Forks’ Abraham Montealegre kept up a tradition for the Spartans’ wrestling program.

Forks has at least one state champion in wrestling nearly every year. Last year’s team graduated seven seniors, meaning Montealegre, one of the few seniors on the team this year, had to step up.

He cruised through the regular season, winning league and district championships and the Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial, River Ridge Rumble and Ocosta Invite titles while amassing a 26-2 record heading into the Mat Classic.

Montealegre, who finished third at the Mat Classic last year, blew through his 113-pound weight class at the state meet with two pins and a 12-0 major decision and faced Rodger Cate of Lake Roosevelt in the finals.

Cate, a former state champion, went into that championship match with a 32-3 record. Montealegre beat him with a pin in the third round to claim the state title. Montealegre’s effort helped the Forks boys finish sixth in the state, while the girls finished eighth in the state, the first time both teams ended up in the top 10.

Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Swain’s General Store in Port Angeles.