TACOMA — When Alfredo Diaz finished off his second victory of the day at Mat Classic XXV, he pointed up to the small group of Marysville Getchell fans celebrating his win in the upper reaches of the Tacoma Dome.
For Diaz, that moment sure beat sitting up there watching the action, which is what he was doing at this time last year. As a junior, Diaz qualified for the state wrestling tournament, but he ended up going to Tacoma as a spectator after suffering a fluke knee and ankle injury in practice just two days before the competition began.
“It was just a freak thing to have happen,” Chargers coach Todd Freeman said. “If the tournament had started maybe a day or two later, he might have been able to wrestle.”
Instead, Diaz watched, and while it was painful to miss out on his first state tournament, it was also motivating.
“I kept telling myself, I’ve been here now, now I know what I need to do to get back here and get in the top three,” said Diaz, who wrestles in the 285-pound class, “After I got injured, I was so devastated. I kept telling myself, next year will be my moment. I took it step by step to get to this point.”
Diaz’s goal of a top-three finish — and possibly more — is very much in play when the tournament resumes today. He cruised to a 13-0 decision in his first match, then finished off a low-scoring quarterfinal with a third-round pin. Diaz now faces Glacier Peak’s Mosese Fifita in the Class 3A heavyweight semifinals.
Regardless of what happens today, Diaz’s coaches and the fans who were cheering him on Friday night are thrilled to see him back the Tacoma Dome, but on the floor this time instead in the bleachers.
“It was really hard on him,” Freeman said. “He’s been on a mission this year.”
Lake Stevens brothers advance, team eyes record
Vikings senior Eric Soler won a hard-fought 145-pound quarterfinal victory, putting him two wins away from another state title, while his freshman brother Michael advanced to the semifinals at 106 pounds, setting up a possible all-Lake Stevens final with freshman A.J. Crew advancing to the other 106-pound semi.
“When you’ve got a title, it puts a big X on your chest,” Eric Soler said of defending his title. “They’re gunning for you. Everybody wants to knock off a state champ, right?”
The Soler brothers were just two of seven Lake Stevens wrestlers who advanced to the semifinals along with Crew, Jake Douglas (120 pounds), Cody Vigoren (170), Shaq Reed (220) and Brandon Johnson (285). With that kind of depth, the Vikings, who built a big first-day lead with 84 points, have their eyes on not only another team title, but also the 4A record of 190 points, set by Tahoma last year.
“We’re doing all right,” Eric Soler said. “We’re trying to set a new scoring record. We’ve got the numbers to do it.”
Soler was one of four local defending state champs wrestling Friday, and all four advanced to the semifinals. Edmonds-Woodway’s Noah Cuzzetto, who won a title at 106 pounds last year, made it to the 113-pound semi; Everett’s Jessie Lopez, who moved up to 145 pounds to face stiffer competition, made it through after winning a title at 132 pounds last year, and Glacier Peak’s Sean Elledge is two victories away from defending his title at 182 pounds.
Smith wins Wesco 3A showdown
In a battle between two of the area’s top wrestlers, Meadowdale senior Morgan Smith narrowly edged Marysville Pilchuck sophomore Drew Hatch, winning a 6-5 decision. Coming into the match Smith was the state’s top-ranked 3A wrestler at 160 pounds, while Hatch was ranked fourth at 170 pounds, his weight class during the regular season.
Two local 2A wrestlers in semis
Archbishop Murphy junior Foster Wade and Cedarcest senior Carlos Toledano were the only are wrestlers to win both their matches Friday in the 2A competition. Wade won a pair of decisions to advance, as did Toledano who needed overtime in his quarterfinal victory.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. At Tacoma Dome
Class 4A
Team scores (through Day 1): 1. Lake Stevens 84, 12. Edmonds-Woodway 24, 22. Snohomish 16, 32. Cascade 9.5, 41. Arlington 8, 42. Lynnwood 7, 47. Mount Vernon 3, 48. Kamiak 3, 51. Mariner 1.
