Chiawana coach looking for one last WA title before calling it quits

The Chiawana Riverhawks paid tribute to their longtime wrestling coach ahead of one of his last tournaments.

Jack Anderson and his family were out on the mat last week before the Riverhawks were to take on Kennewick, with a number of his former wrestlers standing behind the Andersons down on the floor.

Chiawana athletic director John Cazier took the microphone and talked about Anderson, who has been the boys wrestling program’s only head coach since the school opened in 2009.

Cazier listed the accomplishments under Anderson’s overseeing of this program:

▪ An 89-7 conference record (now 91-7 after wins Wednesday and Friday night), and a 79-3 Mid-Columbia Conference dual meet record (now at 81-3).

▪ Eight league titles (now nine, after beating Hermiston last Friday).

▪ Eight district titles.

▪ Eight coach of the year titles.

▪ Fifty-seven state tournament placers.

▪ Six state champions.

▪ And back-to-back state 4A championship team titles in 2019 and 2020.

“And I believe it would have been three straight,” said Cazier, “if we had a state tournament in 2021. The only thing that beat us was Covid last year.”

Some of the toughest opponents these past few years for the Riverhawks have been the practices. Just making the starting lineup has been a battle in itself.

For the next three weekends, Anderson will send his wrestlers out on the mat in search of more state titles — both for his wrestlers and his team.

And then, Anderson will put away his whistle and step down as the only boys head coach the Chiawana Riverhawks have ever known.

“(Cazier) told me earlier in the week to be ready, and to tell the kids,” said Anderson. “He said, ‘It’s your last year and we’re going to do something.’”

So he told his wrestlers two nights before the ceremony.

Anderson, while appreciative, was uncomfortable with the attention Wednesday.

“I want it to be about the kids,” he said. “This isn’t about me. John is a special athletic director. What he did was cool.”

For Anderson, it is time to step down.

“Coach (Shannon) Stover and I wanted to do this,” said Anderson. “We told each other ‘Let’s at least do this through our sons’ senior years.’ I’ve got three daughters coming up.”

Ironically, Anderson’s daughters were the ones most upset when they learned what he was doing.

“They grew up going to tournaments. They’d go shopping with their mom. They’d come to practice and it was fun for them to run around,” he said.

But they also have their own sports.

“And now it’s my turn to support them in their athletic careers,” Anderson said. “I can drive them to their soccer tournaments. Time to see what it’s like to be a parent in the stands.”

That includes watching his son, Isaiah, finish his senior year and then follow him for the next four to five years at Oregon State University.

Leaving Chiawana’s wrestling program won’t be easy for Jack Anderson, even though he’s been having 15-hour days of teaching and coaching wrestling.

“In order to do what you do (as a head wrestling coach) it’s year-round,” he said. “As a wrestling coach, I can’t sleep. I’m a little crazy about wrestling.”

For example, Anderson lately would wake up about 4 a.m., thinking about a certain kid on his team and what he can do to be better. So Anderson would watch video, looking for an edge for his athlete.

“This thing just consumes me,” Anderson said. “It’s a never-ending job. It’s a constant job, helping your guys to get better.”

Anderson’s son and his friends grew up together as young kids, and they’d wrestle at their own tournaments before coming to Chiawana. Because of that, the families of those kids became a bigger family unit.

“This program is a family,” he said.

Now, Anderson says, it’s time to get back to his.

▪ The Mid-Columbia Conference 4A tournament begins at 2 p.m., Friday, at Richland High School. The top three placers advance to the regional tournament next weekend in Moses Lake.

▪ The 3A boys MCC tournament is at 10 a.m. Saturday in Hermiston. Top four, plus an alternate, advance to regionals.

▪ The girls district tournament is 10 a.m. Saturday at Richland. Top seven advance to regionals.

Football signings

A group of area athletes made things official on Wednesday when they signed letters of intent to play college football beginning in the fall. Here’s a quick list of those announced:

▪ Kennewick linebacker Bronson Childs announced Tuesday night that he’d be signing with Weber State. That means he’ll be joining his older brother, Jagger.

▪ Myles Mayovsky, another Kennewick standout, completed his commitment to Eastern Washington University by signing. The Eagles want him at linebacker too.

▪ Chiawana quarterback JP Zamora announced that he has signed with WSU. It is believed to be a preferred walk on offer.

▪ Kamiakin wideout Aidan Canada signed as a preferred walk-on at Central Washington University.

▪ Montana Western grabbed three locals — Richland’s Deacon Boyce and Cameron Kitchens, as well as Walla Walla’s Jake Humphrey.

▪ Wa-Hi offensive lineman Aden Goodwin has committed to Western Oregon.

▪ Kamiakin offensive lineman Jaxin McCallum announced he has signed to play for South Dakota Mines.

There should be more announcements coming in the next few days.

Bowling

The state high school girls bowling tournament begins Thursday and runs through Saturday at Narrows Plaza Bowl in University Place.

The WIAA revised the schedule so there aren’t as many people in the building at the same time. So the 3A tournament is Thursday, 1A/2A is Friday, and 4A is Saturday.

In 3A, Kennewick’s team of Kassandra Foss, Paige Harns, Kailey Johnson, Caidence Richardson and Calista Tippett were competing as this went to press. So was Southridge’s Wendolyn Bateman, Hermiston’s Ella Gutierrez and Walla Walla’s Kaitlynn Beuck and Jenna Huntsman.

In Class 4A, Pasco’s team of Zahara Acevedo, Ailani Chavez, Itzel Hernandez, Aylinee Lopez, Diana Lopez, Cristina Ramirez and Yarelly Ramirez will be competing. So will Hanford’s Anna Beitz, Kamiakin’s Hayden Bennett, Richland’s Malia Haynes and Sunnyside’s Mya Martinez.

This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 12:59 PM.