Goldendale makes history on the Mat in Tacoma; Best in 50 years at state championship
Goldendale junior Matthew Gray maintains control to defeat his opponent during his state championship match at the Tacoma Dome on Saturday. “The last match was the most important match of the year but I treated it like any other match. I went out aggressive and stayed mentally focused throughout the whole match just like every other match,” he said.
Photos and Story by Mike Salsbury
The Goldendale wrestling team just took it to another level with a season for the history books that ended this past weekend at the Mat Classic state wrestling tournament at the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 16 and 17.
The Timberwolves finished third in the state 1B/2B team division and several individuals picked up top medals.
Matthew Gray leaps into the arms of Goldendale coach Chris Williams after taking the 1B/2B State Championship in the 150-pound division. “I was a little nervous at first but when my coach Chris Williams looked at me and said ‘just go out and have fun’ my nerves relaxed and I just went out and wrestled my match,” said Gray.
With a raise of his arm, Goldendale’s Matthew Gray brings home the first state wrestling championship for the small community in over a quarter century.
Matthew Gray walks off the mat after winning a state title on Saturday in Tacoma. “It feels pretty good to be a state champion, the hard work, long hours, and years I’ve put into this sport finally paid off,” he said.
Junior Matthew Gray displayed his athleticism and now has a state wrestling championship to his name. It’s been a while since Goldendale has had a first-place finish. Israel Flores was a two-time state champion in 1997 and 1998, around the same time boxer Mike Tyson bit a chunk out of Evander Holyfield’s ear.
“It feels pretty good to be a state champion. The hard work, long hours and years I’ve put into this sport finally paid off,” said Gray who also described the mindset he took to the mat.
“Some of my thoughts were ‘what if I win’ and ‘what if I lose’ but if I wrestle hard and aggressive for six minutes straight, then I have nothing to leave on the mat and no regrets.”
He described the advice he got from his coach. “I was a little nervous at first but when my coach Chris Williams looked at me and said ‘just go out and have fun’ my nerves relaxed and I just went out and wrestled my match.”
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Immediately upon completion of his final match to win state, Matthew Gray gestures to the Goldendale supporters in attendance at this year’s Mat Classic. “Some of my thoughts were ‘what if I win’ and ‘what if I lose’ but if I wrestle hard and aggressive for six minutes straight then I have nothing to leave on the mat and no regrets,” he said following the match.
And the Goldendale community responded on social media with hundreds of congratulatory posts and nearly a thousand likes to the news of Matthew Gray’s state title.
“Well deserved by Matt and a great coach who I think should be coach of the year.” –Samuel Contreras
“Congratulations Matthew; to the Gray family; and to all those who supported Matthew along the way!!! What an accomplishment.” –The Wing Team powered by Kelly Right Real Estate
Goldendale finalists Matthew Gray, left, and Brock Armstrong await their championship matches on Saturday in Tacoma. “Wrestling is a very physically demanding sport and we work extremely hard all week in the practice room so we try to make the weekends about having fun,” said Coach Williams. “Our team likes to be together, we go through it all together, the good and the bad. It makes us a family. Our wrestlers will have a bond with each other that will last a lifetime. It brings together kids who may never cross paths normally and they will always have each other's backs,” he said.
“WAY TO GO – I remember you as smaller a couple of years ago mowing my lawn. YOU DID GREAT so glad all your hard work paid off for you.” –Sylvia Holly
“What a true hero!! Matthew really put Goldendale on the map.” –Dennis Carver
“Oh wow so awesome!!!” –Brandie Mace
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Coach Williams, who has been building this program for the past five years, is celebrating the fact that Goldendale wrestlers just accomplished their best state finish in fifty years.
Half a century.
Goldendale sophomore Brock Armstrong gets a pat on the back from Coach Chris Williams, left, and assistant James Barnes following Armstrong’s loss in the championship match for the 126-pound division. Armstrong placed second in his division at state.
To provide perspective to just how long it’s been, we’re talking 1974 and Richard Nixon was about to resign as President. Barbara Streisand’s “The Way We Were” was Billboard’s No. 1 song. The World Trade Center opened and the long-running television show “Happy Days” was in its first season. In 1974 Spokane hosted a World’s Fair dedicated to the environment.
