Winonas In Hunt For Golds
1A/B
Matt Cox has spent the last three months being superstitious. One day from the finish line, he found out he’s wasting his time. Luke and Craig Winona of Almira/Coulee-Hartline have reached the semifinals of the State 1A/B wrestling tournament and make no secret of their desire to take home matching gold medals from Mat Classic XI.
“The whole family talks about it,” said Luke, a 215-pound senior. Craig, a 168-pound sophomore, said, “If it does happen, it will be something cool in the family.”
And to think that Cox, the ACH coach said, “Do I think about it? Yeah. Do I talk about it? No?” Both Warriors have a good shot. “I thought they were the guys to beat,” Cox said. “They still have to wrestle their best. There are no gimmes in this tournament. Both are looking at some great matches (today).”
Luke, second a year ago, recorded two pins Friday, the first in 49 seconds, the second in 3 minutes, 36 seconds.
Craig had a tougher go. After opening with 21-5 laugher, he gained a tough 6-3 decision over Mark Hornby of White Pass, who was second at 158 last year. Craig was fifth at 168 last year but after watching his brother in the finals, he knew where he wanted to be.
“Only one thing was on my mind, win it,” Craig said. “I won’t let anything get in my way.” That sounds more like the Winona that Cox knows, rather than the one who said, “I just say we’re both having fun and we like to watch each other win.”
Cox said, “Luke is a three-sport guy, Craig plays one-and-a-half, he plays football to get into shape for wrestling. He’ll probably be at a tournament next weekend.”
The brothers push each other to succeed, since they can rarely use revenge for a brother’s loss as motivation. Craig is 36-3, Luke 24-0 after starting the season late because of a shoulder injury.
It’s toughest for Luke, who is trying to prepare for a match when his brother is competing.
“During his matches, I get wrapped up, but I try to keep my distance so I don’t get too involved and lose my focus,” Luke said. Craig said Luke’s drive to improve on his fifth-place finish at 190 as a sophomore inspired him. Now that they are both successful, Luke’s weight advantage in the practice room forces Craig to be a more technically correct wrestler.
“Luke wrestles for three months,” Cox said. “He loves to play football, he loves to play baseball. His goal is to play college football. Why is he so good? With these kids in the practice room, you tell them what to do and they do it. Watch these kids and you expect one thing, they’re going to leave it all out there. They’re not going to leave anything back.”
Including expectations.
Zillah is leading the 1A/B team chase with 75 points. Warden and Liberty Bell have 59.5 each.
Other area wrestlers in the semifinals include Reardan’s Dan Eller, runner-up at 275 last year, who had pins in 1:12 and 1:48; Wilbur-Creston’s Darrell Doolittle, state 178 champion last year, at 190; Freeman’s Jeff Wigen at 168, and Ritzville’s Dustin Breazeale at 135.