La Conner wrestler pins down top Herald honor

Top youth wrestler Delaney Cobbs did not let potential success slip through her grasp despite La Conner High School not having a mat program of its own.

Cobbs was able to compete at the high school level thanks to a co-op arrangement forged between La Conner and 2A wrestling power Burlington-Edison.

A senior and student rep on the district’s school board, Cobbs made the most of her opportunity. She posted a 24-4 mark this past season while placing second in the girls’ 190-pound weight class at the state mat classic in Tacoma in February.

Her only losses were to undefeated two-time state champion Alivia White of Marysville-Pilchuck, whom she has known since their youth wrestling days.

Cobbs was rewarded last week for her stellar 2021-22 campaign by being named the Skagit Valley Herald Girls Wrestler of the Year.

“Honestly, it wasn’t a huge surprise,” Cobbs, also a standout soccer player and track athlete, told the Weekly News. “I ended very well this season, but it was still cool getting that phone call from my coach.”

Cobbs credited outstanding coaching and her own resiliency as key factors in her development as a top wrestler.

“The coaches I’ve had through my wrestling career set me up to be successful,” she said. “From my first coaches to Andy Cook to Jerome Olsen and then in high school with Windy Lovejoy and Dean Myers.”

Cobbs said she has also been blessed to have a strong support system of family and friends pushing her to improve every practice and tournament.

Her crown marked the end of her wrestling career, as she does not intend to wrestle collegiately while pursuing a degree in sports nutrition.

“I’ve had a few (college) coaches reach out,” Cobbs confirmed, “and it feels disappointing to say this, but I don’t feel the need to wrestle past last month.”

Cobbs plans to enroll at Washington State University in the fall. While her college plans do not include competitive wrestling, Cobbs’ academic choice keeps her engaged in athletics.

“Wrestling influenced my decision a lot,” Cobbs said. “I want to keep being involved in sports and this allows me to do that and pursue nutrition, something in which I am super interested.”

She has advice for aspiring girl wrestlers: “For future wrestlers it’s important to keep pushing through all the hard work to get to the good stuff and be able not only to win tournaments but keep working to get where you want to be.”