ARLINGTON — He’s missed two dual meets and two tournaments but Arlington junior wrestler Cooper McAuslen is now eligible and has won his last two matches by pin both in a double dual Dec. 16, first against Mont Vernon’s River Greenwood in one minute, 33 seconds and then Snohomish’s Mel Miller in 48 seconds.

“I haven’t wrestled anyone this year but my teammates, so that was nice,” he said.

McAuslen made sure to stay in shape during his pending eligibility. For that, and since he’s come back from adversity after placing fifth in state last year, he is the Arlington Times-Marysville Globe Athlete of the Week.

He was having trouble with a course earlier in the season, but with his grades up, McAuslen is back on track with the intent of taking the state title.

“It feels good. I’m happy that I’m able to keep it up,” he said.

McAuslen is a promising wrestler on the team, assistant coach Ben Mendro said. He is ranked second in state in the 152-pound weight class.

McAuslen also has a passion — racing dirt bikes.

He does that mostly in the summer when its dry, but also in the winter sometimes.

“I think I’m better at wrestling, but I think dirt biking is more fun,” he said.

There’s the obvious thrill of competing and winning in sports, and competitive dirt biking is no different, but McAuslen says he enjoys all aspects of driving through trails, going off jumps, races and even practicing.

“I think the practicing can be just as fun as racing,” he said. “With dirt biking, both [competing and practicing] is fun.”

Though dirt biking is a motor-sport, its just as physically rigorous, even helping his conditioning for wrestling, he said.

“It seems easy to ride but it takes a lot of endurance,” he said. “You’re using your whole body the whole time.”

He races at a track in Monroe and goes around the state to ride on trails.

Every year, he even goes to Washougal for Camp Rev — a professional camp that ex-pros conduct. One of his favorite riders is 450cc class Monster Energy Supercross champion and American Motorcyclist Association 450 Motocross Champion Ryan Dungey.

McAuslen started wrestling when he was 6, but began dirt biking before that.

He wants to continue dirt biking but he’ll “wait and see for wrestling,” he said. It’s harder to continue college wrestling, he said, because of the programs that go along with it.

After high school, McAuslen wants to attend Arizona State University or Texas Christian University to study pyrotechnics or building demolition.

“That’d be a fun job,” he said.