Huskies qualify six for state
IAN BIVONA | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 9 months AGO
Othello junior Elia Velazquez, top, is one of eight Huskie wrestlers to make the trip to the Tacoma Dome for the 2023 Mat Classic.
FILE PHOTO
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
OTHELLO – Six Huskie girls wrestlers punched their tickets to state at the Girls 2A/1A/2B/1B Region 3 tournament in Warden last weekend, with junior Lucy Giles (135), senior Nayeli Leal (140), freshman Kiara Haertling (145), senior Thalia Gallegos (170), junior Elia Velazquez (190) and sophomore Alejandria Espindola (235) all qualifying for the 2023 Mat Classic.
“We’re pretty excited because they’ve worked really hard and they earned it,” Othello Head Coach Rafael Ruiz said. “They earned their spot to go and compete at state.”
Sophomore Grace Rocha (115) and Jadira Perez (145) are also heading to Tacoma as alternates.
“We’re extremely proud of all the work they’ve put in,” Ruiz said. “Morning sessions, after school – that’s made a difference for these girls. I”m really happy for them.”
The eight total wrestlers heading to Tacoma is double what the Huskies sent last year, Ruiz said.
“It speakers volumes to the teams that we’re building,” Ruiz said. “We’re getting better together, and that was our aim this year. Our numbers this year really reflect that, and we had a lot of girls that missed it by one match. I think next year we should have a higher number than this year.”
Ruiz said the Huskies have a younger roster this season, showing with only two seniors heading to state.
“They’re super thrilled, super excited,” Ruiz said. “Not only because they made it, but the whole experience itself. Some of them have no clue what it is because they’ve never been there and it’s their first year wrestling, but they worked really hard and they’re really excited to compete.”
Of the six Huskie wrestlers to qualify for state the only returner is senior Thalia Gallegos, who went 2-2 at last year’s Mat Classic in the girls' bracket.
“She works really hard, and she pushes the girls when it’s time to push,” Ruiz said. “She’s got that experience and the girls look up to her. They take whatever she says in. She’s been a big help with that.”
Othello
Boys
Sophomore Christopher Garcia (106)
Junior Isaac Campos (113)
Freshman Daniel Gonzalez (113)
Freshman Mason Russell (120)
Junior Anthony Abundiz (126)
Junior Alexander Mendez (132)
Junior Adriel Flores (132)*
Senior Forrest Roylance (138)
Freshman Camilo Mendez III (145)
Junior Jesus Bonilla (160)*
Senior Jaden Perez (170)*
Senior Brandon Garza (182)
Senior Terrill Freeman (195)
Senior Josue Solorio (195)
Sophomore Anthony Solorio (220)*
Girls
Sophomore Grace Rocha (115)*
Junior Lucy Giles (135)
Senior Nayeli Leal (140)
Freshman Kiara Haertling (145)
Sophomore Jadira Perez (145)*
Senior Thalia Gallegos (170)
Junior Elia Velazquez (190)
Sophomore Alejandria Espindola (235)
