BREMERTON — The Sequim boys wrestling team continued to show improvement after earning a ninth-place finish out of 40 teams from multiple classifications at the Kitsap Peninsula Hammerhead Invitational.
In the girls competition at the Hammerhead, which took place Friday and Saturday, Sequim placed ninth out of 31 teams, and Port Townsend’s Chloe Rogers won the 140-pound title
Michael Latimer had the Sequim boys’ top finish, earning a fourth-place medal by going 5-2 in the 220-pound classification.
“Michael Latimer was our only medalist, but many boys contributed to our best finish as a team at this tournament,” Wolves coach Charles Drabek said.
Sequim also received a strong performance from Grant Pierson. Pierson finished 4-2 at the tournament, falling in his opening match before rattling off four straight pins to reach the consolation semifinals.
Kevyn Ward picked up wins by pin and technical fall to reach the 160-pound quarterfinals. He finished 3-2 at the tournament.
Others with 3-2 records for the event were Craig Baker at 138 pounds, Hayden Gresli at 145 pounds and Adrian Klarich at 195 pounds.
Cody McClain was Port Townsend’s only boy wrestler advance to the second day of competition.
He won two matches by pin to advance to the 285-pound quarterfinals, where he fell in a 16-6 major decision to eventual champ Nico Ramirez of North Mason.
McClain rebounded for a win by pin, but lost in a 9-4 decision to Tahoma’s Chase Mulcahey.
“Cody wrestled at a high level,” Grimm said. “He was in every match, and if a few things went his way he could have been the champion.
“I think once Cody fully dedicates himself to wrestling he will be on the top of the podium.”
Sequim, PT girls
The Wolves girls wrestled to a 10th place finish out of 31 teams on the girls side of the Hammerhead Invitational.
It was an All-Peninsula final in the girls 140-pound bracket. Rogers outpointed Sequim’s Alma Mendoza 11-4 to claim the championship.
“Chloe won every match but she also got into some much-needed battles where she showed her determination and fought back to win,” Port Townsend coach Steve Grimm said.
Rogers finished second in state last year at 140 pounds.
“Right now for her, she is looking at a state title,” Grimm said.
“In order to keep getting better and to reach her goal, we need to find her the toughest competition possible.”
Brenna Franklin finished fifth for the Redhawks at 170 pounds to help them girls take 14th.
Sequim’s Kiara Pierson earned three wins by pin before being pinned late in her 115-pound championship match with Sedro-Woolley’s Teracita Shane.
Aylee Bennett started strong, winning her first two matches, before falling to a fifth-place finish.
Sequim boys split double dual
SEQUIM — The Wolves fell to Olympic 48-24 and dominated North Kitsap 84-0 in a double duel last week.
Latimer earned a 10-7 decision at 220 pounds over Olympic’s Geordyn Shinard, last year’s third-place winner at 195 pounds.
Ben Newell (132 pounds), Pierson and Ward also won by pin for Sequim.
The Wolves earned a number of forfeits in their win over North Kitsap.
In contested matches, Baker, Pierson, Gresli and Latimer all won by pin.
Others earning wins by pin for Sequim were Austin Budd at 170 pounds and Hunter Davidson at 195.
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Compiled using team reports.
