Wrestlers ‘work hard and play hard,’ coach says

MIHS grapplers shine at tournaments.

Mercer Island High School (MIHS) wrestlers recently plowed through the Wolverine Scuffle tournament and made an immense impact on the mat.

Locals Max Martin (165 pounds), Chase Warnick (157), Gordon Gibson (144) and Emerson Woods (115) notched gold at the Bellevue High School grappling event for the eighth-ranked class 3A Islander squad, according to the Washington Wrestling Network’s rankings.

For MIHS — which sports a 9-3 dual-meet record — senior Warnick is ranked first, senior Gibson is ranked second and senior Lincoln Woods is ranked fifth at 132 in the Network’s boys rankings in their respective weight classes. On the girls’ side, freshman Emerson Woods is ranked third in her weight class.

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Other MIHS standouts at the Wolverine Scuffle were second-placer Luke Sincock (junior, 165) and fourth-placer Derek Loo (senior, 126).

Second-year head coach David Woo has challenged his wrestlers by taking them to premier tournaments like the Rose City Championship in Oregon, Gut Check in Kent and more.

“I gave the kids a different look to the typical competition that they saw in previous years. Just exposing them to high-level competitions,” Woo said. Gibson has mentioned this season that Woo sets a high standard in the wrestling room.

Woo wrestled at Sultan and Bonney Lake high schools, taking third and fourth at 106 pounds during his junior and sophomore years, respectively, at Sultan. He competed at 120 for Bonney Lake as a senior.

He knows what it’s like to go through the mental and physical grind of wrestling. Through that relatability, he’s built a good relationship with the kids, he said.

“I try to make it as fun as possible. I know wrestling can be very hard at times. Sometimes it is not fun to wrestle, but you just gotta come in and show up — just work hard and play hard,” Woo said. “They’re all great to be around, super well-behaved. Mostly just having fun.”

On the mat, Gibson — who won state at 113 pounds his freshman year — also took first at Rose City this season.

“He’s always been talented, and now he’s definitely just solidifying his style of wrestling on the mat. (He’s) just super confident on the mat, too,” Woo said.

According to Woo: Warnick, who took third at Gut Check, is a solid and consistent wrestler; senior Martin is very athletic and shines when wrestling on top; Lincoln Woods — who has been fighting injuries — competes at a high level and placed third at Rose City; and Sincock has stepped up his game after competing at the tough Fargo Nationals.

Emerson Woods, the only girl in the MIHS program, placed first at the King & Queen of the Castle tourney in Tacoma, second at Rose City and third at Gut Check.

“Her partner is her brother, Lincoln, and they wrestle hard pretty much every day in the room,” Woo said.

After finishing up last season at Islander Middle School, Emerson continued her competition journey by becoming a Washington state folkstyle champion, Northwest Regionals freestyle champion, a member of the Washington National Team, a member of the national champion Washington Women’s Greco Team and was named as a “Future Olympian” by USA Wrestling.

“My freshman year of wrestling is exceeding my expectations,” Emerson said. “I’m performing the best I ever have. I was pretty nervous going into the season knowing that I’d be competing against girls who I look up to and are more experienced than me, but I’ve been able to hang with them and I’ve learned a lot from both my wins and losses.”

On the team front, Lincoln noted: “Things are looking good for this season. It seems like the team is doing better than in years past and we have more people placing at tournaments. The team chemistry in the room is definitely something that stands out and I feel like everyone is closer.”

Mercer Island High School wrestlers and coaches gather at the recent Wolverine Scuffle hosted by Bellevue High School. From left, Assistant coach Colton Knebel, Max Martin, Jordan Benitez, head coach David Woo, Gordon Gibson, Chase Warnick and assistant coach Chris Pothoven. Courtesy photo

Mercer Island High School wrestlers and coaches gather at the recent Wolverine Scuffle hosted by Bellevue High School. From left, Assistant coach Colton Knebel, Max Martin, Jordan Benitez, head coach David Woo, Gordon Gibson, Chase Warnick and assistant coach Chris Pothoven. Courtesy photo