Ten GSL wrestlers in hunt

TACOMA – East Valley wrestler Clete Hanson made sure there was one fewer Sedro Woolley semifinalist even if the Cubs corral their sixth straight State 3A team championship.

Hanson completed a perfect Friday of 171-pound dominance with a second-period technical fall over Tyler Eaton to advance to the semis for the second straight year.

The junior 171-pounder, who had won his opener by pin, is one of four Knights among today’s unblemished wrestlers and one match away from his second berth in the state finals.

Wrestling begins at 10 a.m.

“A tech and pin in the first round,” Hanson said. “I can’t ask for much more.”

He knows he has a formidable task. Hanson faces Kelso’s Andrew Buck, a state runner-up who has beaten Hanson three times this year and not allowed a point.

But each match has been closer, Hanson pointed out. If he should survive he’ll likely face Auburn 4A 160-pound champion Shane Onufer in the finals.

Hanson was on the upside of a mixed Greater Spokane League 4A-3A bag at Mat Classic XIX. The Knights still have six wrestlers remaining and stand fourth with 51.5 points in the team race behind Sedro Woolley’s 77.5

University has three semifinalists, will place six wrestlers and is fourth with 53.5 points behind Lake Stevens’ 72.5.

All told, the GSL has five 3A and five 4A wrestlers still competing for individual championships, and will place a total of 25.

3A

Sedro Woolley is in first place ahead of Kelso, each with six semifinalists and the Knights are in a four-team battle for the next two trophies.

Besides Hanson’s two victories, other EV season-long reliable senior advancing were Caleb Alvarado (145) with a pin and decision, and Dan Michalski (189), who had a last-ditch escape on penalty points 9-8, and Jimmy Martin (215), who scored a 4-2 victory, after both won their openers by pin.

They are joined by Mt. Spokane 152-pounder Noah Hatton.. Hatton was dominant like Hanson, winning by pin and technical fall.

“We’re pretty happy right now,” said Knights coach Craig Hanson after the second round of his eight-wrestler team. “Obviously your goal is to place every kid. Right now, every one has a win so the next round will tell the tale. But this is exactly what we were hoping for.”

For his son, the goal is to elevate the level of his intensity in his rugged final matches.

“It concerns me, but I’ve got to go out and be tougher than the other guys” he said. “I finally planted some wrestlers on my doubles (double-leg takedowns). I definitely feel I’m peaking at the right time.”

4A

League 125-pound standouts Trevor Powell and Brian Owen seem bent on settling their differences as they roared into the semifinals in similarly easy fashion.

Powell, a senior from Lewis and Clark, spent just more than 4 minutes on the mat, pinning his opponents in 3:42 and 23 seconds. Owen, a junior, needed a little longer with a third-round pin and 19-3 technical fall.

They have met three times this year, Owen having won twice, and both are a win away from another rematch.

Advancing to the 140-pound semifinals are Powell’s Tigers teammate Anthony Varnell and Owen’s Titans teammate Elliott Nay, both of them seniors.

Varnell won twice by major decision, 10-0 and 16-3.

Nay won by pin and a 4-2 decision.

The fifth GSL semifinalist is U-Hi freshman Ryan Zumwalt who belied his youth with 10-7 and 10-1 victories at 130.

“It was a good round for us,” said U-Hi coach Don Owen following the second round. “We still have a chance to place 10 kids.”