Tiger wrestlers advance to regional event
All season long Lewis and Clark got the most out of half a dozen wrestlers packed together in a handful of lower weights but who spread out in order to pack the most dual match punch.
During District 8 4A competition last weekend, five earned the right to move on for individual gain.
Nate Powell, Trevor Powell and Alex Nelson all wrestled between 119 and 130 pounds during the year, and all three advanced to the regional tournament at University High School on Friday and Saturday.
Junior Steve Cooley was a fixture at 112.
Sophomore Anthony Varnell and Dane Erickson handled the 140- and 145-pound weight classes.
Varnell pinned his way into the finals at 135 pounds, where he took an early lead and held on for an 8-6 victory. Cooley finished second in his bracket.
Nate Powell, in the loaded 125-pound class, reached the finals by taking less than a minute combined to dispatch his first two foes. He lost 7-2 for the title.
Joining him at regionals was Nelson, fourth in the weight class.
Trevor Powell also advanced, finishing fourth at 119.
The one casualty was Erickson, who missed by a match of advancing at 145. They’re joined by Ferris’ brothers, Taylor and Kyle Yonago. Both have competed despite losing time to injury.
Taylor, who had broken his leg and didn’t begin wrestling until after the first of the year, took third at 125.
Defending state champion Kyle, wrestling despite having broken his hand in December, was upset in the 140-pound semifinals but took fourth.
Cheney advances six
Blake Risk has one thing on his mind. He wants to win a state title after placing eighth in Missouri and sixth last year in Washington.
“That’s what I want,” Risk said. “It’s what I’ve put my whole effort into.”
Last weekend in the 3A subregional tournament, Risk ran his season record to 31-2 at 130 pounds, winning three matches by pin, including for the title, and another 10-1 to begin his quest.
“My dad’s an Iowa state champion, so wrestling’s always been in the family,” Risk said. “I still remember the day (at age 4) my dad asked me if I wanted to wrestle.”
Travis McKenzie overcame an injury disqualification to move on, and Risk’s stepbrother, Brandon Parker-Risk, a freshman, also was among the six Blackhawks who will compete in regionals at Ellensburg this weekend.
Top six is 1A/B goal
Top six finishers per weight qualify for the State 1A/B wrestling area during this weekend’s regional tournament in Moses Lake.
So the dozen Liberty and Freeman wrestlers who will be competing have reason for optimism.
Those in particular with high hopes are Freeman state runner-up Danny Matthews, 112 pounds, Lancer district champions Brice Williams at 119 pounds and Andrew Smith at 140, and second-placers Brian Mumby, who lost to Williams in the finals, and Adam Thies, 135.