TACOMA — The Moses Lake Mavericks concluded their appearance at the Mat Classic on day two, with several wrestlers making deep runs.  

Boys 

One wrestler who went far this year was Eli Anderson, who battled his way into the 215-lb finals, where he fell just short 4-2. Despite the loss, Anderson displayed gratitude.  

“I'm honestly just really grateful to even have a chance to wrestle here, because not many people even get to be here. It's just back to the drawing board. Just see what I did wrong and see how I can improve, because there's nothing else to do,” Anderson said.  

To reach the finals, first he had to go through Emet Ordway from Battle Ground in the semifinals. After a slow build in the first period, Anderson scored an escape and a takedown to go up 4-0. His opponent scored three different escapes but struggled to build any momentum. After another takedown in the third period and the clock ran out, he leaped to his feet to celebrate the 7-3 win.  

From there, he was set to face Logan Ullah from Mead in the finals. The first period was slow-paced as each competitor settled into the match. The match remained scoreless heading into the second; however, Ullah scored an escape and takedown to go up 4-0, which carried over into the third. From there, he slowed down again to milk the clock.  

As time ticked under a minute left, Anderson tried to pick up the pace and find an opportunity for a takedown. However, he only managed to force Ullah out of bounds twice for two points, but time ultimately ran out before he could score more.  

Boys Head Coach Jose Tanguma felt the weight of the loss alongside Anderson.  

“I love all my kids, all the wrestlers. We're a family, and seeing him lose a tough one like that, it brings me down, too,” he said. “That kid is a very tough opponent. The plan was simple, keep it on their feet and (Ullah) ended up getting the first take down. Eli gave it his all, so proud of the kid, how far he got, and we still got one more year with him.” 

For Anderson, the job is not done as he sets his sights on next year. Just like last season where he fell just short of being able to place at state, he worked over the past year to make the strides he did this season. Now, he goes back to the grindstone to bring home a state title, he said.  

“It just means I can do it. I just didn't finish the job this time, so it looks like we're going to have to come back and finish the job next year,” he said.  

For the rest of the boys, several still made their way to the podium by the end of the night. Conner Brosnahan, Ian Anderson, Ian Garza, Jose ‘Jr’ Villafana and Ryder Janke were all successful in the consolation brackets as they each made the top seven to place in the Mat Classic.  

Throughout the season, Tanguma said in prior interviews that his team was on the younger side. Gradually as the season unfolded, the Mavs improved with each competition they were a part of, he said. As a team, they finished sixth overall at the Mat Classic. This is something he is proud of since they brought 11 wrestlers, while some other schools brought twice as much.  

Their performance at State gives Tanguma a lot of hope for what’s to come next season.  

“We're just going to keep getting better, all the underclassmen right now can't wait to come back next year. Next year, we're going to have nine state vets, and our goal is going to be much closer to reach for us,” he said.  

Girls  

The girls squad made their presence known in the Mat Classic, too. Five wrestlers ended up making the podium by the end of day two. Anahi Garcia, Elyssa Armendariz, Emma Thompson, Izzabella Fredley and Naomi Cruz placed in the top seven through the consolation bracket.  

Heading into day two, Thompson and Armendariz were in the semifinals of their respective classes; however, they fell short in competitive matchups. For Armendariz, a senior for the Mavericks, this was her first year competing in Tacoma, she said. She finishes her time at Moses Lake in the top five in Washington in the 100-lb class.

“It feels amazing,” she said. “After three years of not being able to wrestle at state, cutting a short every year feels awesome. That was my goal, and I did it, and I made it to semis.”  

To close this chapter of her athletic journey is bittersweet for Armendariz.  

“It's really sad, because it's been my life, my whole family's wrestled so now that this might be the end, I ever step on a mat again, it's bittersweet,” she said. 

As the season concluded, Armendariz was reflective of what she and her team were able to accomplish this season.  

“This year we've really become a team. I'm proud of every single one of them, even girls that didn't place or didn't make it to the second day. I'm still proud of them. We all grew, and we all grew as a team. I'm really proud of all of us. We really accomplished a lot this year,” Armendariz said.  

    The Mavs’ Emma Thompson, in maroon, circles her opponent in the girls 4A semifinals of the Mat Classic.
  

    Conner Brosnahan, in white, denies a takedown attempt from his opponent in the boys 4A semifinals of the Mat Classic.
  

    The Mavs’ boys Head Coach Jose Tanguma, right, and an assistant coach calls out to one of their wrestlers during a match at the Mat Classic.
  

    The Mavericks’ Elyssa Armendariz, right, grabs a hold of her opponent during her match at the Mat Classic. In her first ever state tournament appearance, Armendariz placed fifth in the 100-lb class.
  

    Eli Anderson, in maroon, resists a takedown attempt by his opponent in the 215-lb 4A state finals match.