VANCOUVER — Anticipation is mounting as the season’s work has come down to one chance to stand atop the podium at the Mat Classic in Tacoma, and North Kitsap’s Matt Grimes and Eric Hedin are ready for the opportunity.

After helping lead North to a second-place finish in the Narrows League Bridge Division this season, the two Vikings are looking to make a run for individual state titles this weekend in Tacoma.

The Mat Classic will be a whole new experience for the 189-pound junior Hedin, while the 130-pound senior Grimes is returning after an absence due to injury in 2005.

“(Hedin) was one of the surprise guys that came through; things came together for him and he got in there,” NK coach Jon Cooke said of Hedin’s performance at the regional meet, “which was a good thing to see because he’s such a great kid and a hard worker. That was one of the highlights.”

Hedin, who wrestled to 19-8 on the season, faced adversity coming into the regional meet as the fourth seed from the Narrows Bridge but proved early on that his determination was strong.

In his initial match of the tourney, he ground out a 10-8 decision to advance in the bracket and match up with Capital’s Rourke Buechel. With an 11-5 decision over Buechel, Hedin gained admittance into the 189-pound semi-final round where he faced the undefeated South Kitsap juggernaut Brent Chriswell.

“When you get to that level the competition is tough,” Cooke said. “Those guys are out there and they want to win just as badly as you.”

Chriswell pinned Hedin in just 27 seconds on his way to the title. Still, Hedin’s determination remained.

With a 1:19 pin over Heritage High School’s David Loos, Hedin earned his way into the state tournament by reaching the third/fourth place match against Donovan Cunningham of Heritage.

Hedin led most of the consolation finals match, Cooke said but late in the second round he found himself on his back in a bad spot and Cunningham was able to earn the pin at 2:25.

“He had a really good tournament, he wrestled his best and ground out those matches,” Cooke said. “Matt (Grimes) also wrestled well. His finals match was against a guy who placed at state last year and it was real encouraging for him to do well against that level of competition.”

Grimes earned a bye in the first round as champion from the Narrows League district and cruised through his initial rounds of competition. He beat Heritage’s Chris Davenport and South Kitsap’s Javan Miner by major decisions, 13-0 and 11-2, respectively, and faced the Mt. St. Helens district champion Shane Martin in the finals.

As one would expect from a battle of the best, the two had a low-scoring affair. Martin was one-point ahead when the time ran out as he handed Grimes second place with a 3-2 decision.

But Grimes grabbed confidence from the match and should take the state mat with poise.

“He has a tough haul,” Cooke said of the outlook for Grimes this weekend. “But he could place if he has a tournament like he did last weekend or the weekend before.”