Republic Tigers defend B title

TACOMA – J.J. Gubler was effusive following his third straight State B wrestling championship. His victory, at 140 pounds, was enough it turned out to provide Republic with its second straight team title.

The Tigers scored 113.5 points to edge Kittitas which finished with 107.

He had just defeated Ray Tannehill from Liberty Bell by a 16-0 technical fall, worth 5.5 team points, nearly the final victory margin.

“Every point is competition to me,” said Gubler of the ease of his victory. “You can still be up by 10 and get pinned.”

B

Gubler was one of four Republic state titlists. Freshman Kyle Kirkendall started it off and four veterans, finalists all, finished it off.

The only glitch came at 145 pounds where defending champ Scotty Bacon, a sophomore, led 2-1 and rolled Tye Knebel of Pomeroy to his back. But Knebel rolled through and stuck Bacon with a stunning pin midway through the second period. That gave Kittitas an opening.

Following Kirkendall’s 10-6 triumph, Levi Larson, second last year, won 9-4 over Luis Padilla of Kittitas at 119 in a key head-to-head matchup team title challengers.

Ryn Rollins scored late at 125 pounds to beat last year’s champion, Conan Kalugin from Springdale, 4-3.

Gubler capped it.

“We came in thinking we had a chance,” he said. “We set high standards only.”

He said that Kirkendall, despite his youth, is no rookie, having been around the sport and to state as a manager.

Rollins’ match was scary, but the wins in front of Gubler, he said, gave him confidence, knowing a state title was possible.

But like last year, Republic had to wait until night’s end to know if it indeed was champion.

Area wrestlers won two other titles. Springdale’s Alex Kalugin got his first title, at 152 pounds with an 11-2 triumph, after finishing second two previous years.

At 171 pounds, Mike Rehn of Almira/Coulee-Hartline beat Reardan’s Raleigh Beckstrom 12-8.

1A

Like Gubler, Lakeside wrestler Jake Lauderdale ended his high school career with a third straight state championship.

Lauderdale had to work at it, leading just 1-0 before getting a knee-tap takedown and near fall for the 5-1 victory at 125 pounds.

“Three is a row is something,” said Lauderdale. “I’ve been dreaming of this ever since I was a little kid.”

The Eagles had seven state competitors and got titles from Bryan Baumgarden and Lauderdale, second place from Ben Fuson, plus a couple other places.

Their 120 points was good enough for third place behind Orting’s 201 and Warden’s 127.

Baumgarden, at 119 pounds, beat Granger’s Samuel Salcido 8-5 in the title match. Fuson was beaten 2-1 at 285 pounds by Chewelah’s Mychal Woods, one of two other Northeast A League champions. Newport’s Daniel Swain won 9-1 over Josh VanHoven at 135 pounds.

Chewelah’s Russell Whitley finished second at 189.