EPHRATA – Senior Hudson Sager entered the 2A Boys Region 4 tournament with goals of making it to state – and avenging a loss he took in the first-place match of the Central Washington Athletic Conference district tournament.

“I had goals for every step of the way, I took it one step at a time,” Sager said. “Week one at districts was mainly to make it to regionals, but I really wanted to win districts. Week two was last week at regionals – after my tough loss in the finals at districts, my mentality kind of shifted and I realized that I have to ramp it up a little bit.”

Sager, who lost to Selah’s Mario Lamas in the final seconds of the second round of the district 160-pound championship match, winded up matching up against Lamas again at regionals last weekend.

The senior had pinned his first two opponents at regionals, first Pullman’s Cullen Billings (which he did in just 21 seconds) and then Roger’s (Spokane) Blaise Cross in overtime.

“Before the match, I was feeling pretty good,” Sager said. “I was looking for some redemption for what happened at districts.”

Ephrata Head Coach Austin Parker said Sager used the district loss as motivation, knowing there would be a rematch at regionals.

“For him to come back the following week, work even harder all week – not hang his head and mope that he got second place – instead of letting it hold him back, he used that to fuel him and mentally prepare himself to know he was going to see him in the finals,” Parker said.

The 2A Region 4 160-pound finals match ended with Sager victorious, defeating Lamas in a 4-2 decision to earn a regional crown.

“That felt really good to finally redeem that loss that I took to (Lamas) at districts, and to finally be up there with those No. 1 seeds from every region,” Sager said.

Beyond goals of wrestling well in matches, Sager said he wanted to be more of a leader in his senior year with the Ephrata wrestling team.

“I knew there was a new coach coming in, and (I wanted to) be their help and support in any way I could with the new program he’s trying to start.”

Sager carries a 36-4 record into this weekend’s Mat Classic.

“Really just the support and work I’ve been getting from teammates and coaches,” Sager said of what has helped him perform on the mat. “In practice getting looks from guys and the coaching and preparing I’ve got from all three coaches.”

This isn’t the first year that Sager is heading to the Mat Classic – he placed third in the 152-pound bracket last year.

“Getting used to the environment there – it’s loud, lots of lights, there’s a camera always watching your match and people watching live from everywhere over the state,” Sager said. “So many people yelling.”

Sager is one of four Tiger boys wrestlers to qualify for the 2023 Mat Classic. Joining Sager are junior Zander Boyd (113), senior Nelson Barragan (145) and senior Jose Pelayo (285). On the Ephrata girls wrestling team, juniors Leslie Sanchez Guerrero (135) and Kadie McMullen (140) both qualified for state. Freshmen Natalin Abundiz (115), Alexandra Estrada Rangel (145), Adylene Sanchez (155) and Molly McMullen (170) are all alternates.

“I went in with the mentality that it’s really all or nothing at this point,” Sager said. “I’ve got to give it my all now, or this is it.”

Ephrata

Boys

Junior Zander Boyd (113)

Senior Nelson Barragan (145)

Senior Hudson Sager (160)

Senior Jose Pelayo (285)

Girls

Freshman Natalin Abundiz (115)*

Junior Leslie Sanchez Guerrero (135)

Junior Kadie McMullen (140)

Freshman Alexandra Estrada Rangel (145)*

Freshman Adylene Sanchez (155)*

Freshman Molly McMullen (170)*