Individual results (locals only)
First round: 106—Trey Long (Moses Lake) dec. Jeremy Nygard (Arlington) 9-6, AJ Crew (Lake Stevens) maj. dec. Clayton Clark (Moses Lake) 15-4, Fabian Wickam (Eastmont) maj. dec. Wyatt Butler (Snohomish) 15-1, Michael Soler (LS) pinned Carson Graham (Central Valley) 1:37; 113—Alex Rodorigo (LS) dec. Johnathan Aguon (Bethel) 15-13 OT, Noah Cuzzetto (Edmonds-Woodway) pinned Phillip Springsteen (Bethel) 5:52, Jordan Rhodes (Todd Beamer) dec. Ruben Crew (LS) 6-5; 120—Walter Meyers (Kentwood) pinned Luis Reyna (Mount Vernon) 5:20, Jake Douglas (LS) tech. fall Johnathan Dickerson (Kentridge) 15-0; 126—Joseph Dematteo (Skyline) pinned Wyatt Bell (LS) 3:59, Tye Lommasson (Camas) pinned Wyatt Larsen (Cascade) 0:47, Gino Obregon (Cascade) tech. fall Cole Morrison (Woodinville) 16-0; 132—Adam Romano (Graham-Kapowsin) maj. dec. Bryce Thomas (Arl) 9-0, Dalton Meyers (Kentwood) dec. Rafael Ibarra (MV) 5-0, Nathan Vulliet (EW) dec. Tyson Gaillac (Auburn) 3-2; 138—Greg Eagle (Sno) dec. Jadin Salazar (Chiawana) 13-11, Pryce Seely (Richland) maj. dec. Conner Gonzales (Arl) 12-2, Jesse Peterson (LS) pinned Kyle Davis (Lewis &Clark) 3:15; 145—David Munding (Mead) dec. Andrew Villalobos (Mariner) 11-5, Noah Johnson (Cascade) dec. Brenden Sanchez (Moses Lake) 10-5, Eric Soler (LS) pinned Travis Ellingsen (Lewis &Clark) 3:23; 152—Tucker Mjelde (Tahoma) dec. Tanner Perry (Sno) 10-7; 160—Blake Sander dec. Michael Mecham (Skyline) 7-3, Logan Johnson tech. fall Jacob Rosenthal (Garfield) 19-4, Jon Reynolds (Union) dec. Hunter Lord 8-7; 170—Marq Brown (EW) maj. dec. Darin Hardgrove (Eastmont) 9-1, Chandler Rogers (Mead) pinned Tyler Webley (Kamiak) 1:28, Cody Vigoren (LS) dec. Cameron Simpson (Richland) 5-3; 182—Ryan Christensen (Woodinville) pinned Jake Ferro (Arl) 2:38; 195—Mason Proudfit (Union) dec. Tristan Baus (Sno) 5-2, Eric Harper (Eastlake) pinned Anthony Thees (LS) 1:31; 220—Mason Ju (Mead) pinned Manuel Vazquez (Lynn) 3:34, Logan Reardon (Walla Walla) maj. dec. Alex Fairhurst 8-0, Shaq Reed (LS) pinned Abzael Loeza (Chiawana) 4:33; 285—Tyler Deskins (Kentlake) dec. George Johanson (EW) 5-4, Brandon Johnson (LS) pinned Larkin Williams (Auburn-Riverside) 5:35.
