By Chris Trujillo
Herald Writer
BLAINE – Sultan wrestlers Adam Colliers and Izac Margarito are more than just teammates, they’re fierce competitors.
Since the season started, the two have competed for the same slot at 112 pounds. So far, it’s worked out fine. Margarito, a senior, wrestled half the matches this season, while Colliers wrestled the other half.
But now, the No. 1-seeded Margarito and No. 5-seeded Colliers are on a collision course for a quarterfinal showdown after being seeded in the same bracket and winning their respective bouts Friday at the North Cascades Conference sub-regional meet held at Blaine High School.
Today’s semifinals start at 11:30 a.m. with the championship matches beginning at 4:00 p.m. The top four from each weight class and one alternate advances to the regional tournament next Saturday at Mountlake Terrace High School.
“That’s just the way it is,” Colliers said. “We are in the same weight class, and there’s just one spot. We both can’t get to the finals, but that’s okay because one of us can go to regionals through the consolation bracket.”
Margarito, who earned a first-round bye, pinned Justin Serrill of South Whidbey in a second-round match, 40 seconds into the first period to collect his 14th consecutive victory of the season.
Colliers, who lost six pounds the day before Friday’s tournament, pinned Lakewood’s Jeremy Case in a first-round tumble. An hour later, he recorded a 14-4 major decision over Meridian’s Tommy Huizenga, setting up perhaps the most meaningful match the two teammates have wrestled.
“If he wrestles like he did today it’ll easily go three rounds,” Margarito said. “We know each other very well. It’s been good that we’ve had each other. It’s made us better.”
At 119 pounds, Sultan’s Ryan Conley won his 20th match after pinning South Whidbey’s Kyle Moore in the second round. Conley, who won two tournaments during the regulation season, wrestles South Whidbey’s Conley White today in the quarterfinals.
Sultan’s Mark Atterbury (125), Jacob Beedle (130) Matt Ames (215) and Jesse Brown (275) all advanced to today’s quarterfinals.
Defending state champion Brandon Hern, of South Whidbey, at 189 pounds, recorded his 20th pin of the season, dropping Lakewood’s Garrett Bargabos in just 16 seconds. The undefeated Hern, who’s been accepted at Oregon State University on an academic scholarship, meets Charlie Brown of Mount Baker in the quarterfinals.
“Yeah, that is probably one of his faster pins,” South Whidbey coach Mike Crebbin said. “He hasn’t had too many challenges this year.
“He has a great work ethic. He is always trying to improve and he’s has made a goal this year to be undefeated and win state.”
Chris Long (145), Ben Harris (152), Andy Willis (160) and Chris Martin (215) all advanced for today’s round for South Whidbey, which finished the first round in third place in the team competition with 73 points behind second-place Lakewood (88) and first-place Mount Baker (118.5). Nooksack Valley (63) finished the day in fourth, while Sultan (60.5), Granite Falls (34), Meridian (29) and Blaine (26) drift toward the rear.
Lakewood’s Bret Bailey (135), one of eight Lakewood wrestlers to move on to today’s quarterfinal round, is primed for a return trip to state after finishing sixth last year and second the year before. Bailey pinned Sultan’s John Schoppe 22 seconds into the second round to move on to today’s round, starting with Mount Baker’s Jacob Horsman.
Andres Valleza (135) pinned Nate Haney of Mount Baker in the first period to lead a group of three Granite Falls’ wrestlers into today’s action.
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