MOUNTLAKE TERRACE – So they got swept in the finals. Big deal.
That’s how Sultan coach Wes Fischer analyzed his team’s performance Saturday at the Region 1 Class 2A Wrestling Championship at Mountlake Terrace High School.
Despite having all three of his finalists lose in their championship matches, Fischer had no regrets with how the day shook out.
“Hey, we’ve got several kids going to state,” he said. “So I’m just pleased as pie for them.”
The Turks finished fifth overall with 101 points and have six contestants going to the Mat Classic Championships next weekend in Tacoma.
As for the trio of Turk finalists seniors Jake Grillo (119 pounds) and Robbie Knowlton (130) and junior Josh Mann (140) Fischer’s expectations were fulfilled.
“I thought that if they all wrestled as well as I know they can, that they would all be in the finals or the top three,” he said.
Grillo had a rough time in the final, losing 5-0 to Orting’s Tony Farrington – the defending state champion at 103 in 2005.
Knowlton, the lone Cascade Conference wrestler to win a district title last week, also faced an Orting opponent (Jeff Fetter) and got shut out 15-0.
Mann had a highly contested first period with Blaine’s Calvin Moore. Trailing 8-6, he was pinned at the 27-second mark.
Other Turk state-qualifiers were freshman Abe Bray (135) and Nick Henrickson (160), both fourth, and Zack Root (171), fifth.
Lakewood’s Steve Edmonds placed fifth at 125 pounds after losing his opening-round match and eventually defeating Klahowya’s Noah Caffrey 10-1 in the fifth-sixth place match.
Since Edmonds took the same route last year at 112 pounds – managing fifth at regionals and then placing the same at state – Lakewood coach Tom O’Hara is hopeful.
“Steve seems like he waits until the state tournament to wrestle,” he said. “… He hasn’t really gotten into his game yet.”
Nic Caldwell (sixth at 145 last year at state) lost twice to Will Bringgomd of Port Townsend, including a thrilling 8-6 decision in the third-fourth match.
“That one just about gave me a heart attack,” O’Hara said.
A third Cougar heading to Tacoma is Bryson Renouard, who won a 9-3 decision over Vashon Island’s Will Olsen in the 145-pound weight class for third.
The top five finishers in each weight class advance to state. The sixth-place finisher will be the alternate.
So Brett DeChadeneds (103) and Tony Houts (171) of Archbishop Murphy (14th) will make the trek, as will Sultan’s Jake Estrella (189).
Granite Falls was 16th with one point.
At Mountlake Terrace H.S.
Top five to 2A State Tournament
Team Scores-1. Blaine 191, 2. Orting 159.5, 3. Vashon Island 139, 4. Mount Baker 116, 5. Sultan 101, 6. Steilacoom 97, 7. Klahowya 92.5, 8. Nooksack 86, 9. Port Townsend 58, 10. Meridian 45, 11. Eatonville 39, 12. Foster 33.5, 13. Lakewood 33, 14. Archbishop Murphy 12, 15. Chimacum 1, 16. Granite Falls 1.
Championship matches
103: Jacob Humphrey (BLAN) d. John Cushman (STEL) 3:59; 112: Tyler Gateman (VASH) d. Darren Frasquillo (KLAH) 3:26; 119: Tony Farrington (ORTG) d. Jake Grillo (SULT) 5-0; 125: John Thompson (ORTG) d. Alex Gateman (VASH) 5-3; 130: Jeff Fetter (ORTG) d. Robbie Knowlton (SULT) by technical fall 15-0; 135: Jack Prince (ORTG) d. Anthoni Hefferman (ORTG) 3:50; 140: Calvin Moore (BLAN) d. Josh Mann (SULT) 0:27; 145: Travis Lensing (STEL) d. John Brady (BLAN)10-4; 152: Micah Sohl (VASH) d. Matt Passmore (STEL) 12-4; 160: Sloan Gutierrez (PTWN) d. Nick Jordan (BLAN) 10-1; 171: Shane Hicks (BLAN) d. Andrew Browe (EATV) 2:41; 189: Blayne Brandenburger (BLAN) d. Zack Sowards (ORTG) 0:31; 215: Izzy Torres (NOOK) d. Scott Johnson (MTBK) 9-7; 275: Sam Zylstra (NOOK) d. Patrick Griffin (KLAH) 6-3.
