The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - While WP high school wrestlers have wrapped up their sea­son, the Waitsburg Matbirds are gearing up for their eighth year on the mats. The team performed well at their first meet of the season in Colfax on Saturday.

The Matbirds were founded by Travis and Kari Newman and Laura and Bill Brown, and compete in the Washington Little Guy Wrestling League. "There was no wrestling here when our boys were young so we drove them to Dayton where there was a Little Guy League at the time," said Kari. "Before long, we had a carful going to Dayton each week and decided to start our own team."

Travis and Kari's son, Tristan, placed fourth at the state wrestling tournament this year as a sophomore. Son Devin, a freshman, missed most of his first year of high school competition after breaking his leg early in the season. Both boys, however, coach and provide inspiration to the younger Matbirds, as do Tyler Hoff­man,

Kavin Kuykendall and other WP wrestlers.

"I don't think there's one of the high school wrestlers that hasn't helped out with the little guys -- especially during their season, when they'll come in after they finish their practices," said Head Coach Newman.

In addition to the teens, Newman gets a hand from assistant coaches Jake Wi­nona, Buck Norris, Charlie Barron, Dan LaRue, Fred White and Jody Stillman. With 35 kids ranging in age from five to 14, it's all hands on deck. In fact, while wres­tlers must be at least five to compete, two four-year-olds and a two-year-old often join their older siblings on the mat to practice.

At a typical practice, the walls of the high school gymnasium are lined with supportive parents and sib­lings. Newman is quick to credit the parents for the suc­cess of the program.

"I have guys come up to me who have run other clubs for 10, 15, 20 years, and they'll tell me that our kids are the most respectful, well- behaved kids they've seen. That goes back to the par­ents. They're involved and they don't treat this like a babysitting service," he said. "And we couldn't begin to do what we do without those mamas! When it comes to fundraising and bake sales, they are gung-ho. They've raised thousands for mats and scholarships."

Newman says it may be 20 years before these young­sters look back and realize what they've gained from their wrestling experience.

These photos were taken during a Matbird practice at the Waitsburg High Gym last Thursday. Above: Matbird coach Travis Newman can be seen at left, demonstrating a "takedown" on a much smaller wrestler, as other wrestlers and their coaches work on their skills.

"That mentoring, deci­Dena sion-making, doing the right thing - that's something they'll have for the rest of their lives," he said. And yet he feels he gains the most. "I have so much fun working with these kids and seeing how much they give. There's just no limit to what they're capable of. It's not easy. They work hard, get slammed on the mat and learn to over­come adversity. Sometimes I find myself tearing up in practice when I see them do something I didn't think was possible," he said. "I'll be here until they run me off."

The Matbirds will host a home meet at the Waitsburg High School auditorium on April 5 and expect about 300 wrestlers to compete. The community is invited to come and cheer them on.

Results from Litte Guy League meet in Colfax March 8:

1st Place-Skyler Ruiz, Carlos Norris, Benjamin Lorang

2nd Place- Will Wi­nona, Brayden Mohney, Lash LaRue, Gavin Gould, Brayden White

3rd Place-Curtis Winona, Zack Norris