.

“It almost seemed like that was the end of the world,” McKinney said. “Coaches just told me ‘hey stuff happens. Remember, we’re not training for regionals, we’re training for state.’ ”

A good week of practice between regionals and state got McKinney recalibrated. By the time he entered the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 16, he was a man possessed.

After placing second in state as a junior, McKinney didn’t just want to win a state title. He wanted to dominate.

“My whole thing this year was to train so much that there was only one person who could lose a match for me, and that was me,” he said. “If I got into my own head, then I would lose. I could be my own worst enemy or my best friend. I stepped onto that mat with great confidence.”

Though McKinney and Malychewski spent much of the year ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state, the 195-pound weight class had five wrestlers who were top contenders for the title, with four placing in the top seven last year.

Dylan Goodpaster, Evergreen

Senior placed third at 170 pounds at Mat Classic. Regional and Clark County champion.

Jack Latimer, Camas

Junior placed third in state at 126 pounds. Regional champ was ranked No. 1 in 4A for much of season.

Tanner Lees, Washougal

2A state champion at 145 pounds. The senior won by pin in the semifinals and finals while trailing in final round.

Dawson Lieurance, Ridgefield

Junior placed sixth in state at 220 pounds. Clark County and regional champion.

Gideon Malychewski, Camas

Sophomore placed fourth at 160 pounds. Regional champion.

Sam Malychewski, Camas

Senior placed third at 195. Regional champ and Tri-State quarterfinalist.

Danny Snediker, Union

State champion at 152 pounds. Junior was Clark County and regional champ, fifth at Gut Check.

Noah Talavera, Union

Sixth in state at 138 pounds. Regional, Clark County and Pacific Coast champion.

Rylan Thompson, Camas

Fourth in state at 132 pounds, becoming a four-time placer at Mat Classic. Regional champion.