Third-place matches
103: Kyle Diaz (ORTG) d. Josh Holbrook (PTWN) 15-4; 112: Buck Contreras (MTBK) d. Josh Shenkel (STEL) 9-8; 119: Alex Stemer (VASH) d. Dawson Patrick (MTBK) 12-10; 125: Mike Broyan (BLAN) d. Colten Stegall (MTBK) 2:36; 130: Sam Abrams (BLAN) d. Vince Rediger (NOOK) 4-3; 135: Mike LaPointe (MERD) d. Abe Bray (SULT) 8-7; 140: Cody Kirkpatrick (KLAH) d. Wiley Volker (VASH) 10-3; 145: Bryson Renouard (LKWD) d. Will Olsen (VASH) 9-3; 152: Will Bringgold (PTWN) d. Nic Caldwell (LKWD) 8-6; 160: Alex Sigmon (MTBK) d. Nick Henrickson (SULT) by technical fall 20-5; 171: Niko Rehon (BLAN) d. Kenny Kramer (FOST) 16-7; 189: Chris Vineyard (KLAH) d. Tori Murphy (FOST) 7-0; 215: Duncan Mayshark (VASH) d. CJ Moen (KLAH) 12-2; 275: Adam Robinett (ORTG) d. Frank Sands (MERD) 4-1.
Fifth-place matches
103: Nathan Oliphant (MERD) d. Brett DeChadeneds (ABM) 5-4; 112: Darrin Humphrey (STEL) d. Harris Larson (MERD) 9-7; 119: Sam Larson (NOOK) d. David McCracken (MTBK) 11-0; 125: Steve Edmonds (LKWD) d. Noah Caffrey (KLAH) 10-1; 130: Rogen Lopez (VASH) d. Eli Jacoby (MTBK) 2:37; 135: Jesse Kilthau (BLAN) d. Ben Lavergne (MTBK) 4-0; 140: Jordan Flynn (STEL) d. Ren Martin (EATV) 9-2; 145: Karl Neumann (KLAH) d. Danny Sullivan (FOST) 8-2; 152: Kyle Brown (MTBK) d. Andy Nygard (NOOK) 13-6; 160: Brendon VanderVliet (NOOK) d. Jordon Chanes (FOST) 13-9; 171: Zack Root (SULT) d. Tony Houts (ABM) 2:27; 189: Christian Dubois (PTWN) d. Jake Estrella (SULT) 5-1; 215: James Wedum (STEL) d. Aaron Hamrick (EATV) 6-4; 275: Evan Smit (MTBK) d. John Galvin (EATV) 4:29.
Class 3A Regional I meet: At Issaquah, Sedro Woolley won the regional title in convincing fashion. Cedarcrest finished fifth sending four wrestlers on to the state tournament. David Howard captured the 160 pound weight class title. Ty Howard (112), Dan Claussen (135), and Rick Westerman (171) also will represent Cedarcrest. Lynnwood was able to have two wrestlers finish fourth to advance to the state tournament. Johnny Fulfer (103 pounds) and Cody Mason (119) will represent the Royals. Shorecrest will have a lone representative in Ryan Pasic (140). Lynnwood’s Tanner Detschman (145) and Cedarcrest’s Brady Paxman (160 finished in fifth place to be considered alternates.
Top 3 plus local teams
Team Results: 1. Sedro Woolley 261.5; 2. Bellingham 178; 3. Burlington 133; 5. Cedarcrest 74.5; 11 Lynnwood 36; 16. Shorecrest 9; 17. South Whidbey 7.
Local Wrestlers qualifying for state
103: 4. Fulfer (Lynnwood); 112: 3. Howard (Cedarcrest); 119: 4. Mason (Lynnwood); 135: 2. Claussen (Cedarcrest); 140: 4. Pasic (Shorecrest); 152: 1. Howard (Cedarcrest); 171: 3. Westerman (Cedarcrest). Alternates – 145: Detschman (Lynnwood); 160: Paxman (Cedarcrest).
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