Travel advisory pins Cobbs in town: no Arizona tourney

La Conner wrestler Delaney Cobbs rarely faces a foe she cannot beat.

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of those, however.

New statewide restrictions put in place to curb spread of the coronavirus have forced Cobbs to forego participation in a major mat tournament in Arizona this weekend.

Under mandates imposed Nov. 16, after Cobbs was selected to join a Tacoma-based national travel team for the Arizona trip, she and others traveling from Washington would have had to quarantine for two weeks upon their return.

That would not have been feasible for either Cobbs or her mom, Mandy Buck, a para-professional with the Swinomish Tribal Community and La Conner Schools.

As part of the new round of pandemic-related restrictions, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a travel advisory recommending that people arriving in Washington from other states or countries – including Washington residents –self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

State residents have been encouraged to stay close to home other than engaging in essential travel for work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care and safety and security.

Cobbs is the defending 2A girls’ regional champion and a state qualifier in the girls’ 155-pound division, having competed with Burlington-Edison last year since La Conner High no longer has a wrestling program.

On the strength of her 2019-20 high school campaign and prior freestyle seasons, Cobbs was tabbed to take part in the Smash Nationals Tournament Dec. 5-6.

Cobbs, a La Conner High junior, was added in early November to the Ford Dynasty Wrestling Club’s roster along with other top girls’ wrestlers from around the Pacific Northwest.

The pandemic has impacted youth wrestling schedules around the country, Buck told the Weekly News last month.

“A lot of tournaments have moved locations this year or been canceled due to COVID,” she said. “The tournaments follow COVID guidelines. All attendees get temperature checks upon entry and wear a mask throughout except when wrestling. Refs wear shields and masks. And they also don’t raise the winners’ hand, so there’s no extra contact.”