Basin wrestling: Local athletes attend big competitions across the Pacific Northwest
IAN BIVONA | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 months AGO
Ian Bivona serves as the Columbia Basin Herald’s sports reporter and is a graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes stories that lead up to the wins and losses of the various sports teams in the Basin. Football is his favorite sport, though he likes them all, and his favorite team is the Jets. He lives in Soap Lake with his cat, Honey. | December 18, 2023 3:13 PM
COLUMBIA BASIN — Wrestlers from across the Columbia Basin took their talents to several tournaments across the state, with Othello, Moses Lake and Royal even traveling to Idaho for the Tri-State Wrestling Tournament.
Cashmere Invitational — Cashmere
The Quincy Jackrabbits finished in second place of Saturday’s Cashmere Invitational, scoring 131 team points at the tournament. Warden (108 points) placed fifth as a team, followed by Royal (69 points) in ninth place and Wahluke (25 points) in 13th place.
Nine Jackrabbits finished on the podium; junior Saidt Alvarez (120-pound bracket, third place), freshman Johnny Blancas (126, second), sophomore Jace Reyes (132, second), sophomore Wyatt Weatherman (150, fourth), sophomore Enrique Rebollo (157, third), sophomore Luis Perez (157, fourth), senior Kaleb Klempel (175, third), junior Julian Silvas (190, fourth) and junior D.J. Frerks (215, third).
The four Cougar placers were sophomore Erik Camacho (120, second), senior Jose Arriaga (126, first), junior Junior Santiago (144, second) and senior Anthony Contreras (285, first). The Knights had three wrestlers place in sophomore Carlos Barajas (138, fourth), senior Aram Garnick (175, fourth) and junior Kevin Evangelista (285, second), while the Warriors had one wrestler place; senior Alessandro Maravilla (215, fourth).
Decatur Girls Invitational — Federal Way
Royal’s 265 team points were the most at last weekend’s Decatur Girls Invitational, finishing 18 points ahead of the second-place Decatur team.
The Knights had six wrestlers finish on top of their respective brackets; Heaven Parker (105), Jara Rodriguez (110), Isabelle Barajas (115), Lauren Jenks (135), Kiyra Terry (140) and Emma Villa (190). Among the fellow Knight placers were Sharon Arroyo (110, second), Alina Valentin (115, second), Ninel Barajas (115, fourth), Briannah Quintero (135, second), Evelyn Acenio (135, fourth), Jade Flores (135, sixth), Sarah Eaton (140B, second) and Analy Caslillo (235, third).
Eisenhower Cadet Classic — Yakima
The Ephrata Tigers finished in the top half of Saturday’s Cadet Classic, scoring 80 points and placing ninth in the tournament.
Tiger senior Zander Boyd (120, second place), senior Jerry Vasquez (138, fourth) and sophomore Tavone Mantese all finished on the podium at the tournament. Eight of Ephrata’s nine wrestlers at the tournament won at least one match.
Gorilla Invitational — Davenport
The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos walked away with a third-place finish at Saturday’s Gorilla Invitational, scoring 110.5 points in the 10-team tournament.
Bronco placings included senior Octavio Paredes Martinez (113, first), freshman Wyatt Gibler (120, fifth), sophomore Turner Slack (144, third), junior Wyatt Rosman (144, fourth), freshman Pete Spain (150, third), senior John Branham (190, fifth), senior Gabriel Smith (215, second) and sophomore Malachi Jaynes (285, fifth).
HammerHead Invitational — Bremerton
Girls wrestling teams from Othello and Moses Lake traveled to Bremerton for last weekend’s HammerHead Invitational at the Kitsap Sun Pavillion, with both teams finishing in the top five in team points.
Othello placed first with 94 points, with Moses Lake finishing in fifth place with 62 points.
Among the placers for the Huskies were Janissa Barrera (110-pound bracket, fourth place), Ana Milan (110B, first), Grayce Mendez (115, fourth), Paige Meredith (120C, second), Miriam Garcia (140B, fourth), Bresais Campos (155C, second) and Elia Velazquez (190, second). Finishing on the podium for the Mavs were Ashley Naranjo (110, first) and Gabriela Vela (140, third).
Tri-State Wrestling Tournament — Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Sixty-eight wrestling teams took to the mats at North Idaho College Friday and Saturday for the Tri-State Wrestling Tournament, which brought in teams from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Of the local teams, Othello placed 11th with 107.5 points, Moses Lake took 25th with 58 points and Royal finished tied for 46th with 36 points.
For the Huskies, both sophomore Mason Russell (126) and junior Mason Perez (285) both finished on the podium. Eleven of Othello’s 15 wrestlers who traveled to Tri-State won at least one match.
Moses Lake and Royal did not have any wrestlers place; eight of the 14 Maverick wrestlers won at least one match, and six of the seven Knights won at least one match.
Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.