Not even a pandemic can end the dominance of the Aberdeen High School girls wrestling program.

The Bobcats proved there’s little that can stop its streak, as Aberdeen won its sixth straight 2A District 4 title Tuesday in Tumwater.

Aberdeen wrestlers won 10 individual championships, leaving no doubt as to which program is tops in the district.

Austin Wakefield (100 pounds), Madelynn Machowek (105), Ashlyn Yakovich (110), Emmersyn Yakovich (115), Lillian Allen (120), Hailey Wilson (130), Raegan Portmann (140), Emma Marchese (145), Justice Valenzuela (190) and Tatum Heikkila (HWY) each won district titles in their respective weight classes.

Aili Scott (120), Rylie Waltee (125), Char Gutierrez (135) and Katie Gakin (170) placed second for the Bobcats.

The result was Aberdeen scoring five times as many points as second-place Washougal.

For Aberdeen head coach Craig Yakovich, the last week has represented one of the best in program history.

NIC CORTEZ | MATFOCUS.COM The Aberdeen High School girls wrestling team coached by Craig Yakovich, far right, won its sixth straight district championship in a dominant performance at the 2A District 4 Championship Tournament on Tuesday in Tumwater.

“I’m amazed at this group of young ladies, absolutely amazed,” he said. “You can feel the electricity that each girl gets from her teammates rooting for her from the sidelines and once the momentum gets rolling, they become an unstoppable force on the mat. This marks the end of an extraordinary season and one of the most dominant weeks (districts and regionals) I’ve ever seen as a coach.”

Aberdeen’s dominance did not come without surprises, as exhibited by the victories of Madelynn Machowek, Lilly Allen and Emma Marchese, each of whom defeated opponents they had lost to in Saturday’s sub-district tournament.

“They came back, regrouped and came out on top in the season finale,” Yakovich said.

Aberdeen co-captain Machowek trailed 5-4 late in the match against Centralia’s Jade Hudson before winning via fall with five seconds remaining on the clock.

NIC CORTEZ | MATFOCUS.COM Aberdeen 105-pound wrestler Madelynn Machowek (top) was one of 10 Bobcat wrestlers to win individual district titles on Tuesday in Tumwater.

Marchese, a freshman, was nearly defeated via fall against Shelton’s Marie Marbet in the first round, but survived and turned the tables, winning via fall in the second frame.

“The excitement on her and teammates faces said it all,” Yakovich said of Marchese’s victory. “That was the first of many big moments I believe she will have in her wrestling career.”

BOYS BASKETBALL

Raymond 59, South Bend 40

After starting the season 0-6, the Raymond Seagulls jumped up to fifth place in the 2B Pacific League with a victory over rival South Bend on Tuesday in Raymond.

“This is always a great rivalry game, and I thought our kids responded well to the challenge,” Raymond head coach Derek Rask said. “We got into some foul trouble early and I thought that took us away from our game plan somewhat in the first half. I thought the key to our win was our solid defensive play in the second half. I felt like our defense led to quality transition. We also rebounded much better in the second half, not allowing South Bend to get second-chance opportunities.”

Adrian Quintana led Raymond with 22 points with Morgan Anderson, who was in foul trouble in the first half, scoring 15 of his 17 points in the second half.

Jaxson Freeman was “a monster on the boards,” according to Rask and finished with the first double-double of his prep career, scoring 10 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Aberdeen and Hoquiam boys swim teams pose for a photo during the 2A District 4 Championships on Wednesday in Shelton.

Bobcats cap swim season with individual title

Buoyed by an individual district championship win, plus several top-three marks, Aberdeen’s boys swimming team capped its short season with a historic finish Wednesday afternoon in Shelton.

Junior Russell Bates won the 50-yard freestyle event, and Aberdeen claimed 10 top-three marks to push it to a second-place team finish at the District IV 2A boys swimming meet at Shelton High School.

Bates’ win in the 50 free was the Bobcats’ first individual district boys swimming title since Joseph Bowley in 2013. The second-place finish for Aberdeen is the highest team result in recent memory.

“This was a five-week season and I really wish I had more time with this team,” AHS-HHS head coach Rob Burns said. “This season was a quick, down-and-dirty sprint and this finish is all about how all 10 Aberdeen swimmers came together in a short amount of time. They worked hard in the off-season workouts and accepted every challenge during the season. They deserve this.”

Russell Bates’ win in the 50 free was a quick one, with the junior Bobcat taking the lead for good off a strong turn at the 25-yard mark. He was also a member of the third-place 200 medley and freestyle relays with Isaac Brandt, Tyler Bates and Foster Patterson in the medley and Brandt, Bates and Colton Burns in the free.

“Russell has always come up with his best performances when the competition gets better,” Coach Burns said. “He is a strong, experienced sprinter and today’s win is just more proof of that.”

Colton Burns, along with freshman Elijah Olson, went 2-3 in the 200 individual medley to start a top-three run. Other top-scoring performances were: Brandt took fourth in the 50 free, Tyler Bates was second in the 100 free and third in the 100 back, Jamieson Berney grabbed third in the 500 free and Patterson took second in the 100 breaststroke.

Burns, Brandt, Olson and Berney combined to take third in the 400 free relay to cap the day’s festivities.

Hoquiam’s Zach Parker and Tommy Wallace scored 24 points to take seventh overall as a team. Wallace was fourth in the 100 breaststroke and Parker was sixth in the 100 fly for their best finishes of the day.

District IV 2A Championship Meet

(Aberdeen & Hoquiam results only)

Team — Columbia River 242, Aberdeen 218, Mark Morris 190. 7. Hoquiam 24.

200 MR — 3. Aberdeen, 1:51.10. 200 Free — 8. Jamieson Berney (A), 2:23.14. 10. Noah Johnson (A), 2:35.50. 12. Logen Seguin (A), 2:50.77. 200 IM — 2. Colton Burns (A), 2:28.26. 3. Elijah Olson (A), 2:37.57. 50 Free — 24.13 — 1. Russell Bates (A). 4. Isaac Brandt (A), 25.53. 9. Zach Parker (H), 26.76. 13. Foster Peterson (A). 18. Tommy Wallace (H). 100 Fly — 5. Russell Bates (A), 1:03.87. 6. Zach Parker (H), 1:05.61. 8. Elijah Olson (A), 1:12.67. 100 Free — 2. Tyler Bates (A), 54.36. 7. Colton Burns (A), 57.09. 16. Marcus Paniagua (A).

500 Free — 3. Jamieson Berney (A), 6:46.27. 7. Noah Johnson (A). 8. Logen Seguin. 200 FR — 3. Aberdeen, 1:38.27. 100 Back — 3. Tyler Bates (A), 59.17. 8. Marcus Paniagua (A). 100 Breast — 2. Foster Patterson (A), 1:16.32. 4. Tommy Wallace (H), 1:22.53. 400 FR — 3. Aberdeen, 4:07.82.

NIC CORTEZ/ MATFOCUS.COM Aberdeen 105-pound wrestler Madelynn Machowek, top, was one of 10 Bobcat wrestlers to win individual district titles Tuesday in Tumwater.