By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
Whenever Puyallup Tribal Member Ty Satiacum Jr. looks at his cell phone, he sees a daily reminder of the ultimate goal for his junior season on the wrestling mat.
Satiacum, who wrestles for the Orting Cardinals, is determined to win a state championship in the Class 2A 132-pound weight class at the Mat Classic in February 2026 at the Tacoma Dome.
“The wallpaper on my phone is ‘State Champ 2026.’ I see it every day,” Satiacum said.
Satiacum has advanced to the state championship match the past two years. As a sophomore, he lost 7-2 to Toppenish’s Isaiah Rios in the Class 2A 126-pound title match. As a freshman, he lost to Washington’s Daniel Herrera, 16-1, in the Class 2A 106-pound finals.
Satiacum said he has watched his defeat against Rios at least 50 times since February.
“It hurt a lot, but has motivated me to come back even stronger,” Satiacum said.
The last two years he found himself on his back at different junctures with a state title on the line. Satiacum said he’s adjusted his approach and is working on finishing his single leg takedowns instead of going straight to the cradle, which puts him in a precarious position at times.
“That is what put me on my back last year,” he said. “I just don’t want to have that feeling again of losing (in the finals). The job isn’t finished yet.”
Satiacum said he knows he will get every opponent’s best because of his back-to-back appearances in the state finals. He said he is ready for the challenge and not only practices daily with his high school teammates, but also does freestyle training sessions in Fife in the evenings during the week.
“I know people are coming for me and I know they don’t want to see me win. I just have to prove them wrong,” he said. “Most of these guys haven’t been in the deep water like I have. I have a lot of experience. I just have to take them into deep waters and just compete.”
Winning a state championship is something Satiacum said he doesn’t only want for himself, he wants it for his people.
“It would feel really great to be a state champion for our Tribe,” Satiacum said.
