Freeman’s Sebastian Hyta holds his own at Pacific Northwest Classic
You might think Freeman’s Sebastian Hyta would be intimidated competing as he was in a tournament that featured wrestlers from schools three classifications higher than his 1A school.
But after placing third earlier at the prestigious Tri-State Tournament in Coeur d’Alene, how difficult could a 195-pound title match be even if it were against a returning State 2A fourth-placer during University’s Pacific Northwest Classic Saturday afternoon?
Facing Othello’s Anthony Ruiz, who stood a head taller and posed problems given his length, Hyta won 13-7 for the 195-pound title.
“I just get in on his legs and really work on driving my feet so he can’t get his hips in position,” said Hyta, who was icing a nasty shiner afterward, the result of a head-to-head collision. “The main thing was not letting him get distance and letting him work on his stuff.”
Hyta willingly traded escapes rather than allow reversals and counter with the takedowns that won him the match.
The Titans proved to be ungracious hosts, sending seven wrestlers to the finals, winning four championships and placing four others among the top six in 14 weight classes.
U-Hi scored 226 points to finish ahead of Mt. Spokane’s 175 and Lake City’s 152.
“Overall, our team’s gotten significantly better,” Titans coach Don Owen said. “I think the kids competed a lot harder and we’ve made some corrections since the beginning of the season. That’s how you win tournaments.”
Tate Orndorff, 38-0 last year and who earlier this season finished second in Ohio’s prestigious Walsh (High School) Iron Man tournament, his only loss this season, polished off the 285-pound class in less than a minute to cap the Titans’ effort and be named the tourney’s Outstanding Wrestler.
“It’s never happened to me,” he said of the award. “Actually, I was telling my dad it’s really hard for a heavyweight to win that award. People don’t really give credit to the upper weights that much so I was really happy to win.”
Teammates Cam Swanson (113), Cam Sorensen (138) and sophomore surprise Clayton Fincher (220 by pin) were the other champs.
Other winners from the Greater Spokane League were: Jake Howerton, Mt. Spokane (106); Clai Quintanilla, North Central (120); Alec Hoover, Mt Spokane (126); Izaec Quintanilla, NC (170); and Bryson Pierce, NC (182).
East Valley had two champs: Trey Meyer by technical fall at 152 and Chance Blackburn with a late rally at 160. Dylan Lockwood, Coeur d’Alene (132) and Michael Carr, Lake City (145) won the others.