Wrestlers qualify for Mat Classic XIX

Wrestling power continues to lie in the Spokane Valley, where 26 Greater Spokane League high school wrestlers qualified for this weekend’s Mat Classic XIX state tournament in Tacoma.

University finished second in the regional 4A meet it hosted, losing to Pasco 185.5 to 183.5. The Titans advance 11 wrestlers to state. Fourth-place Central Valley has seven state qualifiers.

East Valley won the 3A regional in Sunnyside 180 to 130 over Southridge of Kennewick and has eight state qualifiers.

The Knights had six finalists and four individual champions from among those qualifiers. Caleb Alvarado, Clete Hanson, Dan Michalski and Jimmy Martin all victorious. Sophomores Jake Rodriguez and Dakota Lawson finished second.

U-Hi had five finalists in its regional, 285-pound Brad Peterson the lone champion. Brian Owen, first in state at 103 pounds and second at 112, lost his first match this year, 4-3 in sudden-death overtime at 125 pounds.

The Bears had one champion among three finalists, junior Josh Renfro at 152 pounds. Tyler Cochran finished third at 215 in a weight class where all four regional qualifiers could place at state.

West Valley qualified two to state from a rugged 2A regional, Freeman has one from its equally tough 1A region and Liberty advances four from the new Class B event.

Central Valley’s Emily Juhre won the 119-pound title in the Eastern Washington girls regional to qualify for the first official girls state tournament.