Quincy takes large team to Mat Classic, hopes for hardware

QUINCY — Quincy girls wrestling coach Mark Kondo said the format for Mat Classic has changed, but his team will be competing against familiar opponents.

Quincy moved to Class 2A at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, and Mat Classic changed to a new format for 2025, with a separate tournament for Class 2A. But Kondo said those changes really won’t make much difference for the Jacks.  

“Last year we wrestled against the girls that we’re going to face, the level of competition we’re going to face this year. It's not an extreme (or) drastic change for us,” Kondo said.  

Quincy qualified nine wrestlers from the Central Washington Athletic Conference tournament, which Kondo said he thinks is the toughest league in the state. 

“One of the things that we looked at was, ‘Hey, even if you’re not first or second, if you’re third or fourth, you’re coming out of the toughest district, you’re probably as good as a lot of those girls that might have been first, second or third in another district,” he said. 

The nine wrestlers headed to State are the most from Quincy that have ever qualified for the girls Mat Classic.  

“We had four (state qualifiers) last year. And we were thinking if we got six, that would be a pretty good number – maybe even eight, if we got some upsets and wrestled well. Well, we ended up with nine,” he said.  

It’s a sign that the team has been meeting the goals set for them, he said. 

“We’re really pleased with how the girls performed at District; it kind of goes along with our philosophy. During the season we just want to get better so that when we get to February, right now, is when we’re peaking and wrestling our best.”  

The Jacks have one returning state placer; Alondra Cordova took third in the 2B/1B/1A/2A classification in 2024.  

“The desire, the dream, is for her to stand a little bit higher on the podium,” Kondo said.  

It will be the first time at Mat Classic for the other eight qualifiers, and Kondo said it’s a great experience no matter the results. 

“It’s what most athletes are striving for, to get to State, to stand on the podium. We talked to our girls, ‘Hey, you’ve just got to go and wrestle hard, and whatever happens, happens. If you place, that’s just icing on the cake,’” Kondo said. “It’s really just a positive experience to go with your teammates, support each other, to be able to compete against the best in the state.”  

Kondo said he thinks the Jacks have had a successful season no matter where they place. 

“I’m proud of our girls because I think we’ve done what we set out to do, and that was improve and get better at the end of the year. I think regardless of what happens, win or lose, it’s going to be a really great, positive experience for these young ladies, something they will take with them as they graduate and go forward,” Kondo said. 

Boys 

Four Quincy High School wrestlers will take the mat this weekend in a new classification at the boys Mat Classic 2025. 

Quincy joined the Class 2A Central Washington Athletic Conference for the 2024-25 school year, but head coach Breck Webley said in an earlier interview that the Jacks were and are familiar with their new conference.  

“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. 

The Jacks actually qualified one more wrestler for Mat Classic 2025 than in 2024. Senior Saidt Alvarez is a three-time state placer, and junior Alejandro Barajas will make a return trip to the Tacoma Dome. 

Alvarez is Quincy’s all-time leader in matches won.  

“(Class) 2A is definitely tougher, so I’ve just got to win the tight matches,” he said in an earlier interview.  

Alvarez and Barajas will be joined by junior Jayce Reyes and senior Julian Silvas. Reyes just missed a trip to Mat Classic last year, Webley said.  

In an earlier interview, Webley said success at the state tournament will go to the wrestler with the sharpest skills. 

“The end of the season is about technique. It’s not necessarily about being in the best shape, because everyone’s going to be in shape. It’s about having better technique at those points,” Webley said. 

Quincy Jacks Roster 

Boys 

senior Saidt Alvarez (113) 

senior Julian Silvas (175)  

junior Jace Reyes (132) 

junior Alejandro Barajas (190) 

Alternates: senior DJ Frerks (215) and junior Enrique Rebollo (150)  

Girls 

senior Crystal Vargas (120) 

senior Alondra Cordova (125)  

junior Jourdan Ferguson (135),  

junior Kimberly Solano (145) 

junior Diana Trujilo (170)  

sophomore Emiko Kondo (100) 

sophomore Crystal Perez (110)  

freshman Hailey Courtade (125) 

senior Juliza Herrera (190) 

Alternates: senior Harlie Torgesen (115), sophomore Gabriela Lopez (155) 

    Quincy senior Saidt Alvarez, top, is a three-time state placer in the 1A classification, making his return to the Tacoma Dome to compete in the 2A Boys Mat Classic after qualifying at districts.
  

    Quincy junior Jourdan Ferguson, background, cradles her opponent at the Bring Home da Beef tournament in Quincy earlier this month. Ferguson is one of nine Jackrabbits that qualified to wrestle at the 2A Girls Mat Classic.