New season, new league for Jacks wrestling

QUINCY — Just like all other boys and girls wrestling teams statewide, the Quincy Jackrabbits are starting a new season. But unlike all other teams statewide, the Jacks are starting in a new – and tough – league. 

Quincy moved up to the 2A Central Washington Athletic Conference for at least four years following the 2023-24 school year. Both girls coach Mark Kondo and boys coach Breck Webley said the way wrestling works gives the Jacks a lot of familiarity with their new league opponents. 

Kondo said many of the CWAC teams, Othello and Toppenish among them, are among the best girls wrestling programs in Washington. 

“It’s not so much moving into the CWAC as it is having to compete with some very good teams that are comparable to anybody in the state. That said, it’s not like we haven’t seen them at all because we’ve gone to tournaments and competed against Othello and Toppenish,” Kondo said. 

Webley said the way wrestling is structured means teams compete against each other regardless of classification. 

“We’ve always had the opportunity to keep some connections with the CWAC by having some double duals with some of those teams, or attending tournaments that those teams hosted,” Webley said. 

Kondo said the move could provide a boost to Quincy wrestling. 

“I’m excited because it gives us the opportunity to compete against some of the best teams in the state,” he said. 

The girls team finished eighth in the 1A classification at Mat Classic 2024 and took four girls to the state tournament, three of whom placed. One returns for 2024-25; Alondra Cordova, who placed third. 

“Then we’ve got about five or six girls that I think are capable of making it to the state tournament,” Kondo said. “Martiza Gil and Crystal Vargas who are both seniors and who almost made it. Maritza got injured last season and she wrestled, but she certainly wasn’t 100%. If she had been 100% she probably would have made it.” 

Sophomores Emiko Kondo and Crystal Perez will return after good freshman seasons, he said. Junior Jourdan Ferguson was in a tough weight class and nearly made it state anyway. 

“I’m excited for our girls because our program has, I think, been getting stronger and hopefully we continue to build on that,” Kondo said. “The whole emphasis we have is about getting better, improving, going in an upward direction.” 

The Jacks took three wrestlers to the boys state tournament last winter, Webley said, two of whom return. Senior Saidt Alvarez has qualified for state each year of his high school year, and he made it to the podium every year, Webley said. 

“(Alvarez) took fifth, fourth, third (at the Mat Classic),” Webley said. “He’s trying to be a four-time state placer.” 

Alejandro Barajas also qualified for the 2024 state tournament. Other Jacks wrestlers, among them Jayce Reyes, got close, he said, and are looking to make it the Mat Classic.  

“We (focused) on getting our kids to summer camps,” Webley said. “We attended a couple different camps. We were great about getting kids into the wrestling room and working on their technique. The kids responded well – we were getting 20-plus kids to offseason workouts and practices. And that’s just something we haven’t been getting in the past.”  

Julian Silvas also worked hard to improve, he said.  

Quincy has competed well against CWAC schools, even when the Jacks were in a different classification.  

“We’ve been one of those schools where even if we were in the middle of the pack, when we went to a tournament we did pretty well,” Webley said. “We like to think iron sharpens iron. In this league everyone’s boat rises because we’re all trying to compete with the best of the best in the league. We’re going to get some bumps and bruises along the way, and no doubt the kids are going to (think), ‘Well, this is different than where we were. But I think our kids will be able to respond.” 

    Alondra Cordova, in green, placed at the 1A Mat Classic in February and Quincy coach Mark Kondo said he thinks his team can compete in Class 2A.
  

    Quincy girls wrestling coach Mark Kondo said he thinks his team, including sophomore Emiko Kondo, will be able to compete in the CWAC.
  

    Alejandro Barajas, in green, was one of three Quincy wrestlers to qualify for the 2024 Mat Classic.