Brothers Lead Lakeside Eagles To State Wrestling Tournament

Three sets of brothers - featured in a Dec. 25 North Voice article - were integral members of Lakeside High’s unbeaten wrestling season and tournament success.

Six of them will be in the State 2A portion of Mat Classic X this weekend in Tacoma.

Senior Jason and freshman Justin Belyea won 115 and 108 pound district championships, respectively. Senior Jason and junior Adam Christen were winners at 141 and 135 pounds.

Senior Aaron and junior Adrian Laughery finished first at 148 pounds and third at 158 pounds respectively.

Their freshman brother, 108-pound Austin Laughery, finished one place away, losing on an escape and takedown that came as time ran out in his consolation final.

The Eagles swept past their Great Northern League brethren, qualifying 16 wrestlers to state and winning 12 of 13 district finals.

Included was 178-pound senior Sean Wheeler who won twice by pins and 11-2 in the title match.

He spoke afterwards about the ease of Lakeside’s triumph and what it means for this weekend’s bid for a second state title.

“It actually sends us to state with more confidence,” he said. “Now everybody knows the job they have to do. We all have our own goals, but we go as a team.”

Seven of the wrestlers have been there before. Matt Westenfelder, 168, and Aaron Laughery were third and fifth at state last year. Tim Weisser, 122, placed fourth, as did Jason Christen. Anthony Layton, 129, was seventh as was Wheeler. Jason Belyea qualified two years ago.

New to the event are 101 pounders Robert Paintner and Kris Matthews, 190-pounder Jason Cummings, 215-pounders Matt Wilson and Kevin Downey, and 275-pounder Colin Charbonneau.

Cummings made it despite being strapped into a strait-jacket-like device to protect two injured shoulders.

“I dislocated both at different times in football and never gave them time to heal,” said Cummings.

The harness has straps to keep his arms tight to his side. Cummings admitted that the thought of his shoulders popping out while wrestling is always on his mind.

“One little tweak and it affects the rest of my match,” said Cummings.

Hopefully not enough to keep him from contributing to another Lakeside state title.

Of heartache and courage Six Riverside High wrestlers qualified for state. Five will participate.

Jesse Lee, the unbeaten Ram 215 pounder broke his arm during a freak accident in the finals, bringing his season to a crushing end.

But the courageous wrestler, his arm wrapped in a splint and supported by a friend, climbed the podium to accept his runnerup medal.

Carrying Riverside’s colors will be 122-pound champion, Joben Nuesse, second-place finishers Tu Le, 129, Paul Purcell, 168, and third-placers Brandon Morris, 135, and Damon Tokarz, 190.

“Damon is a neat story,” said coach Scott Friedman. “He’s faced a lot of adversity, but remained positive.”

Only recently has Tokarz found a stable home with the coach of Riverside’s middle school wrestling team, said Friedman.

Unable to find a spot at 178 pounds, he moved up to 190 where he was the Rams’ second entrant. He beat teammate Spencer Murphy on his way to state.

“It breaks your heart. Both had a chance to go,” said Friedman.

For Tokarz, reaching state was a storybook ending to his season.

Deer Park has qualified three wrestlers to state, Jon Waunch at 141, Nolan Jones at 158 and Jarred Berger at 178. All finished second.

GSL wrestlers to state

A quartet of North Central wrestlers continued their record of post-season success advancing to this weekend’s State 4A wrestling tournament in Tacoma.

David Sandberg improved his season record to 28-2, while winning the Region IV tournament to lead the Indian quartet.

Joining him are third-placers Nick Stuart in the rugged 115-pound weight class, Tony Beggs at 129 and fourth-placer Dereck Phillips at 275.

Three wrestlers from Mead have also qualified for state: second-place regional finishers Mark Denholm, 115, Keith Riddle at 141 and third-placer Jesse McCarty at 129.

Rogers’ 108-pounder Ben Houk, who finished second, and Marshall Sims, third at 275, also qualified.

They join seven Gonzaga Prep wrestlers, champions Chris Montgomery, 115, Travis Pascoe, 168, second-place finishers Sean Malone, 135, Nick Bliss, 158, third-placer Paul Koehler, 158, and fourth-placers Louis Peyron, 108, and Kyle Gleason, 178.

Mat Classic X begins Friday at 11 a.m. and runs all day both Friday and Saturday in the Tacoma Dome.

NC gymnasts advance

North Central gymnasts Heidi McCullough and Amber Baines will participate in the state gymnastics meet this weekend in Tacoma.

McCullough finished second on uneven bars with a 9.0 score and Baines shared fourth at 8.4 on balance beam and also qualified on vault and uneven bars.

, DataTimes