PORT TOWNSEND — East Jefferson hosted its first home tournament in 10 years with eight teams from around western Washington competing.
Winning was Mount Baker, followed by Vashon and Elma. East Jefferson finished fourth and Sequim fifth.
The event featured four mats and five rounds of wrestling completing 20 head-to-head matches in a gym packed with a standing-room only crowd, said East Jefferson coach Steve Grimm.
”Almost all our wrestlers got five matches, which is a lot in one day. They got a lot of wrestling experience, but wow they were tired by the end,” Grimm said.
Grimm said East Jefferson sophomore Grady White was the wrestler of the day at the 144-pound class. He went 4-1 on the day.
“The event was all about getting lots of matches and experience early in the season. We also got to see some returning state placers from other teams and gauge where we stand. This will be important later in the season as we start the postseason run,” Grimm said.
On the day, East Jefferson beat Kingston and South Whidbey, and lost to Elma, Mount Baker and Vashon.
Forks at Saldivar Ironman
GRANGER — Forks’ Miley Blanton won her 125-pound weight division at the Tony Saldivar Ironman girls tournament at Granger High School this weekend, while the Forks boys finished fourth as a team.
Blanton was the sole class winner for the Spartans, though some of the boys made the championship matches in their weight classes.
Blanton won three straight matches, all by pins, over wrestlers from Omak and Southridge. Blanton earned 26 team points, helping the Spartans finish seventh as a team with 72 points.
Flora Horejsi at 110 pounds won four out of five matches to finish third. She got a pin in the third-place match over a Liberty Bell grappler to pick up her medal. Lillianna Galeana at 115 also finished third. She had to win five matches after losing her opening match to Addyson Allen of Prosser. Galeana ended up beating Allen in the third-place match with a pin to collect her medal.
Peyton Johnson at 125 pounds won four out of six matches to finish fourth.
The Forks boys earned 145.5 points, very much in the thick of a close battle for the top teams. Sunnyside won the meet with 167 points, while powerhouse Zillah had 157, Grandview 165.5, Granger 140.5, Okanogan 136.5 and Goldendale 133.
Walker Wheeler at 150 pounds and Sloan Tumaua at 285 both made it to the championship matches in their classes.
Wheeler won with three straight pins to make it into the finals, then lost in a 12-5 decision against Noe Hinojosa of Zillah.
Tumaua won with a pair of decisions and a medical forfeit to make it into the finals, then lost a 9-2 decision to Noah Morago-Bigboy of Omak.
Forks had several other wrestlers who placed:
Walker Rondeau, 132 pounds, third (4-1).
Mason Leinan, 175 pounds, third (6-1).
Abraham Montealegre, 120 pounds, fourth (4-1).
Landon Thomas at 138 pounds didn’t place but won three matches. Aiden Ivey won three matches at 157 and Jon Parker Jr. won two matches at 190.
PA at Larry Brown tournament
FIFE — The Port Angeles boys wrestling team finished ninth at the Larry Brown tournament held at Fife High School this weekend.
Port Angeles finished with 92.0 points. Winning the event was Camas with 245.5.
Leading the Roughriders was a trio of wrestlers who all finished fourth.
Lukas Teague picked up a fourth-place medal at 138 pounds by going 4-2 on the day, with all four wins by pins. Anthony McMahan at 150 pounds won two matches by pin and a third by forfeit for his medal and Ethan Abrams won three matches, two by pin and the third by a major decision for his fourth-place finish.
Nicholas Morrison also finished fifth at 190 pounds with a pair of wins.
