Garza family takes it to the Tacoma Dome

When Adonai Garza reached the Tacoma Dome in 2023 during his freshman year, he dreamed that it would be the start of something special in the Garza family. He had his dad Jerry in his corner, like he had every match before, but in the stands was his brother Luke. Who he hoped would follow him to the Mat Classic.

Just two years later, that dream became reality and the Garza’s deployed their tenacity on the mat.

“It’s been pretty cool. I’ve been waiting for him to come (to Kent-Meridian) because I have been needing a partner. He’s been pushing me to be better and I have been pushing him to be better,” Adonai said.

Adonai wrestled in 126-pound division and Luke wrestled at 120 at the year-end tournament. “We’ve been there for each other in the ups and downs. We have this connection that is really special,” Adonai said.

“Luke has drive to compete with Adonai in the room. He knows that if he can, Luke is going to make him better,” Jerry said.

Luke has spent a lot of his life looking up to his big brother and now has the chance to compete at the highest level alongside his brother. “It’s kind of expected, He’s been doing it since he was little, he’s riding behind brother. But he’s just as good,” Jerry said.

Adonai has placed second and third in his high school career at the state tournament. This year Garza eyes the illusive state title, but the all three of the Garza clan have a mature approach. The three of them don’t see a state title as an end all, be all.

“I have told him it’s not always the best wrestler who wins the state tournament sometimes… It’s kind of fate and what God has put in front of him. The biggest thing is this is all for fun, it doesn’t make or break him,” Jerry said.

Not every parent gets to coach their child at the high school level. But for Jerry, he has seen his boys become closer than ever. “Watching them compete and be successful, practicing and being together has been my favorite part. I want them to be close for their entire life,” Garza said.

At the end of the first day of competition, Adonai and Luke were 4-0 in their state matches and sitting in the semifinals.

With their dad in their corner, the two felt that every match was just another match.

“When I am wrestling, his voice is the only voice I hear. It’s been like that for a while, I’m never cautious if he tells me something in a match, I’ll do it,” Adonai said.

Having his dad in his corner coaching him up is a special moment for the freshman Luke. “It’s nice, it’s like always having a shoulder to rest on. He’s always been there for me,” Luke said.

But sometimes the car rides home can feel like they are taking forever. “But the only bad thing is I have to go hear about the bad all the way home and hear the punishment all day,” Luke said.

Jerry is an assistant on the Kent Cougars coaching staff, a youth program that has flourished in the diverse community that is Kent. Garza also coached at the middle school level and was able to convince wrestlers to continue with the sport after their time in middle school.

“He always says he’s in the room to help us, he’s pushing us to be the best we can be,” Adonai said.

That success and involvement has brought Kent-Meridian wrestling to the state tournament and become contenders. Along with the Garza boys, Kent School district brought 58 other wrestlers to the Tacoma Dome.

“It’s been really fun, last year we lost to Kentwood in a duel. Since then no one has really gotten close to us after. We are all pushing us to be better and now the normal expectation is for us all to be here,” Adonai said.

Seven Royals placed inside the top eight, including Jessie Neff who was the lone state champion for the Royals.

“A lot of our kids that are on our team and becoming successful they have stuck to it, put in the work and ask questions about how to get better. They have that drive (to succeed). It’s blossomed into a great program,” Jerry said.

The bond between Adonai and his brother have developed into a closeness that hasn’t been there. After matches, the car rides might take a little longer. But the following days, Adonai and Luke take time to reset.

“We always go for a cool down run after, we just always grind together and pushes us,” Adonai said.

Luke ended the tournament with a fourth-place finish and Adonai took sixth on the second day of the tournament.

Adonai wrestling an opponent from Ballard. Ben Ray / The Reporter