By Rian Cool
Herald Writer
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE – Lakewood’s Daniel Caldwell was down but not out.
Behind 5-4 with only seconds remaining in the 171-pound championship match of the Class 2A Region 1 meet, Caldwell managed to rip free of Mount Baker’s Danny Horsman’s grip and pull off a two-point reversal to steal the district championship with a 6-5 decision.
Caldwell’s crowd-pleasing victory and another district championship by 135-pounder Brett Bailey highlighted a second-place team finish for Lakewood at Mountlake Terrace High School Saturday.
Mount Baker won the team title with 187.5 points, Lakewood took second with 127 and Vashon Island finished third with 122.5. Sultan had two district champions and finished sixth.
Sultan’s Izac Margarito earned Sultan its first district title in the 112-pound match. Margarito weathered a very physical Dustin Chellson of Mount Baker and won a 14-6 victory despite taking a few shots to the face.
“It was a tough match, but I know I have to make the best of what matches I have left,” said Margaritio, a senior. “I had my worst match last week and I had to wake up this week.”
In the next match, Sultan got its second title from Ryan Conley, who managed an 8-5 decision over Eatonville’s Cory Elliff.
South Whidbey’s Brandon Hern maintained his pefect streak this season on his way to winning the 189-pound title. A returning state champion, Hern cruised through his bracket to reach the finals, where he faced Vashon’s Evan Mattingly. Hern calmly controlled Mattingly through all three rounds on his way to a 14-3 major decision, which extends his season record to 33-0.
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