The Lake Stevens boys wrestling team has had nothing short of an amazing season, winning every single dual they have had besides one, leaving them at a near-perfect season.
Senior Ahmad Banishamsa has had a unique experience coming into LSHS. He moved to Lake Stevens in 2020 from Kent. Prior to moving to the US, he grew up in Palestine, in the West Bank of Israel.
“I lost a lot of family and friends while living in Palestine due to the warfare that was going on,” Banishamsa said.
The West Bank is one of the most sought-after places in the world due to the significance the soil has. It contains cities like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Jericho, which are significant cities to three of the biggest religions in the world: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
The West Bank historically has been fought over and has had multiple wars, dating back to 66 CE during the first Jewish-Roman war.
Banishamsa lived in constant danger due to the tensions between the Israelis and Palestinians, so his family decided to leave and immigrate to the US.
When Banishamsa came to LSHS, he met seniors Jacob Christianson and Troy Valentine, who then convinced him to join the LSHS wrestling team.
“The way that everyone cares about each other, everyone is united, when I saw that then I wanted to be part of that, so that how I fell in love with wrestling,” Banishamsa said.
Years of determination and hard work led Banishamsa to a total 30-13 record and being #3 in the state at the 113-pound weight class.
“My goal is to win a team state title, an individual state title, and also an academic state title,” Banishamsa said.
The goal for the whole team has been pretty consistent throughout the season. Staying consistent is the key for the Vikings.
Senior Koen Mattern is the #1 wrestler in the state in the 215-pound weight class, “Rankings are a distraction, mindlessly thrown about to keep you on edge, it doesn’t matter how good other people say you are,” Mattern said.
Nobody knows what is going to happen during any state match. Number three can lose to anybody, as well as #12 can beat anybody.
Senior Jaden Jennings is coming off of a knee injury.
“I’m happy I got to get back in time for the season,” Jennings said.
The following six wrestlers placed at the state tournament: Mattern won State Champ @ 215 lbs.; Jennings placed sixth @ 144 lbs.; Sam Irizarry 8th @ 132 lbs.; Troy Valentine placed fifth @ 126 lbs.; Christianson placed third @ 120 lbs.; Banishamsa placed fourth @ 113 lbs. As a result, the boys team placed 4th overall out of 48 teams at this year’s Mat Classic.
The girls team finished 19th out of 88 teams at State with Kylee Wicklund placing 5th @ 135 lbs. and Kamryn Mason placing 2nd @ 110 lbs.