There isn’t a style of wrestling that Tyson Portmann doesn’t love.
He will watch folkstyle matches of his high school competitors and college matches, turn the TV on for freestyle and Greco-Roman Olympic bouts, but don’t ask him his opinion on WWE.
Yet the Willapa Valley standout has one particular style Portmann will do over any of them.
“Up there in the top,” Portmann said of Swiss style wrestling. “It would tie (with) freestyle. Greco-Roman is (my) next favorite, then folkstyle.”
Properly known as Schwingen, Swiss style wrestling has been around since the 13th century and has been a part of Portmann’s life since he was five-years old.
The incentives for doing well were the enticing part.
“They get a handful of cash and a bar of Swiss chocolate,” Portmann said. “Depending on how good you did, there was more money in the envelope.”
Portmann’s family is part-Swiss. His grandpa and his dad were into Schwingen, so naturally he was involved in it, too. Schwingen always happens after the high school season, which gives Portmann ample time to focus on it.
When he first started doing it, he felt it was “fun.” The basic understanding of Schwingen is that two people wear a garment around their waist with belts on the sides. Most common moves are trips and throws and whoever gets a pin, wins the bout.
“More people watching, more than a high school tournament that’s for sure,” Portmann stated.
It was a banner year for Portmann in his senior year at Willapa Valley, claiming the Class 1B/2B 165-pound title at the Mat Classic in Tacoma, his first state championship.
It comes off the heels of a runner-up finish at 145 a year ago.
“Going home getting second is not a fun ride home,” Portmann said. “It was a major feeling of relief that I got it. My victory Krispy Kreme donuts were better than the consolation Krispy Kreme donuts.
“Donuts are my kind of thing.”
So is wrestling.
Portmann ran through what ended up being an upset-filled bracket at 165. He recorded three first period pins, including a 73-second fall in the finals, and a thrilling 8-7 triumph in the semifinals.
One of the catapults to that senior season was heading to Fargo for nationals. It is renowned as the top high school tournament over the summer for freestyle and Greco-Roman.
“Fargo was a big learning point for me,” Portmann said. “I went as trained as you could be with zero mat time. I learned time on the practice mat is not the same as the competition mat. I got into the room with high-level coaches and wrestlers. My technique and skill was elevated.”
Portmann is unsure if his wrestling career will continue in college. He has the option to, but one of the key factors in his decision will be whether his body can hold up.
“Kind of a fragile person one could say,” Portmann said. “Right now, it is deciding if I’m ready to walk away from the sport knowing I could do more. It is a hard decision and that’s why it is taking some time to think about.”
He stated his friends would have to be pretty crazy to get him to do Schwingen for much longer. Regardless, he is thankful for what wrestling has taught him and the lessons he believes he’ll continue to gain from it.
“If you’re getting almost strangled, nobody is going to pick up this kid off you. You’re out there, you shake hands, win or lose,” Portmann said. “You have to rely on yourself. It’ll teach a person how mentally strong they are and the sport of wrestling will teach you how to win and lose like a champion. You may hate it, but you still do it for a reason.”
