EHS wrestlers honored at Hall of Fame ceremony

When Enumclaw High School inducted three new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame, it was wrestling that took center stage.

The 2024 ceremony took place the evening of Jan. 4 in the school’s Chuck Smith Gymnasium. Appropriately, the inductions occurred prior to varsity wrestling matches.

Joining the prestigious group of former Hornet athletes and teams were two individual state wrestling champions – Jake Gonzalez and Chase Smith – along with the 2008 wrestling team that captured a state title.

This year’s inductees join a group that already numbered 51 individual athletes and 17 teams. Enumclaw’s athletic department has hosted Hall of Fame ceremonies since the 1998-99 school year.

Jake Gonzales: After placing second during the 2003 state wrestling tournament, Gonzalez returned for a senior season that included a 43-1 record and a state championship. His only loss that year came when he jumped up a weight class during the elite Pacific Coast tournament.

Following his years at Enumclaw High, Gonzalez wrestled at Oregon State University where he was a four-year starter, served as team captain and was a two-time placer at the Pac-12 tournament.

Gonzalez now serves as a special education teacher and coach at Crook County High School in Prineville, Oregon. He started as an assistant with the wrestling program and has since moved on to the head coaching role. He has earned several coaching honors and been a part of five state wrestling team titles, along with series of runner-up and third-place finishes.

Gonzales and his wife, Orie, are parents to a daughter and a son.

Chase Smith: Smith boasted an impressive run of success at Enumclaw High that included a third-place finish at state in 2005 and a runner-up finish in 2006 prior to winning a state championship in 2007. He closed out his EHS career with the record of 134 wins and just 12 losses; that included a stellar senior season where he went 41-1.

During his Hornet years Smith was a three-time Pacific Coast tourney champion, three-time district champion and three-time regional champion.

He went on to wrestle at the University of Wyoming where he was a four-year starter. Today, he serves as a police officer in King County where he has earned three life-saving awards.

He and his wife, Christina, have an 11-month-old son.

2008 team: The 2008 Hornet squad posted an impressive list of accomplishments prior to winning a state championship. The squad took top honors at the North Idaho Wrestling Camp and a handful of tournaments, including the prestigious Dream Duals in Spokane. The regular season was then capped with league, subregional and regional championships.

That led to the state tourney, where EHS was represented by a dozen wrestlers. When the dust settled, a trio of Hornets left the mats with individual championships: Sam Bauer at 119 pounds, Jason Gray at 125 and Joey Pierotti at 160. Important team points also came from Dillan Claire, fourth place; Wayne Horton, sixth; Casey Park, seventh; and Conner Elder, eighth.

The 2008 squad provided the catalyst for an unprecedented run of EHS success. From 2008 through 2015 the Hornets captured five state championships and boasted a long list of individual champions and state placers.

Photos by Kevin Hanson The EHS Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed three new additions the evening of January 4, all from the world of Hornet wrestling. Pictured is former wrestling coach Lee Reichert welcoming Jake Gonzales. Lee Reichert welcoming Jake Gonzeles, who is wearing Cook County wrestling gear. Photo by Kevin Hanson