Undefeated Bennett Paces Newport To Win Over Dp

Prep wrestling

Chris Bennett improved to 19-0 at 122 pounds with a first-round pin that clinched Newport’s 45-41 victory at Deer Park in Thursday’s Great Northern League wrestling.

Newport (2-1) never trailed after opening with an 11-0 lead, but the Stags had closed the Grizzlies’ edge to 39-35 before Bennett’s pin.

Bennett was eighth at last year’s State 2A tournament at 115 pounds. He fell behind 2-0 when 1998 district placer Ryan Pilgrim of the Stags (1-3) registered just the second takedown on Bennett this year. Bennett used a reversal, hit Pilgrim high and quickly pinned him.

In other GNL action, unbeaten Lakeside and Colville steamed ahead and Medical Lake earned its first win.

Jake Roney (190), in his first match back from a back injury, had one of Lakeside’s six pins as the Eagles (4-0) defeated visiting Pullman 70-11. Lucas Savarian of the Greyhounds (0-3) trailed 6-2 in the third round at 122, but tied the match on a near fall with 15 seconds left and notched a pin in overtime.

John Slater (115) improved to 22-2 and avenged a loss to Mark Bietz as Colville (3-0) defeated visiting Chewelah 63-11. Slater had two near falls in the third round for a 12-4 major decision.

Colville’s Jason Divis opened the meet with a major decision to improve to 20-4. The Cougars (1-2) gave up 30 points because of forfeits.

Josh Cruger (148) upset state veteran Brandon Morris 9-4 as Medical Lake (1-2) won the first five matches and defeated visiting Riverside 36-22.

ML freshman Dustin Haynes (158) won 10-8 in overtime after trailing 8-3 in the third round. The Rams are 1-2.

Frontier League

First-round pins by Seth Morris (215) and Blake Falor (275) gave Cheney the lead, and the Blackhawks (1-1) went on to defeat visiting West Valley 39-28.

Cheney also started strongly, with Nate Lawton’s 12-5 victory at 168 pounds. Jeff Rigsby of the Eagles (0-2) had a near fall late in the third period and defeated Ryan Gray 5-3 at 122 with an overtime takedown.