Trio of Cardinal wrestlers medal at state

Three wrestlers who have been a major part of Medical Lake’s program for four years won medals in the 2A state wrestling tournament at Mat Classic XVIII in Tacoma.

And two of them ended their careers together on the same mat.

Justin Murry pinned teammate Tony Fino in the match for third and fourth place at 119 pounds.

They, along with third-place 145-pound finisher David Snyder helped the Cardinals score 63 points for a ninth-place team finish at state.

Snyder finished his career as a four-time state placer. He was eighth as a freshman 135-pounder, finished fourth and third at 140 pounds and third again this year.

He was upset in the first round at state, 12-10 in overtime by Deer Park freshman Cody Miller. But Snyder bounced back with five straight victories, the last two by two-point decisions for his second successive third-place medal.

Murry was a third-time state qualifier but until this year had never placed and won just once. Fino was a sixth-place 112-pound finisher last year.

Both were on the same side of the bracket, and both lost to eventual champion Tony Farrington of Orting, who won three successive matches over Great Northern League wrestlers.

He beat Murry 7-6 in the quarterfinals, Fino 5-3 in the semis and Lakeside’s Kyle Johnson 2-1 in the title match.

After his loss, Murry came back for four successive wins, including over his teammate in the match for third and fourth.

GSL gets tough draws, too

Three North Side Greater Spokane League wrestlers also had tough draws during last weekend’s 4A Mat Classic XVIII state tournament in Tacoma.

But at least Ferris’ Taylor Yonago drew his state champion in the 130-pound finals.

Not as lucky were a pair of Lewis and Clark competitors, Anthony Varnell at 140 pounds and Trevor Powell at 125 pounds.

Varnell caught eventual state champion Kai VanLeuven of Lake Stevens in the second round of his weight class, losing 2-1 in double overtime. He ultimately finished fourth after winning three straight consolation round matches.

In the match for third and fourth Varnell also lost 2-1.

Powell reached the semifinals of his tournament where he met Auburn-Riverside’s Michael Mangrum, losing 22-7. Mangrum, a sophomore, won the title by nine points, his closest match.

All four wrestlers return next year.

Yonago, a senior, joined his brother Kyle as a state finalist. Kyle Yonago won state his junior year and finished second last year.

Taylor wrestled well on his way to the championship match but could muster little offense against Lake Stevens’ Kelly Kubec.

The title was Kubec’s second straight. He beat Mangrum last year.

“It would have been nice to get that last win, but I had a good tourney,” Yonago saidafter the 5-0 loss. “It’s over, but it was a good run and fun while it lasted.”