Big Nine Has Upper Hand In 4a

Wrestling

The Big Nine Conference edged the Greater Spokane League 29-27 in the 56 matches between the two leagues during the first day of the Region IV 4A wrestling tournament Friday at Yakima’s Eisenhower High School.

Central Valley (46-1/2 points) and Wenatchee (44-1/2 each advanced seven wrestlers to the semifinal round.

Gonzaga Prep qualified six for the semis, while University and Kamiakin send five.

University’s No. 4 seed, Curtis Bash, pulled off the biggest upset of the opening round when he pinned top-seeded J.J. Mangum of Pasco in the 122-pound class.

The only other top seed to lose was Rogers’ Marshall Sims, who dropped a 5-1 decision to No. 4 seed Justin Gruenberg of Wenatchee.

Region IV 3A

One thing was clear after the opening round of the Region IV 3A tournament in Ellensburg: It was not a good day to be a No. 1 seed from the West Side of the state.

Eight of King County’s 14 top seeds lost first-round matches.

All 14 of the No. 1 seeds from the East, including four from East Valley, advanced to the semifinal round.

East Valley 101-pounder John Sommer won by a decision, as did Kevin Woolf (122) and Justin Walker (129). Brad Crockett (141) won a major decision.

Moses Lake was the clear leader with 75-1/2 points.

Region IV 1A/B

At Chelan, Reardan’s J.T. Merriot won by pin in the 168-pound class. Simon Butterfield (178) won a major decision and Leo Rohner (190), Kyle Taylor (215) and Dan Eller (heavyweight) followed with pins.

Reardan finished the day with 60 points and third place in the team standings. Tonasket was the first-day leader with 78.5 points, followed by Liberty Bell with 70.5.

, DataTimes