COULEE CITY — After sending two wrestlers to the Mat Classic a year ago, the Warriors will send five to Tacoma this week; senior Everett Wood (157), senior John Pierce (175), junior Jack Molitor (120), freshman Porter Wood (138) and freshman Noah Butler (215).

“The kids wrestled great,” ACH head coach Brandon Walsh said of the team’s performance at regionals. “They’ve been working hard all season, and we’ve got some talented kids that have been in the sport a long time, but also it’s so important that we peak at the right time. It was fun to be a part of.”

Molitor and Pierce both took third at regionals, while Porter Wood and Butler were runner-ups. Everett Wood won a regional title in the 157-pound class.

“We talk about it in our program, of how important it is to stay in great position all the time,” Walsh said. “They did a really good job of that, we didn’t beat ourselves. A couple of times we got out of position, but overall it’s one of our better performances of not beating ourselves mentally.”

While Everett Wood is the team’s lone returning state wrestler from a year ago, Porter Wood and Pierce were both state alternates in 2023. Walsh noted that the extra year of experience has gone a long way toward the Warriors sending five wrestlers to state.

“Some of the younger guys had potential last year, but just weren’t quite there experience-wise,” Walsh said. “Now they’re a year older and they’re ready for the big moment and they responded well. That’s probably the biggest factor.”

Butler and Porter Wood both opened Saturday’s regional tournament with back-to-back pins in their first two matches, reaching the finals before falling to second place. 

“They wrestled really well,” Walsh said.

Similarly, Everett Wood pinned his first two opponents before winning a regional title with an 8-5 decision against Kettle Falls senior Deacon Medeiros.

“He was in the regional finals last year and lost in overtime, so he was on a mission yesterday for a couple of reasons; he wanted to avenge that sour taste of last year, and he certainly did that (Saturday), and going into the tournament he was three wins from 100 wins in his career.”

After winning his first match with a first-round pin, Molitor responded from a semifinal loss to defeat Reardan’s Alex Matusik in a 12-6 decision to qualify for the Mat Classic. Pierce lost in a 10-7 decision in the 175-pound semifinals but defeated Reardan's Sterling McLaughlin in the third/fourth-place match to reach the Mat Classic.

“I’ve always said that the regional tournament is where all the pressure’s at,” Walsh said. “It’s my favorite tournament because there is a lot on the line, so once we get to state I hope the message in practice this week is ‘Let’s have clear minds, no doubt and go be great. Wrestle as hard as you can, and leave it all on the mat.’”

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

    ACH senior Everett Wood, top, wrestles at last year’s Mat Classic.