Sophomore Shanie T. is the first female wrestler from Umatilla to qualify for the 4A/3A/2A/1A state wrestling tournament. Photo courtesy of Shanie T.
UMATILLA — Shanie Thomas is leaving her mark at Umatilla High School, and she’s just a sophomore.
Thomas, who finished fourth at 170 pounds at the 4A/3A/ 2A/1A Special District 3 Tournament in La Grande on Feb.15, is the first Umatilla female wrestler to qualify for the state tournament.
“I’m going to go wrestle and have fun,” Thomas said. “I’m happy to be there. I feel good.”
The state tournament is Feb. 27 to March 1, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Umatilla coach Jordan Franklin said Thomas has had a successful year on the mat. “It’s super exciting,” Franklin said. “She has had success all year. Once she steps on the mat, she’s locked in. This (state) was one of the goals she had. To get to see that pay off is super special.”
Thomas has a 23-5 record this year, with 22 pins. Her other win was by technical fall at the district tournament.
She has a bye in the first round at state and, barring an upset, likely will wrestle returning state champion Jadyn Pense of St. Helens in the quarterfinals.
“Having a bye is good and bad,” Thomas said. “It gives you more time to work up your nerves. On the other hand, you can watch the person you will wrestle and see what they are like.”
Franklin is hoping for the latter.
“It could help her ease into it,” Franklin said. ‘She is pretty nervous.”
Still a rookie
Thomas began wrestling last year as a freshman at Hermiston High School. She transferred to Umatilla this season and is still learning the sport.
“Once you get those basics and fundamentals down, you can start building on the skill set they have,” Franklin said. “She is super physical.”
Thomas said she has learned from her past and present coaches.
“I feel like I have learned more individual skills here, but are about the mental preparation in Hermiston,” Thomas said. “I saw how well (Hermiston) did (third at state), and I do miss the team, but I have my own little thing going on here.”
While she still is learning the sport, Thomas is starting to appreciate it.
“I didn’t take wrestling that seriously last year,” she said. “I started for fun, then it becomes part of you. The hardest part for me is I’m always in my head.”
Thomas comes from a big basketball family, so her family has been learning the sport along with her.
“All my family is 6-foot and up and plays basketball,” Thomas said. “I don’t really like basketball, so I had to find my own thing. I have converted them to wrestling fans. My grandma (Barbara Thomas) is really interested. They don’t know the lingo, but they go crazy during the matches.”
As nervous as she is about state, she also is apprehensive about the school sendoff Wednesday.
“I’m like the most socially awkward person,” Thomas said. “I don’t know why the walkthrough scares me. I have been slammed on the mat in so many matches and it’s no big deal. This shouldn’t be either.”
State wrestling participants
4A/3A/2A/1A girls
Echo — Avery Fisher (125). Elgin — Jacie Lathrop (140); Bailey Hasbell (145). Heppner — Journey Cavan-Harris (140); Keeley Nairns (235). Imbler — Lucy Camacho (155). Irrigon — Cinthia Madrigal (235). La Grande — Kierstyn Azure (105); Carleigh Radke (110); Avery Robinson (115); Lyndi Isaacson (120); Sydnee Azure (125); Emmeline Livingston (130); Rilley Robinson (135); Kyndeyl Krantz (140); Paige Allen (145); Maddie Armstrong (190); Macy Iramk (235). Pendleton — Thiri Dahl (170). Powder Valley — Marli Lind (155). Riverside — Mayte Pacheco (100); Megan Wiseman (120); Katelyn Wiseman (135). Umatilla — Shanie Thomas (170).
2A/1A boys
Echo — Caleb Glenn (120); Brayden Cortaberria (138). Elgin — Landyn Fincher (113). Heppner — Zachary Brown (157); Jaime Cavan (190); Landon McMahon (215). Imbler — Evan Burns (106); Anthony Pallis (157). Irrigon — Anthony Vasquez (106); Lee Issel (120); Brody Parrish (126); Preston Slawson (126); Zachary Parton (150); Xander Olman (175). Union/Cove — Sam Platz (175).
3A boys
McLoughlin — Tyler Hoel (132); Dallen Duncan (138); Masyn Lindsey (165). Riverside — Aiden Murillo (157); Devon Wiltberger (175); Fernando Medina (285).
4A boys
La Grande — Kallen Blakely (113); Bragen Anderson (120); Bobby Gulzow (126); Bryler Anderson (32); Brennan Pinther (132)l Colton Livingston (138); Riley Kranzt (150); Tommy Belding (157); Noah Collins (165); Carson Weimer (165); Dex Dunlap (215); Kenai Huff (285). Pendleton — Wesley Browning (106); Hank Roy (106); Wyatt Taylor (126); Landon Willman (132); Cole Roy (144); Cash Paullus (144); Vance Nelson (150); Tugg McQuinn (157); Kainen Zimmerman (157); Aidan Perkins (175); Miles Kennedy (190); Dakota Malin (190); John Bailey (215); Kaleb Lillie (285).