Federal Way girls wrestling coach Travis Mango is building more than just a program; he’s producing good people.

Mariah Stewart is one of them.

During the Eagles’ duel wrestling meet, Dec. 14, Stewart faced Thomas Jefferson wrestler Goddess Ma’alona-Faletogo, who also happens to be blind. At one point during the match, Stewart noticed Ma’alona-Faletogo was choking on her head gear, unable to release it from her neck. Without hesitation, Stewart ran to her aid, released the head gear and even carried Ma’alona-Faletogo back to the center of the mat to continue the match.

Prior to the restart of the match, Stewart could see Ma’alona-Faletogo was visibly shaken from the scare, so she grabbed Ma’alona-Faletogo and hugged her until she was calm and able to continue.

While Stewart won by a landslide, both wrestlers received a lengthy standing ovation from spectators because of Stewart’s unquestioned act of sportsmanship.

When it was time for Stewart to accept her official victory, Stewart took Ma’alona-Faletogo with her and hugged Ma’alona-Faletogo a final time in a show of sportsmanship and respect.

Thomas Jefferson athletic director Mike Grady, who is serving his second stint as the school’s athletic director, said he’s never before seen in his 31 years anything like Stewart’s display of sportsmanship in high school athletics.

“It was just incredible,” Grady said. “I personally felt like hugging Mariah for her sensitivity to Goddess’ situation.”

Stewart said, prior to her match, she had never faced Ma’alona-Faletogo but was aware she was blind.

Stewart said she felt compelled to help Ma’alona-Faletogo because she’d want someone to help her in that situation.

“It’s not always about winning, sometimes,” Stewart said. “Sportsmanship plays a big role, especially for me. I was in a position to help her. I didn’t think, I just did it.”

As for including Ma’alona-Faletogo in her victory, Stewart said she did it because she didn’t want her competitor to feel embarrassed or ashamed of what happened.

“I didn’t want her to have that ‘losing’ feeling,” Stewart said. “Losing in front of your home crowd is nothing. I brought her with me to show her that, at the end of the day, I’m going to show you love. No matter what happens, you should always feel loved.”

Mango said the display of sportsmanship he witnessed was nothing short of special. He said Stewart’s ability is only a fraction of what makes her character.

“It’s unique to who she is as a person,” Mango said. “She can be that during the match but also be tender-hearted, loving and caring off the mat. This situation was unique, but Mariah’s gesture was not. It’s who she is.”

Wrestling at Federal Way is about being aggressive on the mat at all times, but Mango said his wrestlers cannot be on the team if they are not good people.

“It’s more important to demonstrate good sportsmanship and to care and love others,” Mango said. “What Mariah did that night made for a very proud coaching moment.”

Stewart said the opportunity to wrestle Ma’alona-Faletogo was inspiring.

She said despite her disability, Ma’alona-Faletogo gives everything she has while on the mat, which forced Stewart to take a step back and examine her dedication to the sport.

“She not only goes out there and competes, she gives it everything she can,” Stewart said. “Goddess is truly inspirational.”

For Ma’alona-Faletogo, the match against Stewart was emotional. While it wasn’t her first match of the season, she said she remembers being very nervous.

Prior to the start, the freshman wrestler said she envisioned what winning and success looked like to her. Then pictured her accomplishing that vision on the mat, getting her hand raised as the victor in the center of the mat.

The early scare forced Ma’alona-Faletogo to lose that focus, however. She said she was attempting to loosen the strap on her head gear when she lost control and it began to choke her.

“I was just kind of shaken up, but (Stewart) gave me a hug,” Ma’alona-Faletogo said. “It was really nice.”

The day after the match, the team had a closed-door, team-only meeting. The topic was sportsmanship.

Stewart said during the meeting, Mango asked: “How do you want your name to be remembered?”

Stewart said Mango spoke to players about having an impact far beyond what they do on the mat.

She also spoke about her moment with Ma’alona-Faletogo.

Stewart insists, however, she didn’t help Ma’alona-Faletogo for recognition or attention. She said she helped Ma’alona-Faletogo because it was the right thing to do.

“That’s just me,” Stewart said. “That’s my heart. There’s no reason I did it. That’s just me. If I see you struggling, I’m going to help you. I’m going to show love. That’s just me.”

Both Stewart and Ma’alona-Faletogo have since seen each other since the meet.

Ma’alona-Faletogo said Stewart was just as warm and caring days later as she was when she helped the freshman the night they competed.

“We were at the Hammerhead Tournament, and she came right up and gave me a hug, and she stayed and watched my match,” Ma’alona-Faletogo said. “Mariah is a good person. You can just tell.”

Mango said the best part of coaching is the opportunity to help mold young adults. The difficult part coaching is showing athletes how to think far beyond themselves. Mango said he knew almost immediately, with Stewart, he had a good one.

“The world is bigger than what happens on a 40-foot mat,” Mango said. “It’s more than just the competition. It’s more than just the practice. It’s the lessons we learn. If we can learn to be good people, we can learn to learn to lift one another up, (and) this world will be a better place, and Mariah’s a good start.”

Freshman wrestler Goddess Ma’alona-Faletogo taking in coaching from Thomas Jefferson wrestling coach Jeff Muraki. JEROD YOUNG, the Mirror

Freshman wrestler Goddess Ma’alona-Faletogo takes tactical wrestling instruction from Thomas Jefferson wrestling coach Jeff Muraki. JEROD YOUNG, the Mirror