Brothers share a lot of things. Some brothers share a room and toys growing up.
Justin Davidson shared something with his younger brother and Bothell High School senior Brandon Davidson on Saturday that they will never forget.
With one slap of the mat, a year of hard work paid off for Brandon, as his older brother Justin helped coach him to the state wrestling title at the Mat Classic on the floor of the Tacoma Dome.
“I could see it in his eyes,” said Brandon about the moments after earning a championship pin in the 152-pound weight class. “It was definitely awesome to have him in my corner.”
Brandon’s high school career ended with that slap of the referee’s hand to the mat and completed a rare run for the Cougar wrestling program.
Justin won the state title in 2004 in the 130-pound weight class as a senior at Bothell High School. Both brothers said they are close and like to enjoy the outdoors together, riding motorcycles, fishing and skiing.
“Seeing him win it was like winning another state title,” said Justin. “I told him ‘this is your last year and last chance and you have to give it your all.’”
Brandon heeded his brother’s advice. Both wrestlers came close to winning state titles during their respective junior seasons.
“My sophomore year I didn’t go to any extra practices,” said Brandon, who was fifth in 2011 and third last season. “Last year I picked it up. But this year I practiced seven days a week and three hours on Sundays. It felt good to put in that much work and have it payoff.”
The Bothell High School senior pinned Tekwon Wallace of Evergreen High School, 33 seconds into the second round of the championship match.
“I knew what I wanted to hit and hit it fast,” said Brandon. “I was definitely a lot more aggressive.”
The match was just one of four for Brandon during the Mat Classic. His road to the title began on Friday with a dominating 10-1 victory against Camden Wheatcroft of Eastmont High School. But the second round would prove to be more difficult. Davidson drew Tucker Mjelde of Tahoma High School. The two grapplers finished three two-minute rounds of regulation tied 3-3, but Davidson would prove victorious during overtime, scoring two points to win 5-3.
“I definitely did not expect it to be that close,” said Brandon. “He is a tall kid and really strong but it shouldn’t have been that close.”
Davidson’s semi-final match was just as grueling as he faced Damian Jackson of Rogers High School. There was very little room for error during the 3-1 victory.
Brandon said that he has had interest from Simon Frazier University, Southwest University in Oregon and Highline Community College.
“I definitely want to go wrestle in college,” said Brandon, who also wants to major in fire science.
He said that he has received many congratulatory tweets and Facebook messages.
“There have been so many out of the ordinary things,” said Brandon, who also played football for the Cougars. “I will just be hanging out with someone and they will say ‘you’re state champ!’”
