Thomas Jefferson girls wrestling sisters Jasmine and Raisa Pleasants put the school’s wrestling program on the map.
After making the journey and coming close to bringing home a state championship in 2015, the pair returned to the Dome this year, and Jasmine Pleasants beat Sienna Ramirez of Lakes in the 140-pound class to bring home the state championship.
For Jasmine Pleasants, her win in the finals was significant well beyond a state championship.
“It definitely wasn’t easy, but I expected the outcome. I was just really ready for it,” Jasmine Pleasants said. “That was my 100th win of my career. This is what I have been waiting for all year.”
Raisa Pleasants didn’t make it to the finals of the 105-pound class as she lost to Stephanie Blankenship of Sunnyside.
Jasmine Pleasants’ win is big for girls wrestling in Federal Way. It’s even more meaningful to Jefferson’s program as a whole.
When the Pleasants sisters came to the school four years ago, the sisters didn’t just help keep the wrestling program afloat, they helped build it to where it is today.
“Having Jasmine come out for wrestling has been everything,” Jefferson coach Harvey Cole said. “When Jeff (Muraki) and I started this, Jasmine was an advocate for this program to survive.”
Wrestling is in the Pleasants’ blood.
Most of the Pleasants family has wrestled to some degree. Their older brother is the last Pleasants to wrestle under Cole before his younger sisters joined the program.
Since Jasmine Pleasants entered the program, the focus has been building the program, making it better, making it stronger.
Their personalities made it easy for Jefferson’s blind wrestler, Goddess Ma’alona-Faletogo, to join the program and earn a spot in the state tournament.
“They’re all about getting kids out,” Cole said. “They’re not just dedicated to the sport. They’re about making sure the program has a tradition and a name.”
At the state championship this past weekend, Jasmine Pleasants first toppled Kaylee Martinez of Othello before moving on the the finals.
Cole said he was convinced Raisa Pleasants was going to win a championship in her class, but the close loss speaks to the unpredictability of the state tournament.
Raisa Pleasants set out a goal of winning the state championship this year prior to the season. Even though she didn’t accomplish the goal, Cole said her work along the way spoke for itself.
“Just because she didn’t win, it doesn’t trump her accomplishments of this season,” Cole said. “She didn’t win, but she also wrestled some top-tier kids.”
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Ma’alona-Faletogo herself had a phenomenal first day of state. She pinned Julia Blair of Everett. She then battled in a close match against Shallon Crossley of Mark Walker but was pinned.
Ma’alona-Faletogo decided not to wrestle in her third and final match of the tournament.
“I think her previous match messed with her confidence a little bit,” Cole said.
Jorge Rojas represented the Raider boys program, but he went two-and-out and was eliminated from competition.
DECATUR and TODD BEAMER
The Todd Beamer Titans sent Kyle Russell, Tibou Bangoura and Desmond Nelton to the state tournament. Bangoura, who is a senior, made it despite never having wrestled prior to this season. He finished eighth in his weight class. Bangoura is most noted for being a football and track athlete, but he expressed interest in wrestling to coach Brett Lucas.
“We welcomed him, and we love how he stuck it out,” Lucas said. “Kids like that will come out for a week or so, then quit. He lasted, and he did some really good things.”
The Decatur Golden Gator sent sent Alejandro Avelar, David Weir, Jake Cassaday, Cameron Cruz, Isidore Utu and Quinzy Salu on the boys side. Both Cassaday and Salu made it to the final day but both lost via pin fall. Decatur sent Glaysia Sparling on behalf of the girls, but she did not advance to the finals.
