Call them Redmond High’s dynamic duo.
With a combined 33-3 record this season at press time, Mustang seniors Kyle Nazareth and Alex Kudryashov feel they’re wrestling better than ever and look forward to squaring off with whoever is placed in front of them on the mat.
Nazareth weighs in at 132 pounds and sported a 17-1 record prior to Thursday’s meet against Cascade and Lynnwood, and Kudryashov grapples at 170 pounds and amassed a 16-2 record before the double-dual contest, which took place after the Reporter’s deadline.
Mustang coach Paul Mullen, who has been at the helm of the program for the last 22 years, enjoys talking about his two standouts, who both won first place in their weight divisions at last month’s Nathan Hale Barry Knott Classic Tournament. Redmond placed fourth as a team at the event.
On Nazareth, Mullen said: “He’s exceptionally smart and very quick. He’s very calculated and knows exactly what he wants to do and how to do it.”
Mullen added about Kudryashov, who jumped up from wrestling 160 pounds last year and was a 4A state alternate: “He’s very smart. He puts in a lot of time and a lot of effort. His two losses were very close.” The coach noted that former Mustang standout Trevor Long has helped guide Kudryashov to success this year.
Kudryashov also received a boost from attending the J. Robinson intensive wrestling camp for the third time. He tackled the 14-day camp in 2014 and has participated in the 28-day camp before. Robinson is a former U.S. Army Ranger and 1972 Greco-Roman Olympian.
“It keeps my confidence up and gives me mental toughness,” Kudryashov said of the camp. “I just know what I’ve got to do to win. I know that I’m just as good as the other guy.”
He added that defeating Issaquah’s Colby Starren, 9-3, in the title bout at the Barry Knott Classic Tournament was significant since his foe was the state’s No. 7-ranked wrestler at 170 at the time. The Mustang plans on staying aggressive on the mat and hopefully qualifying for the Mat Classic XXVII state tourney next month.
As for Nazareth, he defeated Cascade Christian’s Sean Hussey, 11-4, to win the Barry Knott Classic Tournament title.
“I’m feeling a lot more confident this year and have a good chance of going farther than last year (regionals),” he said. “I really believe I can beat the other person.”
Nazareth said his favorite moves are a Fireman’s takedown and a Guillotine pinning combination.
Other Mustang standouts are senior 145-pounder Brayan Hays (13-6) and sophomore 220-pounder Jose Conde (14-5). Tops on the girls’ side are sophomore 135-pounder Nadia Medvinsky, who was a regional qualifier last year, and junior 115-pounder Mary McConahay, who was a regional qualifier in 2013.
At press time, Redmond — which took second at its own David Schlosser Memorial Tournament last month — was 9-6 overall and 2-2 in 4A Kingco.
