Edmonds mayor plays host to Japanese wrestlers

January 5, 2011

Mayor Mike Cooper surrounded by wrestlers and coaches from the Japanese National team, with Mountlake Terrace High School wrestlers and Head Wrestling Coach Kanoe Vierra on the far left. (Photos by Amber Salinas Photography)

Edmonds Mayor Mike Cooper — himself a former Edmonds High School wrestler — played host to a group of high school wrestlers from Japan who are visiting as part of an international cultural exchange and who will wrestle against local All-Stars at Mountlake Terrace tonight.

The wrestlers from the Japanese National Team were accompanied by their coaches, Tomonori Ise and Toshi Hide. Also present was Edmonds-Woodway head wrestling coach Brian Alfi, Mountlake Terrace head coach Kanoe Vierra and members of the Mountlake Terrace wrestling team.

For those who want to see the action, the match begins at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Mountlake Terrace High School. Here’s the lineup, according to Mayor Cooper, who announces all home Edmonds-Woodway wrestling matches and will also be announcing tonight’s match.

E-W assistant wrestling coach Brian Alfi with Mayor Cooper and the Japanese team at City Hall.

Japanese National Team vs Wesco, Kingco, and Cascade All-Stars

125 Pounds Takahiro Abe vs Brandon Leach (Shorewood)

Abe: Inter High School 3^rd, National Sports Festival 2^nd

Leach: 8^th Place at State 2010, Ranked #2 in State 3A 119
125 Pounds Takahiro Abe vs Andrew Vulliet (Edmonds-Woodway)

Abe: Inter High School 3^rd, National Sports Festival 2^nd

Vulliet: 2x State Placer, Ranked #3 in State 4A 112

141 Pounds Rikiya Matsuzawa vs Lex Duncan (Cascade)

Matsuzawa: All High School Greco 3^rd, National Sports Festival 2^nd

Duncan: 3x Regional Participant, State Alternate
141 Pounds Kamei Hayato vs Mac Hutchison (Edmonds-Woodway)

Hayato: All High School Greco 1^st, Inter High School 5^th

Hutchison: 8^th Place at State 2010, Ranked #4 in State at 4A 140

150 Pounds Kenji Yamamoto vs Cody Paxson (Cedarcrest)

Yamamoto: Inter High School 5^th

Paxson: 8^th Place in State 2010, Ranked #2 in State 2A 152

150 Pounds Kenji Yamamoto vs Hamilton Noel (Liberty)

Yamamoto: Inter High School 5^th

Noel: State Finalist in 2010, Ranked 2^nd in State 3A 152

150 Pounds Hiroya Takemoto vs Brandon Straton (Oak Harbor)

Takemoto: New Face High School 3^rd

Straton: 2x Regional Participant, Ranked 6^th in State 3A152

170 Pounds Ryo Shiraisi vs Phil Frazier (Mercer Island)

Shiraisi: Inter High School 2^nd, National Sports Festival 1^st

Frazier: 2010 State Participant, Ranked 8^th in State 3A 171

171 Pounds Daisuke Shimada vs Taylor Call (Mountlake Terrace)

Shimada: Inter High School 3^rd, National Sports Festival 1^st

Call: Regional Qualifier

172 Pounds Hideaki Kouda vs Logan McCallum (Juanita)

Kouda: National Sports Festival 3^rd

McCallum: 2010 State Participant, Ranked 5^th in State 3A 171

177 Pounds Kenta Yamahara vs Nick Ulke (Lynnwood)

Yamahara: Inter High School 2^nd, All High School Greco 3^rd

184 Pounds Maito Shizukuda vs Brayden Jacobson (Everett)

Shizukuda: National Sports Festival 3^rd

Jacobson: Regional Qualifier, Ranked 9^th in State 3A 189

184 Pounds Maito Shizukuda vs Colton Knebel (Mercer Island)

Shizukuda: National Sports Festival 3^rd

Knebel: 3^rd Place at State 2010, Ranked 2^nd in State 3a 189

197 Pounds Seira Terayama vs TJ Blackburn (Mercer Island)

Terayama: National Sports Festival 3^rd

Blackburn: 8^th Place at State 2010, Ranked 3^rd in State 3A 215

230 Pounds Sho Yasuda vs Ian Bolstad

Yasuda: National Sports Festival 2^nd

Bolstad: Cadet Greco All-American, Ranked 3^rd in State 3A 285

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1 Comment

Ken Duncan / January 6, 2011, 3:20 am Reply

This was a fun evening of wrestling. This is the second time one of my son’s have been selected for this honor. I want to thank all those involved for hosting this event.