Sammamish wrestler Matthew Iwicki won the Washington State Wrestling Association’s Folkstyle State Championship Jan. 31 at West Valley High School in Spokane.

Iwikci, a 7th grade student at Eastside Catholic Middle School, wrestled in the Schoolboy 91 pound class with 32 other competitors from across the state.

He pinned his first two opponents, Ben Knight of Colville, and Jose Chavez of Fort Lewis, to make it to the quarter finals which he won in an 8-0 decision over Tristan Cleek of Puyallup. In the semi-finals, Iwicki scored a technical fall over Brandon Mercier of Spannaway. And in the finals, he pinned Ruben Crew of Lake Stevens in the second round.

This was Iwicki’s fourth try at winning a Folkstyle state championship. His previous best was last year’s fifth place finish in the Schoolboy 84 pound class. The year before, he missed the tournament to compete with his soccer team, ISC Arsenal B96, on their way to the State Commissioners Cup Championship.

“Fokstyle” wrestling, also know a “collegiate” wrestling is the type of wrestling practiced at high schools and colleges in the United States.

“Folkstyle States are the most challenging,” Iwicki said. “There’s always lots of tough kids competing.”

Iwicki wrestles for Eastside Wrestling Club coached by Paul Kaiser, and he also trains with the Redmond-Sammamish Bulldogs, coached by Rudy Valdez and Patrick King.

“Matt’s really benefited from the great coaches and training partners around this area,” said his dad. “They’re all great folks who’ve helped Mattie achieve this goal.”

For more information about local wrestling opportunities, go to: www.eastsidewrestling.com, and www.leaguelineup.com/redmond-bulldogs.