MATTAWA - Injuries have made for a tough season for Wahluke wrestling, but there was good news to cheer at the South Central 1A Regional Tournament at Zillah Saturday.

The Yorgesen boys - brothers Tyler and Jack - qualified for this weekend's state tournament in Tacoma at the same weight. And Alberto Cruz came back from a heart-breaking semifinal loss to take third place at 220 pounds and return to state.

Wahluke scored 62 points to take seventh as a team. Zillah took first with 209, and Royal netted fourth with 122.5.

At the girls regional meet at Wahluke Saturday, the Warriors qualified three of their members for state. Jennifer Aznaran finished 2nd at heavyweight, Fatima Barajas took third at heavyweight, and Mirium Baragas was third at 130.

The state tournaments for all classifications and girls will open Friday at the Tacoma Dome, with semifinals and finals at all weights on Saturday.

There is a good chance for each Warrior to medal. The top eight in each weight are awarded. Cruz medaled last year.

Cruz started this regional in fine fashion with a first-round win. That pitted him against favorite Eli Curtsinger of Naches in a semifinal.

It was a grueling match that didn't see a lot of scoring. The two boys threw each other around the mat, moving and countering. Cruz's final thrust in the third period was successfully countered by Curtsinger, and Cruz lost by pin.

Faced with having to win his next match to get to state, Cruz did so. Then he added another win to finish in third place.

Jack Yorgesen, a sophomore, had a similar afternoon. After dropping his semifinal at 182, he had to win his next match to qualify for state, and he did that. However he dropped the match for third and finished fourth.

The most successful afternoon was turned in by senior Tyler Yorgesen at 182. He won his first two matches to qualify for state and wrestle for the regional title.

However, the final match, under the glare of the center stage lights, went to Royal's tough Damien DeLaRosa.