GRANITE FALLS — With a Cascade Conference title and two-year winning streak on the line, the Sultan wrestling team once again got the job done.
The Turks won eight of 10 contested matches to beat Granite Falls 44-18 and wrap up a second straight league championship and undefeated season. Sultan’s last dual-meet loss came over two years ago when Cedarcrest beat the Turks in the second-to-last match of the 2011-2012 season. Since then, Sultan has won 16 straight.
The host Tigers had an opportunity to end the Turks’ winning steak and claim the league championship since both teams entered Thursday’s contest at 3-0 in conference play. But it was Sultan took the first three matches by forfeit and then claimed four of the next five bouts to take a 32-6 lead.
The Turks’ youth was featured early on, with freshman David Woo earning technical fall win over Sean Conaway at the 106-pound weight class. Another freshman, Jamell Carroll, scored an 8-2 decision victory against Arlyss Jenkins at 132-pounds.
Sultan head coach Garth MacDicken believes that this emphasis on youth development has allowed the winning streak to continue.
“We started a little kid program four years ago and this freshman class is the first wave through,” MacDicken said. “Our assistant coach is also the middle school coach, the teaching has been the same. We’re really young, but the kids are buying in to hard work pays off and good things will come.”
At Granite Falls
106—David Woo (S) tech. fall Sean Conaway, 17-2; 113—Adam Gibson (GF) won by forfeit; 120—Miguel Cerna (S) dec. Logan Corbin, 11-9; 126—James Mackenzie (S) dec. Ethan Short, 11-4; 132—Jamell Carroll (S) dec. Arlyss Jenkins, 8-2; 138—Tyler Groff (GF) pinned Anthony Hall, 3:47; 145—Tanner Belcher (S) dec. Riley Hanson, 6-3; 152—Tysen Campbell (GF) pinned Chase Leonard, 1:14; 160—Dylan Oster (S) dec. Jeremy Morrison, 6-1; 170—Kenny Losleben (S) dec. Riley Repenn, 7-0; 182—Matt Baller (S) dec. Michael Poyner, 4-2; 195—Morgan Yates (S) won by forfeit; 220—Brandon Webb (S) won by forfeit; 285—Taylor Comfort (S) won by forfeit. Records—Sultan 4-0 league, 7-0 overall. Granite Falls 3-1, 3-3.
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