PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles won its fifth consecutive Battle for the Axe wrestling tournament by defeating Forks in a final that Roughriders coach Erik Gonzalez said was one his team’s “toughest challenges in many years.”
Port Angeles defeated the shorthanded Spartans 34-27 in Saturday’s final showdown.
Sequim placed seventh out of 10 teams at the tournament, also called the Olympic Shootout 2015.
“I didn’t think we were going to do what we did,” Forks coach Bob Wheeler said.
“We had people gone and four forfeits. Starting with four forfeits, I didn’t think we would win the pool we were in, let alone go for first place.”
Port Angeles 220-pounder Kyle La Fritz and Forks 145-pounder Javier Contreras were chosen as the tournament’s outstanding wrestlers.
La Fritz, a senior, was one of six Riders to go through the tournament undefeated.
Roberto Coronel (285 pounds), Matt Robbins (195), Evan Gallacci (182), Brady Anderson (126) and Tyler Gale (113) also were perfect for Port Angeles through the tournaments four rounds and the finals.
The Riders and Spartans both had 4-0 records in pool action, while Sequim went 2-2, including a 48-31 win over White River in the crossover round to claim seventh place.
Port Angeles of Class 2A opened the tournament with a 57-24 win over Class 4A Jackson, which went on to finish third.
The Riders then rolled through Eatonville (66-3), the Dream Team of JV wrestlers (69-12) and White River (61-24) to earn its spot in the finals.
Forks opened with a 50-27 victory against Sequim, then battled through North Mason (42-27), Marysville-Getchell (39-33) and Mount Tahoma (47-10).
Forks won six of 10 matches wrestled against Port Angeles, but couldn’t overcome the four forfeits.
Contreras, a senior, had four pins and won by forfeit to lead the Spartans.
“He didn’t have anybody that was even close,” Wheeler said.
“Everybody did well,” Wheeler added. “We didn’t have anybody that didn’t win a match.”
Garrison Schumack was undefeated in the 138-pound class with three pins and two decisions for Forks.
Alvaro Ortiz also was 5-0 with four pins and a decision at 120 pounds.
Kenny Gale won the three 160-pound matches he wrestled by pin.
Dimitri Sampson had three pins in the 195-pound division, and Sebastian Morales won his first four 126-pound matches before falling by decision in the final.
Alan Ensastegui won two matches at 132 pounds, one by pin and one by decision.
One of the four forfeits for Forks was at 220 pounds, the spot that two-time top-three state finisher Miguel Morales usually fills.
Morales was out due to injury. He hopes to return for this weekend’s Gut Check Challenge.
After falling to Forks, Sequim defeated Mount Tahoma (53-24) and then lost to Marysville-Getchell (43-30) before beating North Mason (42-39) and White River.
The Wolves were led by Michael Latimer and Kevyn Ward.
Latimer went 5-0 in the 220-pound division with four pins and a win by forfeit.
Ward, at 152 pounds, went 4-1 with two pins.
“Everyone else in our lineup are sophomores and freshmen, which, I believe, will start to pay dividends in the near future,” Sequim coach Charles Drabek said.
Hayden Gresli and Grant Pierson had two had two pins apiece, while Ben Newell and Hunter Davidson each had one pin and Craig Baker had one win by decision.
This week, Sequim travels to face Olympic League foe North Kitsap on Thursday before going to the Island Invite hosted by Bainbridge Island on Saturday.
Port Angeles wrestles at Klahowya on Thursday and then competes at the Gut Check Challenge at Evergreen State College on Friday and Saturday.
Forks also will compete at the Gut Check Challenge, but first has an Evergreen League doubleheader with Eatonville and Tenino on Wednesday in Aberdeen.