Consolation rounds: 106—Nygard maj. dec. Isaiah Av (Evergreen) 12-2, Nick Smith (Kentlake) dec. Nygard 8-5, Butler maj. dec. Nate Swanson (Skyline) 11-3, Jose Nava-Montez (Skyview) dec. Butler 6-2; 113—Crew dec. Justin Manipis (Skyline) 8-2, Daniel Rice (Union) dec. Crew 5-3, Springsteen dec. Rodorigo 2-0; 120—Reyna dec. Bryant Elliott (Camas) 11-4, Juan Lopez (Davis) dec. Reyna 5-3;
126—Bell dec. Daniel Wernofsky (Rogers) 7-0, Obregon pinned Bell 2:04, Brian Short (Spanaway Lake) pinned Larsen 2:25; 132—Thomas dec. Noah Workman (Richland) 4-2, Thomas dec. Tristan Steciw (Skyline) 5-2, Ibarra maj. dec. Kyle Hanson (Bothell) 16-8, Vulliet dec. Ibarra 5-1; 138—Justin Weiding (Tahoma) pinned Gonzales 0:56, Peterson pinned Salazar 4:15, Eagle pinned Dalton Mann (Woodinville) 2:10; 145—Villalobos dec. Bo Longmore (Skyline) 7-1, Arthur Sargent (Kentridge) maj. dec. Villalobos 12-2, Josh Beckler (Kentlake) dec. Johnson 3-2; 152—Perry dec. Camden Wheatcroft (Eastmont) 8-2, Perry pinned Boss Garcia (Chiawana) 1:37; 160—Lord pinned Andrez Acevedo (Eisenhower) 3:48, Lord pinned Johnson 4:00, Sander dec. Hector Zavala (Moses Lake) 4-1; 170—Webley pinned Sam Lindsey (Auburn) 4:22, Bryce Broome (Everegreen) dec. Webley 5-1, Simpson maj. dec. Brown 12-2; 182—Ferro pinned Easton Castro (Moses Lake) 3:41, James West (Auburn) pinned Ferro 0:29; 195—Baus pinned Jordan Vaughn (Chiawana) 1:15, Harper pinned Baus 4:50, Andrew Backlund (Lewis &Clark) pinned Thees 4:07; 220—Tyler Dady (Battleground) pinned Vazquez 2:39, Sean McAlhaney (Skyline) maj. dec. Fairhurst 15-6; 285—Johanson pinned Ignacio Molinero (Wenatchee) 4:40, Johanson pinned Taylor Shimoji (Newport) 0:53.
Quarterfinals: 106—Crew dec. Nava-Montez 12-7, Soler pinned Smith 1:48; 113— Bryson Beard (Central Valley) maj. dec. Rodorigo 11-2, Cuzzetto maj. dec. Fernando Levya (Moses Lake) 12-1; 120—Douglas dec. Lopez 5-1; 126—Haftom Tafere (Todd Beamer) dec. Obregon 13-9; 132—Junior Godinho (Union) dec. Vulliet 5-1; 138—Corde Ferreira (Graham-Kapowsin) pinned Eagle 5:36, Joshua Smith (Kent Meridian) dec. Peterson 8-5; 145—Brandon Brenenstahl (Rogers) pinned Johnson 3:24, Soler dec. Sargent 6-4; 160—Tyler McLean maj. dec. Sander 9-0, Mack Busey (Graham-Kapowsin) pinned Johnson 5:06; 170—Vigoren maj. dec. Garret Autrey (Tahoma) 9-0; 220—Reed dec. Austin Curtis (Newport) 12-5; 285—Johnson pinned Shimoji 3:39.
Class 3A
Team results (through Day 1): 1. University 69, 7. Oak Harbor 38; 10. Stanwood 32, 12. Glacier Peak 31, 15. Marysville Pilchuck 27, 20. Marysville Getchell 19, 24. Shorewood 16, 26. Meadowdale 11, 27. Everett 11, 49. Mountlake Terrace 1.
Individual results (locals only)
First round: 106—West Weinert (Stanwood) def. Pete Wilkes (Mt. Spokane) 12-0; Jesse Torres (Sunnyside) def. Christian Bertram (Oak Harbor) 9-2; 113—Billy Almachar (Marysville Getchell) def. Tyler Workman (Kelso) 6-5; Abundio Victoriano (Kelso) def. Nathan McCaughan (St) 8-4; 120—Luke Wilcon (Mercer Island) def. Jacob Cole (St) 5-2; Wil Treadwell (Prairie) tech. fall Jacob Scott (St); 126—Jeremy Vester (OH) pinned Lester Payton (Kelso); Matthew Floresca (Shorewood) def. Juan Vicente (Lincoln) 6-0; Abraham Hansen (Mtn. View) pinned Ryan Daurie (Marysville Pilchuck) 3:55; John Kim (Glacier Peak) def. Jerad Paul (Enumclaw) 7-2; 132—Jahleel Vester (OH) pinned Kevionne