Many longtime Goldendale residents describe a different town in those days and this is where the story of wrestling programs and community pride gains traction.
Sophomore Brock Armstrong, right, congratulates his opponent after a grueling loss in their championship match. Armstrong’s second-place finish helped the Timberwolves assure their best-ever team ranking in fifty years.
The last time grapplers from Goldendale had the kind of success seen in the 2024 season the community had a bustling downtown with major department stores and an endless list of thriving local businesses.
You could find all you needed right here.
There was a drive-in movie theater, a bowling alley, car dealerships, and family-wage jobs from industries that are mostly memories now. A train ran through town and kids rode bicycles to fish in a river that seemingly had more water flowing than is found today.
The 2024 wrestling team has a bridge to that 1974 team that placed second in state in their volunteer coach Larry Pangle, a state champion in those days.
“It takes a village to make us successful,” said Williams.
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Fast forward and you find Coach Williams making gains and is confidently looking forward to repeating the success that the program accomplished this year. He knows the value this program brings to Goldendale.
“The support from the community has continued to grow each year since we've had the program. Each home match we host grows in crowd support,” he said.
“Our social media followings have grown and we feel the love and support for our team. We've proven that we are a sport and team to get behind.”
Coach Williams sees possibilities for the community.
“We hope to continue to grow and be able to host more home events and be able to give our community more opportunities to learn and enjoy the sport of wrestling. Our last home dual was a good one. We hope to have more like it,” he said.
“That's what wrestling for your hometown should be like!”
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In addition to Matthew Gray’s state championship, Goldendale medalists at state included sophomore Brock Armstrong (126) second place, freshman Rydell Myers (120) third place, and junior Storey Woodbury (144) fourth place.
Goldendale freshman Rydell Myers lifts his opponent on his way to a third-place finish at the state wrestling tournament on Saturday in Tacoma.
The Mat Classic is a wrestling tournament unlike any other with schools from small towns to large cities represented for two days in Tacoma and where a school, like Goldendale, can live up to their expectations to bring home a trophy. Goldendale finished third in the 1B/2B State Championships.
Coach Williams assessed his team’s performances.
“We had every expectation of placing top three in the state this year, winning EWAC West League and making a run at a District 5 title,” he said.
“State produced most of the results that we were hoping for. We won some matches we weren't sure about, and we lost some that we didn't expect to, it's just how it works.”
Other Goldendale wrestlers attending the state competition but not medaling included sophomore Brielle Starr (130), junior Kash Wright (132), senior Raymond Holycross (157), senior Ivan Erland (165), freshman Logan Smith (175), senior Victor Canche (190) and senior Jeremy Rain an alternate.
Coach Williams describes building team and community through a combination of diligence in training and celebration of the joy of the sport.
Ivan Erland ends his Goldendale wrestling career with a second-day loss and reflections on a friendship with Okanogen wrestler Ayden Grooms that was forged through athletic competition. The two warmed up together earlier in the day.
“Wrestling is a very physically demanding sport and we work extremely hard all week in the practice room so we try to make the weekends about having fun,” he said.
“Our team likes to be together. We go through it all together. The good and the bad. It makes us a family. Our wrestlers will have a bond with each other that will last a lifetime. It brings together kids who may never cross paths normally and they will always have each other's backs.”
Coach Williams closes his remarks with humble thanks to his crew.
Goldendale assistant wrestling coach James Barnes shouts instructions to a Timberwolf wrestler on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. “I’d like to thank Coach Barnes for all of his hard work and dedication to the team,” said Coach Chris Williams following their appearance at the state wrestling championships.
“I'd like to thank Coach Barnes for all of his hard work and dedication to the team, and our alumni volunteer coaches, Coach Pangle and Coach Watson for all of their time and commitment to the team. Also, to my wife, Rachele for all of the hard work behind the scenes.”
Goldendale freshman Rydell Myers awaits the start of his match on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Myers finished in third-place for 120-pound wrestlers in the 1B/2B division. “The team has been preparing and working hard for February,” said Coach Williams. “All of what we do leads up to this.”
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