Four (Or More) Time State Champions in College = Washington

 Washington is an interesting case. This post is simply looking at four time State champions, and even in that alone, it is clear to see that wrestlers from Washington want to compete at the collegiate level. However, due to the enormous amount of discontinuations at the collegiate level in the state of Washington their opportunities are extremely slim. It's not even that Washington has been hit any harder than some other states with discontinuations. It's more along the lines that there's hardly anything left. While the efforts to bring collegiate wrestling to or back to universities and colleges around the United States has been admirable as well as encouraging, the State of Washington has not shared in this resurgence. 

It's an absolute travesty that nearly all of these phenomenal athletes had but no other choice other than to attend college out of state if they wanted to continue their wrestling careers. The State of Washington ought to be ashamed of itself that it provides nearly nothing in terms of opportunity for the best of its high school wrestlers to continue at the collegiate level. It's inexcusable and it deserves the harsh criticism that I currently give it.  

5 DI Schools, All 5 had wrestling at one time, now all 5 don't. 
4 DII Schools, 3 at one time had wrestling, now all 4 don't. 
4 DIII Schools, All 4 had wrestling at one time, now all 4 don't. 
3 NAIA schools, 2 had wrestling at one time, now all 3 don't 

I can't speak to all of the NJCAA schools as to which all had wrestling and which never had wrestling. All I can tell you is that as of today out of 23 programs, one has varsity wrestling. 

In a state that produces the type of talent that Washington has & will continue to produce?  Their ought to be way more opportunities. Now that women's wrestling is on the rise, they ought to have more than a one club program at Gray's Harbor. 

Pat Connors 

Washington's first four time State Champion was Pat Connors of R.A. Long who won his titles from 91'-94'.  He competed for Minnesota collegiately where he had an outstanding career. Placing 3rd at the NCAA championships as a sophomore in 1997, he took back to back NCAA runner-up honors in 1998 and 1999. 

Martin Mitchell 

Martin Mitchell won four Washington High School State titles for Tonasket from 98'-01'. He competed collegiately for Oregon. 

Burke Barnes 

Burke Barnes won four Washington High School State titles for Lake Stevens from 99'-02'.  He competed collegiately for Dana where he was a three time NAIA All American. Earning 3rd place as a sophomore in 2006, he won back to back NAIA titles in 2007 & 2008. 

Brandon Sitch 

Competing for Kelso, Brandon Sitch won four Washington High School State titles from 03'-06'.  He started off his collegiate career at Minnesota and then transferred to Southern Oregon. 

Jimmy Belleville 

Jimmy Belleville won four Washington High School State titles for Black Hills from 06'-09'. He began his collegiate career at Puget Sound CC, transferring to Wyoming & finishing up at Northern Colorado. 

Derek Garcia 

Derek Garcia won four High School state titles for Sedro Woolley from 07'-10'. He wrestled collegiately at Ohio State. 

Ryn Rollins 

Ryn Rollins won four Washington High School State titles from 07'-10' for Republic. From what I have found, he did not wrestle in college. 

Chris Castillo 

Representing Zillah, Chris Castillo won four Washington High School State titles from 08'-11'.  He wrestled collegiately for Boise State where he won a PAC-12 title in 2016 as a senior. 

Sheridan McDonald 

Sheridan McDonald of Kiona-Benton became Washington's first Girl's four time State champion when she won her fourth title in 2011. From what I have found, she did not wrestle in college. 

Drew Templeman 

Drew Templeman won four Washington High School State titles for Orting from 09'-12'.  Collegiately he wrestled for Wyoming where he was a two time NCAA qualifier. Placing 4th at the BIG 12's as a junior in 2016, he was 3rd in 2017 as a senior. He was also a two time Reno finalist his final two seasons, winning a title his junior season. 

Jake Velarde 

Jake Velarde won four Washington High School State titles from 10'-13' for North Kitsap. He competed for Boise State in college. 

Bobby Reece 

Bobby Reece won four Washington High School State championships for Kingston from 11'-14'. He competed collegiately for Grand Canyon. 

Fred Green 

Representing Orting, Fred Green won four Washington High School State titles from 12'-15'. As to collegiate wrestling, Green had quite the journey.  He began his career at Boise State where he wrestled as a redshirt & as a freshman. He then transferred to Virginia for this sophomore season. From there he wrestled at Oregon State as a junior. Finally he ended up at Colorado Mesa where he wrestled as a senior & as a super senior (due to Covid 19). He won back to back Region titles & as a super senior in 2021 he won the NCAA Division II title. 

Michael Soler 

Michael Soler won four Washington High School State championships from 13'-16' for Lake Stevens. From what I have found, he did not wrestle in college. 

Desiree Zavala 

Desiree Zavala won four Washington High School State titles from 13'-16'. She started off her collegiate career at Southern Oregon & then transferred to Wayland Baptist. 

Dalton Young 

Dalton Young won four Washington High School State titles from 14'-17' for Nine Mile Lakeside. He wrestled collegiately for Stanford. 

Clai Quintanilla 

Clai Quintanilla won four Washington High School State crowns for North Central from 14'-17'. He began his collegiate career at Clackamas and then transferred to Fresno State. 

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Brandon Kaylor of Bonney Lake is at Oregon State, an All American with two season of eligibility left. 

Alex Cruz of Orting is at Virginiia 

Cameron Guerin of Davis is at McKendree