For the Spartans, this year’s state wrestling tournament was a victory even before a single grappler set foot on a mat.

Among the approximately 2,500 wrestlers (reportedly a historic high) from around the Evergreen State who trekked to the Tacoma Dome for the WIAA’s Mat Classic XXXI Friday, Feb. 22, nine were from Bainbridge High — the most in recent memory.

The island squad has historically struggled to attract new athletes, especially freshman and girls, though things have lately begun to taken a turn for the better.

There were a record number of girls on the roster of this year’s team, a comparatively super-sized squad of 22 students total. Last year 24 students turned out but only 20 ultimately stuck with it and made the roster, and the year before that just 16 Spartans came to tryouts.

So taking nine students (including one girl) to State was a celebratory benchmark by itself, and though the day saw some mixed showings by Spartans of various levels of experience on the mats, it was not without noteworthy highlights.

In his first match, Spartan senior co-captain Oleg Maguire (138-pounds) pinned Eastside Catholic’s Benjamin Lombardi in 1:05. In his second outing, though, he was pinned in 2:47 by Bethel’s Zyle Bias.

In the first round of the consolation bracket, Maguire pinned Kennwick’s Jacoby Weiber in 1:29, but was then himself pinned by Diego Delgado, of Timberline, in 4:16.

The squad’s only other senior to make an appearance at State, Tyler Pickett (195-pounds) was pinned in 2:48 by Cleveland’s Dejovnni Arns. In the first bout of the consolation bracket, he was on the wrong end of a 6-0 decision and lost to Nick Dallas of Mount Spokane.

Two featherweight Spartans staked spots in the 106-pound bracket: Garrett Swanson and Hiram Topham.

Swanson scored an 11-1 major decision win against O’Dea’s Connor Richardson his first time out, but was then pinned in 20 seconds flat by Kelso’s Alan Luff in Round 2.

After a first-round bye in the consolation bracket, Swanson squared off against Southridge’s Saw Thee and was pinned in 1:47.

Topham also scored a win in his first bout, pinning Ingraham’s Julian Collins in 2:54. He then lost a 6-2 decision to Mountain View’s Hunter Brown, though, and, after a first-round bye, was bested in the consolation bracket by feisty freshman Casten Tollenaar, of Arlington, in a 14-7 decision.

BHS’ sole 126-pounder Indigo Weappa claimed a 3-0 decision against Nathan Hale’s Emmett Donnelly in his first bout, but was then pinned in 4:30 by Kieroon Lawes, a freshman from Bonney Lake.

A first-round bye in the consolation bracket set him up to face Hermiston senior Gage Shipley, who pinned the island junior in 2:42.

Cameron Williams (132-pounds) was pinned in 1:32 by Wren Healy, of Lakeside (Seattle). He also lost his first bout in the consolation bracket, a 4-0 decision against Kelso senior Jovani Jimenez.

Bainbridge bruiser Doug Takada (145-pounds) was bested in his first showing by Rainier Beach’s Brodie Myka, pinned in 3:04. The Spartan sophomore then lost a 4-3 decision in the consolation bracket to Edmonds-Woodway freshman Alec Rust.

Junior Clayton Marsh (152-pounds) was pinned in 5:29 by Chief Sealth’s Lucas Lopez in his first trip to the mat Friday. In the first bout of the consolation bracket he was pinned by Juanita’s Andrew Doughty in 4:50.

The island squad’s only female wrestler at the tourney, junior Sagel Bush, was pinned in 2:44 by Eastlake’s Faith Morse. In her first consolation bout, however, she scored a 10-0 major decision against Katie Mendoza-Vale, a Hazen junior.

She was subsequently bested by Liana Souza, a Rogers sophomore, and pinned in 55 seconds.

BHS ultimately finished in 46th place overall in the 3A division with a team score of 16 points.