It was just another practice, another sweaty workout on the wrestling mat. But the energy, the excitement was intense as they practiced their takedowns and reversals. It was a sweaty version of Disneyland. Everyone was having fun.
Forty wrestlers intensely worked on their moves. And no one goofed off or idly stood around, wishing they were someone else. For their 2.5 hour workout, the objective of this W.F. West High School’s wrestling team was clear – to get better.
Head coach Jamie Rakevich was the one setting the tone. He’s the spark to the fire.
“Always be ready to make a counter move,” Rakevich told his team as he demonstrated some takedown moves.
Michael Anderson, who placed fourth at state last year and is now a junior, went through the drills with his teammates with gusto. He appreciates the hard workouts, the tone of practices that his coach sets.
“He plays a huge part,” Anderson said about his coach. “All the stuff we do helps us get better. When we watch a video, it’s oh yeah do this next time. He helps us a lot.”
Rakevich and his assistant coach, John Taylor, have built a strong wrestling tradition at W.F. West. Both coaches have a rich wrestling background. Taylor, who was W.F. West’s head coach for 10 years before Rakevich took over three years ago, was a state champ at North Thurston High School before going to college to wrestle. Rakevich was a two-time state champ and then wrestled at Oregon State.
Now, Rakevich, whose father coached him at Elma High School and is now a state Hall of Fame inductee, is trying to pay back a debt by coaching. He was going to be a chemical engineer, but then he felt the call of coaching and teaching.
“I’ve been really lucky,” Rakevich said. “I’ve had Hall of Fame coaches around me all the time. I’ve learned from the best.”
Now, Rakevich is trying to set that same example as an inspiring coach. He feels fortunate to have Taylor as his assistant.
“Anytime you have a guy like that in the room, it’s great,” Rakevich said. “One of the best technicians in the state comes in here and helps our kids, so they’re lucky.”
The Bearcats are again loaded with middle weights. Besides Anderson at 152 pounds, Mike Matagi and Logan Sigler are also back after advancing to state last year. Matagi placed fourth at 145 pounds last year.
“Michael’s a kid who’s had a ton of mat time,” Rakevich said about Anderson. “He’s pretty explosive. He can score a bunch of points really fast.”
Anderson has the work ethic to go along with the talent. He’s already being recruited by Colorado and Idaho.
“He’s just one of those mat rat kids,” Rakevich said. “He’s a good worker. He’s grown up a lot this year. He’s got goals this year that are obtainable.”
Last year, Anderson finished 34-4, pinning 20 of his opponents.
Like Anderson, Matagi is willing to put in the hard work to get better.
“Matagi is another one of those kids who has a ton of mat time,” Rakevich said. “He’s smart. He was probably the best kid on our team winning close matches. He just knows how to win those matches. He battles in those close matches and does a real good job of finding a way to win. Tough on top.”
Sigler is another hard worker.
“He’s a grinder,” Rakevich said. “Nothing better to say about him than he’s a grinder.”
The same could be said about Rory Cunningham. Since he was 5, Cunningham has ridden bulls in rodeos. He started out riding a small calf and now rides full size bulls.
“I saw my father doing it and I wanted to try it,” said Cunningham, who is a sophomore. “It’s fun. I just like it.”
Of course, he’s been thrown before. Once he broke his elbow, but that hasn’t deterred him.
“I’m going to do the NPR this year,” Cunningham said. “I used to do the junior rodeo, but I wanted to get to the bigger circuit.”
A good example of the lure of Bearcat wrestling is Cole Miller. Two weeks ago, Miller strained his left quadricep wrestling in a tournament, sidelining him until it heals. But rather than go home and watch television after school, Miller is at every practice, helping his coaches.
“What I start out I’m going to finish,” Miller said. “That’s how I was raised. You push through it.”
In the match Miller got hurt, he led 5-2 in the first period. He ended up winning 10-5 on a bum leg to finish fifth in the tournament. By continuing to go to practices, Miller still feels like he’s part of the team and that’s important to him.
Besides wrestling and working out, these Bearcats also eat together. They often have team dinners at a teammate’s house.
“We’re like a family now,” Anderson said. “We help each other. We’re close.”
