Jackson advances three to regionals

MARYSVILLE

Expectations were met for Jackson at the 4A District wrestling tournament.

The Timberwolves advanced three individuals on to this week’s regional tournament.

The Wolfpack’s top finisher was Jared Mead, who took fourth place in the 125-pound Division. Mead, a state returner, lost 5-3 in overtime to Oak Harbor’s Connar Zimmerman.

Also moving on were teammates Anthony Mortera (171) and Conner Martin (seventh at 140).

“It went all right,” said Jackson coach Gustavo Anaya. “I’m hoping to get through a little more. The three that got there were the three that I expected to.”

Mead was pretty disappointed following the overtime loss.

“He had an error at the end but it is easily correctable,” Anaya said. “Overall he had a good tournament. It was a pretty tough district.”

Mead finished third at districts at 119 last year.

Anaya likes Mead’s prospects at this weekend’s regional tournament.

“I hope to have him as a returning state competitor,” Anaya said. “Then the goal is to become a state placer.”

Mortera came into the tournament seeded third but then lost his first-round match. That meant he had to battle through the consolation bracket.

“He did a great job of wrestling through four or five matches to become a regional competitor,” Anaya said. “It was nice to see him make it through.”

After the surprising opening round loss, Anaya told Mortera to put the loss out of his mind.

“I told him not to focus on the first match but to learn from it and to use it to learn and to focus on moving on,” Anaya said. “He was able to do that. I think it kind of shows his mindset, his mental toughness, to recoup from a loss like that. He had seven matches in two days.”

Martin put in a lot of work in the offseason, such as going to camps.

“To get through (to regionals) is kind of a reward,” Anaya said.

Martin suffered a high ankle sprain late in the regular season and the district tournament was his first time back in the mat in three weeks.

“He spent most of the tournament trying to figure out what he was capable of doing with the injury,” Anaya said. “For Connor, I’m hoping that he realizes that his ankle is good enough.”

Jackson also advanced four individual to the girls tournament. All four — Danielle Dennis (119), Rachelle Alley (135), Gabrielle Dyment (152) and Nelly Aramburo (171) — are first year wrestlers.

“If anyone of those girls make it state, it’ll be exciting because it’s their first year out,” Anaya said. “They seem to be peaking at the right time.”

2A DISTRICT TOURNAMENT: Archbishop Murphy advanced five individuals to the finals and walked away with one championship. Cam Wade took first place in the 135-pound division. In the 103 division, Jeremy Wattam finished second and teammate Keegan Kruse was second at 285. Caleb Smith placed second at 145 and Taylor Baehm was the runner-up at 130. Also qualifying was Conner Kruse, who was third at 160.