The Story of Outlaw Wrestling

By Maka Yacapin- Owner

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Outlaw Wrestling’s journey truly began in 2008-2009, when I first stepped onto the mat as a wrestler. I wasn’t a prodigy; I was just a kid who cried before matches, nervous about the idea of losing. I loved practice, the friendships, and the grind—but the fear of failure haunted me. Losing felt embarrassing, and I couldn’t shake the thought that it somehow defined me.

That fear of losing, paired with an unyielding work ethic, became the fuel that drove my wrestling career. I pushed myself to new heights, finding success in youth and high school wrestling. I became a 3x 4A WA State Champion, a Fargo All-American, and a World Team Trials Finalist. Yet, despite my accomplishments, I could never quite reach the level of dominance of wrestlers like Bo Bassett, Jax Forrest, or PJ Duke.

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That nagging question—why couldn’t I reach the pinnacle?—followed me into college.

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My college wrestling career at Simon Fraser University was turbulent, lasting only 2.5 years. Injuries became my constant companion, especially in my knees and shoulders. As the physical toll mounted, my ability to stay in rhythm and adjust to the pace of college wrestling slipped further and further out of reach. The grind wore me down mentally as much as physically. It was devastating to watch everything I’d worked for be taken away by my own body’s limitations.

By December 2022, I made the difficult decision to move back home and hit reset. I needed time to heal, both mentally and physically. After a quarter off, I planned to transfer and wrestle again—this time at McKendree University for the 2023-24 season. But after just two days, I had an epiphany: wrestling wasn’t my path anymore. I no longer loved the process, so I de-committed and returned home, uncertain of what came next.

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Enrolling late for the Fall Quarter at the University of Washington, I focused on finishing my degree. While I was grateful to secure my academic future, I knew I wanted more than just going to school and following the typical path.

In October 2023, it clicked—I wanted to start my own wrestling club. I had dabbled in Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai at Wave Combat Sports during the fall, but it wasn’t enough. I craved a bigger challenge, and I knew that my most valuable skill was wrestling. So, Outlaw Wrestling was born.

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The first step? I reached out to one of my best friends and former wrestling partner, Evan Janson. Like me, Evan has a deep passion for the sport and had already been coaching at UP Vikings Junior Wrestling Club, where we both started. With Evan on board, we launched our club in early November 2023. We started in a cramped 700-square-foot space in Spanaway, doing everything we could to fit as many eager young wrestlers as possible.

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As we gained traction in the local community, it became clear that we had outgrown our space. That’s when an opportunity arose to move to University Place, where we could expand into a larger, 1,100-square-foot facility inside University Place CrossFit. It was a bold step forward, but one that came with immense potential.

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In June 2024, we made the move to University Place, and our team has since grown tremendously. We’re proud of the community and culture we’ve cultivated at UP Outlaw Wrestling Club, now a chartered USA Wrestling Club. Our vision is simple yet powerful: to grow the sport, positively impact young lives, help wrestlers achieve their goals, and build a family through wrestling.

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The lessons we’ve learned from our own wrestling journeys and as coaches fuel our desire to guide young athletes toward success. We’re eager to see where this upcoming season takes us, and we’re excited to create an environment where kids can develop a lifelong love for the sport.

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Join us—it’s going to be an incredible ride. And if you can’t, please consider supporting our athletes and club in other ways. Together, through wrestling, we can make a difference in the world.