MOSES LAKE — It took until the final matches to decide the outcome of Wednesday’s dual between Moses Lake and Othello, with the Huskies winning four of the final five matches to take a 38-28 win.

“It took a team effort,” Othello coach Rudy Ochoa II said. “We have some guys down with sickness, some guys down with injuries. I think they did a good job of coming together and filling in spots. I’m glad we came out on top, it could have gone either way. If you were here and witnessed it, you would see it was a lot closer dual than the score even shows.”

Moses Lake took a 22-17 lead after a pin by senior Dayton Regan in the 156-pound match, but the Huskies got back-to-back pins by freshman Armoni Zuniga-Mendez (165) and junior Parker Freeman (175), followed by an 8-2 decision in favor of sophomore Miguel Zuniga in the 190-pound match. After Moses Lake freshman Eli Anderson pinned his opponent in the second round of the 215-pound match, Othello junior Mason Perez closed out the dual with a first-round pin in the 285-pound match.

“It was just being in good position,” Ochoa said. “After Tri-State, we talked about really trying to focus on keeping it simple and staying in good position; even if we’re not the better wrestler, trying to create opportunities where we’re in better position and keeping it close to give ourselves a chance. I think, for the most part, we did pretty good at that tonight.”

For the Mavericks, Moses Lake picked up wins from sophomore Ian Garza (106) with a pin, freshman Duane Zamora (120) by a 7-4 decision, junior Drayden Gaither (132) by an 11-0 decision and sophomore Ian Anderson (144) by an 8-1 decision. 

“I’m seeing a lot of improvement,” Moses Lake coach Jose Tanguma said. “We started the season pretty rough, guys were pretty slow at the start, but we’re starting to pick up the pace now. I’m glad that we’re seeing improvement every time we go out on the mat.”

Even the matches that didn’t end in Moses Lake’s favor had positive takeaways, as Tanguma pointed out the 150-pound match that went to overtime between Maverick junior Jesse Humpherys and Othello sophomore Zayvier Olazcon, which was a 4-2 decision to Olazcon. 

“Jesse Humpherys, he’s been improving a lot,” Tanguma said. “This was his first night on varsity, he did some good work tonight. I’m proud of him, you’ll be seeing more of him.”

Ultimately, Tanguma said the late pins were the deciding factor in Wednesday’s dual.

“I think the match would have been a lot closer if we didn’t give up those pins,” Tanguma said. “We do have a few injuries right now, had to throw in some third-string wrestlers out there. They still put up a fight, and some of those kids didn’t give up a pin.”

Othello led the dual 23-22 through the first 10 matches; Ochoa said when the meet is that close, it adds extra motivation to wrestlers.

“I think it motivates the kids when they look over at our team in a dual and they know they’re fighting for their brothers,” Ochoa said. “Gives them that extra (boost) when they need it.”

Prior to the first match, wrestlers walked onto the mat with gifts for their opponents. Wrestlers and coaches received t-shirts from the opposite program from the gift exchange, which began from Tanguma and Ochoa looking for something fun to do for the holiday season.

“All the wrestlers and coaches had some shirts made, so now you’ll probably see some Moses Lake wrestlers sporting some Othello gear, and Othello wrestlers sporting Moses Lake gear,” Ochoa said. “It’s for the sport, for the Basin. When we’re wrestling them I’m definitely not going for them, but when we’re not wrestling them I’m rooting for Moses Lake.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

    Moses Lake junior Drayden Gaither, top, won by an 11-0 decision over Othello senior Marcos Zuniga, bottom.
  

    Othello junior Parker Freeman pinned Moses Lake sophomore Jesus Garcia in the 175-pound match at Wednesday’s dual in Moses Lake.
  

    Moses Lake sophomore Ian Garza, top, began Wednesday’s dual with a pin over Othello junior Christopher Garcia in the 106-pound bracket.
  

    Wrestlers exchanged gifts during introductions before Wednesday’s dual began. Inside the gifts were t-shirts from each wrestler’s program.