State Semis Not Expected By East Pair

A/B wrestling

Darrell Doolittle and Dan Eller didn’t expect to be in the championship bracket today.

Just getting to state was their first goal. Getting a medal was their second. But when Mat Classic X resumes today in the Tacoma Dome, the pair will open in the State A/B wrestling semifinals, just a win away from the title match.

Doolittle, a 178-pounder from Wilbur-Creston, and Eller, a 275-pounder from Reardan, are wrestling beyond their expectations.

“I never though I’d get this far,” Doolittle said after a 6-1 win over Kelly McKeirman of Pomeroy in the quarterfinals. “I’m so happy.”

Doolittle won his first-round match by a pin in 2:54 over Craig Chappelle of Ocosta.

Eller’s main focus on getting to state was to outdo his brother, Scott, who was sixth last year as a heavyweight. By getting to the semifinals, Eller is assured at least sixth place.

Doolittle will meet Isaiah Grose of White Pass in the semifinals. Eller faces Brandon Bowen of Kalama.

Ritzville senior Ricky Pierce used a pair of pins to advance to the 135-pound semifinals. His first fall came over J.P. Cummings of Darrington in 2:28. His second was over Mitch Kuwabara of Bellevue Christian in 1:44. Pierce faces Matt Patana of Ilwaco in the semifinals.

Kelly Jones, a senior from Colfax, didn’t give up a point in his two 148-pound wins.

Craig Winona of Almira/Coulee-Hartline also eased into the semifinals. The 168-pound freshman pinned Pat Shannon of Ocasta in 4:38, then earned a 14-5 win over Keenen Edwards of Liberty Bell.

Luke Winona, an ACH junior, advanced on a pair of pins at 215 pounds. He needed just 17 seconds to dispatch Jason Brown of Toledo.

The only other Region 4 wrestlers still alive in the consolation bracket are Wyatt Schertenleib of Republic at 101 pounds; K.C. Harman of Republic at 141; Jeff Wigen of Freeman and Dan Dormaier of ACH, who wrestle each other at 158; Dan Mewhinney of Liberty at 158 pounds; and Kyle Taylor of Reardan at 215.