Robbins (Lakes) 1:00; Cody Fakkema (OH) def. Ryan Valley (Peninsula) 6-2; 138—Caid Caveness (BL) def. Jacob Fitzgerald (OH) 16-3; Randy Nimrick (Pen) pinned Mark Johnston (OH) 3:51; 145—Jessie Lopez (Everett) def. Noe Palomino (Sunny) 8-0; Killian Page (MP) def. Cody Kiourkas (NC) 8-4; 152—Zach Schut (St) def. Michael Etherton (Kenn) 10-4; Izaec Quntanilla (N. Central) tech. fall Pablo Yeo (Ev) 17-0; Logan Coleman (GP) def. Dalton Gilman (St) 10-7; Trenton Tibbetts (O) def. Jacob Elledge (GP) 6-4; 160—Drew Hatch (MP) pinned Blair Simpson (Hudson’s Bay) 1:31; Morgan Smith (Meadowdale) def. Brandon Zimmerman (Decatur) 5-3; Joshua Crebbin (OH) def. Mason McDaniel (Juanita) 16-13; 170—Courtney Shavers (OH) def. Syd Springberg (M. Terrace) 9-8; Austin Stannard (Univ) def. Cody Stone (MG) 7-0; Max Ramos (Sun) pinned Anthony Hawkins (Ev) 5:56; 182—Sean Elledge (GP) pinned Keegan Noel (St) 1:56; 195—Jake Grantham (N. Thurston) pinned Ismael Perez (MP) 3:25; Ciaran Ball (Mead) def. Mitch Rorem (Mt. Si) 4-1; Tanner Risk (Timberline) pinned Garret Arrona (St) 5:52; 220—Iggy Gabov (MP) pinned Dwayne Robinson (Rogers) :48; Austin Carman (Sun) pinned Carlos Vilchis (St) 3:21; 285—Alfredo Diaz (MG) def. Dom Perry (H) 13-0; Mosese Fifita (GP) def. Ben Anderson (Shelton) 3-2 OT; Jory Cooper (MP) pinned Dean Jones (Bell) 1:00.
Consolation rounds: 106—Kendall Momon (Kennedy) def. Bertram 7-3; 113—McCaughan pinned Nico Laiuppa (Timberline) 4:59; Almachar pinned McCaughan :35; 120—Justin Savard (NT) def. Cole 7-5; Gage George (Tim) def. Scott 10-3; Paul def. Daurie 5-1; Michael Hosfield (Kenn) def. Vester 7-6; 132—Fekkema def. Trever Smith (Kelso) 9-3; Vester def. Richie Bondurant (MS) 8-0; 138—Fitzgerald pinned Jack Larsen (Ken) 3:52; Daniel Montoya (Inter) def. Johnston 4-3; 152—Gilman pinned Cutter Podoll (Bellevue) 2:20; Elledge def. Garrett Roe (E) 7-2; Pierce Belleman (J) pinned Yeo 3:44; Gilman pinned Marcus Ulloth (NT) 3:50; Conner Small (L) def. Elledge 9-7; Coleman def. Belleman 9-3; 160—Hatch pinned Sean Wei (E) 2:01; 172—Hawkins pinned Jamey Mange (Bell) 2:13; Stone pinned Ronnie Evenden (Prairie) 4:46; Springberg def. Brandon Proffitt 4-0; Falani Gill (E) pinned Hawkins 4:49; Nick Chandler (MI) pinned Springberg 4:48; Timothy Corrie (Mt. Si) pinned Noel 3:51; 195—Skyler Poole (U) def. Perez 13-3; Tyler Mosier (Highline) def. Arrona 4-3; Ball def. Poole 7-1; 220—Vilchis pinned James Niemela (Columbia River) 1:46; Vilchis def. Jovanny Quintero (HB) 12-9; Gabov pinned Joey Gillies (Mt. Tahoma) 1:41; Heber Martinez (NC) def. Cooper 4-0.
Quarterfinals: 106—Weinert pinned Carson Corballey (Bonney Lake) :52; 113—Cesar Castillo (Kamiakin) def. Almachar 9-6; 126—Colton Tracy (BL) def. Vester 9-2; Floresca pinned Jake Pruchno (MI) 1:20; Kim def. Hansen 5-2; 132—Harley Kolp (Kam) def. Fakkema 7-0; Tyler Wicken (Kelso) def. Vester 7-4; 145—Lopez def Jake Ricco (Pen) 5-1; Page def. Matt Yuste (BL) 6-5; 152—Schut def. Conner Small (Liberty) 5-1; Casey Larson (Pen) pinned Coleman 3:22; 160—Smith def. Hatch 6-5; Crebbin def. Cayle Williams (BL) 13-7; 182—Elledge def. Spencer Smith (Dec) 11-3; 195—Jake Ferris (Wilson) def. Ball 11-6; Dallas Goodpaster (Prairie) pinned Gabov 5:27; Diaz pinned Patiole Pesefea (Foss) 4:58; Fifita (GP) pinned Wyatt Gomes (CR) :34; Tate Orndorff (U) pinned Cooper 1:50.
