Colin McIntyre wrestles for the win

By Jett Legry, Reporter

Eleventh grader Colin McIntyre became a member of the Vashon Island High School wrestling team when he was a freshman. He has honed his craft over the years since he began wrestling as a five year old on the Vashon Rockbusters youth program.

Fast forward 12 years to today, McIntyre is training for his second to last year of his high school career. Prior to the season starting, McIntyre and the rest of the school’s wrestling team were training an hour and a half for six days out of the week before the regular season started. Now that the season is starting, they’ve cut practices to five days a week after school with one additional session before school on Wednesdays.

The team’s first competition was at home on Friday, Dec. 2, and McIntyre trained hard to be able to bring his A-game, taking third place in the tournament. The VHS team has been coached by brothers Per Lars Blomgren and Anders Blomgren for 23 years; additionally, the duo has been coaching McIntyre since he was in second grade.

“Colin is extremely tough. He has an incredible work ethic that is directly connected to this toughness… [He] brings his intensity, inquisitiveness, and hard-nosed attitude to the wrestling room every day,” Per Lars Blomgren said.

The team trains together, but on the mat it’s a one-on-one battle. McIntyre knows all about these one-on-one fights as last year he placed fourth in State championships.

“[You’re] trying to calm your nerves and get focused… It’s just you and that other guy out there… And while it’s nice that you don’t have to rely on another teammate, when you do lose [it’s all on you]. So, it’s intense,” McIntyre said.

While the matches are individualized, McIntyre believes that the team is what makes wrestling so special. This year, it’s the community that the team has developed that makes them stand out.

“[It’s] the atmosphere [that makes this team special]. It’s a really hard-working group of people. And we’re all just getting after it. We always have some fun. [The] camaraderie is a huge part of it. It’s a support system… having a team around you to hype you up when you win and cheer you up when you lose is important,” McIntyre said.

Over the years, McIntyre has become a leader for the team both on and off the mat, helping the coaches with any activity they need a hand with.

“It’s [been] especially great to see him grow into the quiet leader that he is now. We use him to demonstrate instruction and we look to him as an example of hard work. He also has grown [into] leadership roles that aren’t necessarily wrestling related, like helping at fundraisers, setting up and cleaning up for wrestling events, and laughing at Coach PL’s amazing jokes,” Anders Blomgren said.

Per Lars Blomgren echoes Anders Blomgren and is grateful to have McIntyre in their ranks.

“While Colin is a great wrestler, he is also an exceptional person. I am not sure I have heard anyone say anything bad about him. There aren’t many Colin McIntyres in this world,” Per Lars Blomgren said.

McIntyre and the wrestling team are looking forward to this year’s season, and are ready to destroy the competition.