TACOMA — Othello head wrestling coach Rudy Ochoa II said his team could have easily sent seven to 10 wrestlers to this weekend’s state tournament.

Instead, due to some close calls and a brutal regional, the Huskies are sending five to the last tournament of the season.

“We just lost some close matches in the elimination rounds,” Ochoa said.

However, the group is a strong quintet with the potential to place high. Of course, there is two-time state champion Isaiah Perez. Perez is wrestling for an opportunity to finish his senior season with a Tri-State championship as well as a state championship. No surprise, Perez has been the top-ranked heavyweight in Class 2A and all classifications, according to Washington Wrestling Report, for the entire season.

“He’s always really dialed in and he just kind of goes out there and takes care of business,” Ochoa said of his senior heavyweight.

In addition to Perez, Othello qualified Jaxon Rocha, Arturo Solario, Josue Solorio and Elijah Roylance.

“I think we’ll just try our best and give our best effort,” Ochoa said.

Every Othello wrestler has some state tournament experience, outside of Solorio who is a freshman. Ochoa said the key is treating the two-day wrestling extravaganza like any other tournament and to get good rest in between matches. Walking around or standing up for too long on the Tacoma Dome’s concrete is ill-advised.

“I think our mentality just needs to be focus on the person in front of you,” Ochoa said. “We have some pretty tough brackets.

Roylance, who placed fifth a season ago, is ranked third in 2A after finishing third at the Region IV tournament in Cheney. Roylance wrestled top-ranked Amadeo Flores-Pimentel of Selah tough in the semifinals before eventually succumbing to the two-time state champion. Roylance is on the opposite side of Flores-Pimentel in this year’s bracket and could possibly meet Quincy’s Ruben Vargas in the state semifinals.

Rocha reached state a season ago and is ranked sixth entering this year’s tournament. Solario won his consolation final match and finished third at last year’s state tournament; the 145-pounder is ranked first heading into this year’s Mat Classic.

Ochoa also wanted to commend Nathan Garza and Eric Gomez. Both fought through injuries — Garza an injured rib and Gomez a torn meniscus — to see if they could make one more run to the Tacoma Dome.

“They both had a good year this year,” Ochoa said.