Oh, brother: Springsteen a state champion

Dante Springsteen’s bragging rights are equal now to his brother’s.

Springsteen won the 160-pound championship in the 3A state high school wrestling tournament in Tacoma, matching the feat his brother and former Bethel High teammate, Phillip, accomplished a year ago in the same weight class of the 4A tourney.

And after Dante graduates this spring from Bethel, he will join his brother in the ranks of college wrestlers. Dante signed a letter of intent with Boise State University and will compete at 165 pounds for the Broncos. Phillip is in his freshman season with University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D.

The younger sibling’s championship swan song headed six top-eight finishes in Tacoma by contestants from south Pierce County in the state tournament Feb. 17-18 at the Tacoma Dome. The others were Derek Brown of Eatonville, who finished third in the 2A tourney, three of Springsteen’s teammates – Ethan Calapp (third) and Coty Chabot and Deryl Sweem  (both sixth), and Chad Simonson of Graham-Kapowsin (sixth in the 4A field),

Sprinsteen was a dominant force in his title march. Starting with an opening-round 19-5 domination of Brett Allred of Everett and ending with an 18-5 thumping of Yelm sophomore Chayton Miller in the title match, Springsteen outpointed each of his four opponents by at least 12 points.

Springsteen came close to a state title last year, finishing second at 152 pounds in the 4A tournament. Bethel stepped down to the 3A enrollment classification this year.

(Read more in the March 1 print edition of The Dispatch)