Toppenish Girls Make History with Fifth Straight Mat Classic Title, Adalyne Montiel Claims Fourth Crown

The Tacoma Dome erupted Saturday as Toppenish High School's girls wrestling program claimed its fifth consecutive WIAA Mat Classic XXXVII team championship, cementing one of the most dominant runs in Washington State high school wrestling history. Leading the charge was senior Adalyne Montiel, who captured her fourth individual state title in a career that has defined excellence at the 2A level.

Montiel's fourth title represents the kind of sustained dominance that comes around rarely in prep sports. Standing atop the podium for the fourth time at Mat Classic, the Toppenish wrestler finished what has been an extraordinary four-year journey at the state's premier wrestling tournament held at the Tacoma Dome. For a program that has now won five straight team titles, Montiel's consistency has been the backbone of their success, and this year's performance underscored why Toppenish continues to be the standard-bearer in girls wrestling across Washington State.

"This one felt different," Montiel reflected after securing her fourth championship, acknowledging the weight of representing a program at the absolute peak of its powers. Her journey to this moment showcases the level of commitment required to reach championship status year after year in one of Washington's most competitive wrestling conferences.

Wapato Boys Defend 1A Crown Behind Depth and Consistency

On the boys side, Wapato High School demonstrated that championships are built through complete team excellence, not individual stars. The Wapato boys wrestling program successfully defended their 1A team title at Mat Classic XXXVII, proving that depth and balanced success across all weight classes remains the formula for sustained excellence in the WIAA.

Built methodically from the bottom up, the Wapato squad showed no cracks in their armor, with multiple wrestlers contributing points throughout the tournament. While other programs relied heavily on superstar performances, Wapato's balanced approach paid dividends as they secured back-to-back 1A team titles. Zillah High School made a strong run as runner-up, placing three individual winners on the podium but ultimately falling short in the team standings.

The competition between Wapato and Zillah showcased the strength of 1A wrestling in the Yakima Valley, a region that has produced some of Washington's most accomplished wrestlers regardless of classification. Both programs brought well-trained, disciplined teams to the Tacoma Dome, and the tight contest between them elevated the level of wrestling on display.

Zuniga's Dominance and Granger's Breakthrough Moments Define 2A and 2B Action

Justyce Zuniga of Toppenish delivered one of the most memorable performances of the tournament, capturing his fourth individual state title. In the final minute of his championship match, Zuniga finally showed a measured pace, a stark contrast to the lightning-quick style that has defined his wrestling career and made him virtually unstoppable at the 2A level. That fourth title places Zuniga among the elite wrestlers in Washington State history, and his dominance helped propel Toppenish's boys team to a second-place 2A finish.

Granger High School's wrestling program made headlines on both the boys and girls sides at Mat Classic XXXVII. The Granger boys claimed their 2B team title in what was a narrow victory, with the Spartans capturing a pair of individual champions to secure first place. After what felt like a brief dry spell without a team title, Granger's boys' wrestling program reasserted itself as one of the elite programs in the classification.

The Granger girls team brought home a trio of individual champions, led by Gabrielle Berger's repeat championship performance and Sonia Mendoza's breakthrough title after four years of pursuing state glory. Freshman Vanessa Torres announced herself on the state stage with an individual title, positioning herself for potential multiple championships in the years ahead. With this trio powering the way, Granger's girls finished as runners-up in the combined 1A/2B standings, showcasing the program's bright future.

Mat Classic XXXVII delivered the kind of performances Washington State high school wrestling fans expect from the tournament held annually at the Tacoma Dome. From Toppenish's historic dominance to emerging programs making their statements, from individual legends adding to their legacies to freshmen launching their own championship runs, the 2026 edition proved why this tournament remains the measuring stick for excellence in Washington State wrestling.

As these wrestlers head into the regional and state playoffs, the momentum they've built at Mat Classic will carry them forward in their quests for additional honors.

This article was created with AI assistance. Stats and results sourced from public records.