Yelm girls wrestling coach excited for future of program after Mat Classic conclusion

Though Ben Hawk’s Tornados didn’t have any medalists inside of the Tacoma Dome for Mat Classic XXXVII, he’s extremely proud of the work the wrestlers on his YHS girls wrestling team put in this season.

Additionally, with a strong core of four state wrestlers set to return during the 2026-27 season next school year, Hawk described his Tornados future as being incredibly bright. With the talented core of underclassmen set to return next season, Hawk said a lot of their progression should be credited to the senior leaders on the team — Madelyn Lawson and Sofia Sheedy.

“The girls put in the work. They take the medals home. They earn all of that. There’s a bright future. We knew going in that there was going to be a big hill to climb, but there’s a bright future,” Hawk said. “We’ll lose two of our shining stars from this season to graduation in Sofia Sheedy and Madelyn Lawson.”

Hawk told the Nisqually Valley News on Monday, Feb. 23, that despite missing half of the 2025-26 season, Sheedy had an incredible season and defied all odds while qualifying for Mat Classic XXXVII.

“She missed half of the season due to injury but she is electric and put in a ton of work. Going into the league tournament, to even qualify for the state tournament was nuts,” Hawk said, of Sheedy. “The top six in her weight bracket were already state level or state placers, number one ranked in the state or a world medalist at the 17u level. That bracket was insanely stacked. Sofia making it and qualifying, with half of a season of wrestling, was pretty cool to see.”

Hawk noted that Sheedy had an incredibly competitive showing inside of the Tacoma Dome by winning a match and scoring points against every wrestler she faced.

“100-pounds was one of the most competitive brackets that I’ve seen in the girls division,” Hawk said. “That whole class from top to bottom was full of wrecking balls.”

Though Lawson is typically known for her skills in the sport of track and field, she put the state on watch this wrestling season with a strong showing during her senior campaign.

“She’s gonna be going on to a four year college to throw (in track) for a reason. She’s got an amazing ability,” Hawk said. “Last year, her season was cut short due to an ankle injury. To see her get a season of just throwing girls all season long was incredible. She put girls on their back the entire season. She has an electric style. She has the heart of a champion.”

Additionally, Hawk believes that Lawson has contributed tremendously to the foundation of his program’s culture.

“Even though she didn’t place at state, she belonged there. A lot of people, especially during the last half of the season as she started racking up tournament wins, the whole state knew who she was. My hat’s off for a great career,” Hawk said. “She was the only one in the room to wrestle all four years. She’s had three different head coaches and contributed a lot to the future of this program.”

First year wrestler Shavari Epps had a strong showing for the Tornados and was off to a hot start with an opening round victory inside of the Tacoma Dome. She was able to pick up two victories throughout the tournament — all while nursing an injury.

“Shavari would be the last person to tell you she had an injury prior to the tournament. It would’ve made every other girl, I believe, in her bracket pull out of the tournament. She fought through it. I couldn’t be more proud,” Hawk said. “The way she came out on fire was freaking cool. There’s something about the Tacoma Dome that flips the switch for these girls.”

Hawk added that despite being a first year wrestler, Epps puts herself in a position to win every match she competes in.

“I can’t wait to see her heal up and come out next year ready to go, because she put on a show for how far she came along,” he said. “She came out during our open mats and has been a very hard-working wrestler ever since.”

Along with Epps, Hawk believes the future of the team lies in the hands of underclassmen Mariah Gibson, Aryana Forouhar and Reagan McNally — who all picked up victories inside of Mat Classic XXXVII.

“They all had two wins inside of the Tacoma Dome, which going 50-50 in the dome really solidifies the work they put in,” Hawk said. “Those three, along with Shavari, are going to be a four-headed monster. It’s going to be a fun season next year to have those four knocking other wrestlers out of tournaments and pinning girls at duels next year. There was food left on the table for those girls, and they know it. I know it. The girls who got away with some wins against them knew it was us taking risks that let them advance. I’m just pumped because those girls want it even more now.”