Class 2A
Team results (through Day 1): 1. Othello 59.5, 17. Cedarcrest 21.5, 27. Lakewood 14, 37. Sultan 7, 38. Archbishop Murphy 7, 50. Granite Falls 2.
Individual results (locals only)
First round: 106—Bailey McBride (Cedarcrest) pinned Mason Hamilton (White River) 3:34; Jackson Mills (Tumwater) def. Logan Corbin (Granite Falls) 9-4; 120—Josh Basden (Port Angeles) def. Ryan Nash (GF) 8-6; 126—Steven Martinez (Toppenish) def. Tyler Groff (GF) 7-0; Jake Konzal (Deer Park) def. James MacKenzie (Sultan) 10-6; 132—Curtis Chittenden (Cedar) def. Riley Wolf (Tum) 11-3; Trevor Kurtz (WR) pinned MacDicken (Sultan) 5:29; 138—Luke Shell (Steilacoom) def. Ely Malametz (Cedar) 5-0; Mike Moniz (Orting) pinned Drake Mosteller (Lakewood) 3:27; 152—Derek Troy (Mark Morris) pinned Nick Decker (Cedar) 4:30; Khali Crowl (Renton) def. Jason Barrus (Sultan) 6-2; 160—Carlos Toledano (Cedar) def. Jacob Nelson (Washington) 16-1; Elijah Camacho (River Ridge) def. Tommy Eadie (GF) 12-4; 170—Jeff Harrison (Lakewood) pinned Johnie Brown (Wash) 3:22; 182—Ricardo Rodriguez (Wapato) def. Jacob Naslund (Sultan) 12-7; 195—Foster Wade (Archbishop Murphy) def. Jason Glenn (Ellensburg) 10-4; 220—Taylor Comfort (Sultan) def. Tyler Rosenkranz (Centralia) 14-0; Gage Rife (W.F. West) def. Dakota Creed (AM) 11-4; 285—Umu Timoteo (Olympic) pinned Tristan Nelson (Lakewood) 4:39.
Consolation rounds: 106—Grant Gaspar (Ridgefield) def. Corbin 13-5; McBride pinned Gaspar 1:06; 120—Cody Schwab (WR) def. Nash 7-2; 126—Groff def. Colton Maddy (Lindbergh) 7-4; MacKenzie def. Ryan Martin (Olympic) 10-6; Austin Alexander def. Groff 7-2; MacKenzie def. Victor Toledo (FP) 12-6; 132—Josh Tucker (N. Kitsap) def. MacDicken 7-3; Rico Ybarra (Orting) def. Chittenden 8-4; 138—Mosteller pinned Abraham Torres (Tyee) 2:39; Malametz def. Conner Veach (Klah) 5-0; Jeremy Jackson (Sumner) def. Malametz 12-5; 152—Decker def. Ryley Smith (Colville) 10-4; Jake Staniszewski (Pullman) pinned Barrus 3:52; Decker def. Vanshur (Olympic) 4-2; 160—Eadie def. Clayton Farr (RR) 9-4; Nick Gonzalez (EV) def. Eadie 6-5; 170—Tevin Hiatt (Eph) def. Harrison 5-3; 182—Naslund def. Matt Robbins (PA) 9-4; Chandler Knight (Colville) def. Naslund 16-0; 220—Roberto Coronel (PA) def. Creed 11-6; Spencer Pedroni (Fife) def. Comfort 5-2 2OT; 285—Nelson pinned Jordon Logan (Aberdeen) 3:37; Nelson won by disqualification.
Quarterfinals: 106—Tyler Gale (Port Angeles) def. McBride 7-3; 132—Brian Burchett (Klahowya) def. Chittenden 14-5; 160—Toledano def. Stephen Camden (Washougal) 4-3 3OT; Anton Yates (East Valley, Yakima) pinned Harrison 1:20; 195—Wade def. Nick Lund (W.F. West) 6-4; 220—Kyle LaFritz (PA) pinned Comfort 5:30.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
