Aiming to improve
IAN BIVONA | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 9 months AGO
Wahluke seniors Anthony Zebrano, left, and Josue Mendoza, right, are the two Warrior wrestlers heading to Tacoma for the 2023 Mat Classic.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/JOSE MARIN
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. | February 17, 2023 1:00 AM
MATTAWA – Wahluke senior Anthony Zebrano once again qualified for the Mat Classic, and is looking to improve on his finish in this year’s edition of the state tournament.
“For (Zebrano), going back again, it’s really exciting for him that he has that experience from last year,” Wahluke Head Coach Jose Marin said. “I know he’s hungry this year to go back and get that medal. He’s worked really hard to get here.”
Joining Zebrano is fellow senior Josue Mendoza, who qualified for state after taking off from wrestling for his junior season. Both Zebrano and Mendoza placed third in the 220- and 126-pound brackets at regionals, respectively.
“(Mendoza) came back this year, hit the ground running from the very beginning,” Marin said. “Great wrestler.”
After winning his first match at the 2022 Mat Classic, Zebrano fell to Toppenish’s Anthony Nava in the second round and dropped to the consolation bracket. Zebrano was one match away from a placement match but lost to Connell’s Jackson Forsyth.
“I think for him it was a little bit upsetting, just being so close to that state medal,” Marin said. “But, (this year he’s) working a bit harder, trying to figure out all the different things that he could do to be prepared for this tournament. The goal for him this year is to get a medal. He’s going to do whatever it takes to get that.”
Marin said that at all the tournaments that Mendoza has wrestled in this year, he’s placed inside the top four.
“He really excels as the top guy,” Marin said. “Being in control, controlling his opponent, keeping him down there and turning him over. That’s probably his biggest strength.”
Zebrano’s biggest improvement has been stamina in late rounds, according to Marin.
“He’s in even better shape – last year going into that third round, he would look tired, and he would slow down a lot,” Marin said. “We haven’t really seen that this year. That’s been great, seeing him look better wrestling those tough matches going into the third round.”
Wahluke state wrestlers
Boys
Senior Josue Mendoza (126)
Senior Anthony Zebrano (220)
Girls
Senior Jocelyn Perez (110)
Junior Mariangela Gonzalez (145)
