PORT ANGELES — The 10th annual Olympic Shootout team wrestling tournament, or Battle for the Axe, is Saturday at Port Angeles High School with wrestling starting at 10 a.m.
Port Angeles coach Erik Gonzalez said this could be the most competitive Battle yet, considering the quality and balance of the teams involved and the number of returning state placers competing.
The host Roughriders have won the Axe the past four years.
Ten teams will square off in a dual meet format. The teams are split into two pools of five followed by a crossover round to determine placement.
Each team will then wrestle a total of five duals.
Awards will go to the most outstanding wrestler from each pool and the top three teams ,with the champion claiming the Axe for the next year.
All four classifications will be represented at the meet: Eatonville and Forks from Class 1A; Port Angeles, Sequim, North Mason and White River from 2A; Marysville-Getchell and Mount Tahoma from 3A; and Jackson from 4A.
The tenth team will be made up of a JV Dream Team.
Also, a JV round-robin tournament will run concurrently, allowing all wrestlers a chance to compete in this final tournament of the holiday break.
The Port Angeles Wrestling booster club will be selling concessions as well as apparel with all proceeds going to benefit the Port Angeles Roughrider wrestling program.
Forks takes third at The Rock
VASHON — The Spartans had a respectable third-place finish at Vashon’s The Rock tournament, finishing above all other Class 1A participants, but coach Bob Wheeler didn’t think it was his team’s best performance.
“I wasn’t really happy with the overall performance,” Wheeler said of Tuesday’s meet.
“We had some who did do well, but as a whole we really didn’t wrestle well.
“Many of the matches were flat and there were several silly mistakes that shouldn’t happen that caused us to lose matches.
“We have a lot to work on.”
Forks had eight placers and two champions.
Javier Contreras won the 145-pound division by defeating Jerimiah Cronk of Mount Baker in the final, and Miguel Morales beat Tyler Rupe of Montesano in the 220 final.
The Spartans also had two second-place finishers, Dimitri Sampson in the 195 division and Tristan Tamua in the 285 class.
Other Forks placers were Sebastian Morales and Alan Ensastegui, third and fourth, respectively at 120 pounds; Kenny Gale finished sixth at 160; and Jack Dahlgren was co-third place at 182.
The Spartans compete Saturday at the Battle for the Axe at Port Angeles High School at 10 a.m.
