RITZVILLE — After taking fifth as a team at Saturday’s 1B/2B Region 3 tournament in Spangle, the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos will take four wrestlers to this week’s Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome.

Bronco senior Octavio Paredes Martinez (113), junior Carson Kubik (144), senior Gabe Smith (215) and senior Brock Tracy (285) will all hit the mat Friday morning.

“We’ve got a lot of experienced kids that have made it to this level before, except for Carson, but something, about halfway through the season, clicked with him and he’s been on a tear since,” LRS head coach Jason Hilzer said. “I think that’s what really helped us.”

Kubik, Smith and Tracy all earned regional championships Saturday, while Paredes Martinez took third in his weight class. Kubik pinned his first opponent, then won by technical fall in the semifinal and championship rounds; Smith pinned his first two opponents, winning by a 15-5 major decision in the finals; Tracy pinned all three of his opponents.

“Brock (Tracy), Carson (Kubik) and Gabe (Smith) are very confident in their abilities right now, and I think this is the first time since I’ve been coaching that we’ve had three regional champions,” Hilzer said. “It’s pretty exciting for us.”

Both Smith and Tracy and returning state veterans, having wrestled at the Mat Classic a year ago.

“I think it helps quite a bit because the other two haven’t been there, but the two that have are leaders,” Hilzer said. “They’re bringing the other guys along with them, showing them the ropes, and I think it’s going to make huge dividends for us in the state tournament.”

Part of that veteran leadership is guiding the first-year state-qualifying wrestlers along in practice before heading to Tacoma later this week.

“They’re showing them that this week, you really have to push hard,” Hilzer said. “You have to wrestle longer periods during practice than you normally would, try to build that (confidence) so that when you get there the nerves are not going to be too much for them.”

Smith placed third in the 1B/2B Boys 195-pound class last year, while Tracy took fifth in the 1B/2B Boys 285-pound bracket. Having reached the podium last year, Hilzer said it adds motivation heading into this weekend’s Mat Classic.

“They both have high ambitions, they’re both striving to get first place; right now, that’s those two’s only goal,” Hilzer said. “I know (Paredes Martinez and Kubik) definitely want to place, but it’s their first year there so they haven’t been to that point where they go ‘Now I’ve seen it and I can jump to that top spot,’ where the other guys have their goals right now.”

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

    Lind-Ritzville/Sprague junior Brock Tracy placed fifth in the 1B/2B Boys 285-pound bracket at the 2023 Mat Classic.
  

    Lind-Ritzville/Sprague senior Octavio Paredes Martinez, right, is one of four Broncos heading to Tacoma.