Ten Gsl Wrestlers Advance To State Semifinal Matches

Two extremes produced the same results for a pair of Greater Spokane League wrestlers on Friday.

“I wrestled like crap,” Ferris senior Ryan Ellis said.

“That’s the best I have wrestled in my life,” University junior Conor Jordan said.

Ellis and Jordan are among the 10 GSL wrestlers to reach the semifinals of the State 4A tournament at Mat Classic X in the Tacoma Dome.

The GSL brought 31 wrestlers. Only 12 are out, two at the hands of a league rival, and just four failed to win a match.

Ellis, 122 pounds, started by pinning Dan Tibbles of Roosevelt in 4:42 and was still disappointed.

“For some reason, I have to wrestle like crap my first match of a tournament,” he said. “I pick it up from there.”

He faced Aaron Wagner of defending team champion Evergreen in the second round and won 8-6.

“That kid’s tough,” Ellis said. “I picked it up and felt better in the next match. He’s only a sophomore, he’s going to be good. I let him get a reversal, then I realized I wasn’t wrestling as well as I should be. I shouldn’t have even let him get the reversal.”

Jordan finally made his debut at state after competing at weights where the four wrestlers who finished ahead of him in the regional reached the state semifinals. He was doomed to watch from the stands as his cousins Kevin, Dusty and Andy Roberts won six state titles between them from 1991 through 1997.

“The coaches say I am wrestling better right now than any of the Roberts, as far as getting the most out of my ability,” Jordan said. “There’s pressure (being related to the Roberts). I don’t know if I’ll ever be as good as the Roberts, I see their name every day (on the wall of the practice room). It’s a goal. I’m working hard at it.”

He has his work cut out for him, facing unbeaten Ravil Muhamedieve of Sehome in the semifinals.

Jordan opened with an 11-2 decision over Jacob Tester of North Kitsap and changed directions to beat Eugene Zaragoza of South Kitsap 15-4.

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