Hudson’s Bay senior Allison Blaine is trying not to get ahead of herself. She knows anything can happen on the mats.
But entering this weekend’s Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome, Blaine’s path to a third state title is clear. Potential contenders have opted for other weight classes, leaving Blaine, the top-ranked 135-pounder a heavy favorite to become Clark County’s first three-time girls wrestling champion.
She could join, Camas’ Bill Bradley (1979-81), Evergreen’s Ben Vombaur (1996-98) and Columbia River’s Kyle Bounds (2002-05) as the only local three-time winners.
“It’s a lot of excitement in my bones, even in my fingers,” Blaine said. “I’m ready to get out there and get it over with.”
Blaine is one of the most decorated wrestlers in state history. She has just one defeat in her four years as an Eagle. That loss came in the semifinals of her first Mat Classic as a freshman, a 2-1 decision to White River’s Erin Redford.
“I think about it every time I’m getting ready for this weekend,” Blaine said. “Anybody that wants it enough and anybody determined in their own mind that they’re not going to give up, they’re somebody to watch out for. They’re going to stop at nothing … and that could take away my state title from me.”
As Blaine puts it, that would be a disappointment. She hates losing. It’s what drives her to spend hours in the mat rooms, to attend extra practices, to continue forward even after reaching the peak.
“When I feel the pressure and I feel someone trying to take away the winning from me, that’s when it turns on,” Blaine said. “This is mine. This is what I’ve worked 12 years for. That’s where the fight comes from.”
Off the mats, it’s hard to believe Blaine possesses the killer instinct that makes her a great wrestler. She’s bubbly and friendly and boasts a big smile more often than not.
With her place in Clark County wrestling lore cemented, Blaine hopes she was able to inspire others around the county.
“A lot of girls around here know me. They’ve known me since elementary school, and think ‘she doesn’t seem like a wrestler,’ ” Blaine explained. “It’s not a scary sport to go do. … It’s a really rewarding sport so if you can get into it, it says a lot about who you are. A lot of these girls can learn a lot from it.”
So what has Blaine learned in her more than a dozen years on the mats?
“To not stick to labels. I could be whatever I’d like to be. … There’s nothing that can hold me back.”
Blaine starts her quest for three in the afternoon session on Friday, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Among her biggest challenges are Snohomish’s Holly Butler and North Kitsap’s Elise Scrafford, both of which are on the opposite side of the bracket.
Concluded Blaine: “I’m trying to milk the moments. It’s the last chance I’m going to have to be out on the mats representing Hudson’s Bay.”
