Seven GSL wrestlers move into semis
TACOMA – Cam Sorensen was out of sync.
Sorensen talked about having poor angles in his quarterfinal match at Mat Classic XXVII Friday at the Tacoma Dome.
He righted himself in time to advance to the semifinals.
Seven Greater Spokane League wrestlers moved into the semifinals – four of them from University.
The Titans, in third, put themselves in trophy contention with 43 points. Moses Lake (63) and Lake Stevens (55) set the pace Friday.
Other GSL semifinalists are Titans Levi Meinzinger (170), Tyler Rickel (220) and Tate Orndorff, a state champ last year in 3A at heavyweight, plus Bryson Beard (120) and Blake Beard (138) of Central Valley, Noah Buckley (heavyweight) of Lewis and Clark and Andrew Boharski (132) of Mead.
Sorensen had a much more difficult quarterfinal than he wanted. Damon Thomas of Mountain View tied the match at 4 early in the third before Sorenson prevailed 7-4.
“Sometimes I mentally freak myself out in big matches,” Sorensen said. “I warmed up too much before the match.”
Sorensen admitted he lacked focus, too.
“I made it harder for myself by wrestling bad,” Sorensen said. “I’ll refocus and wrestle more intelligently (today). I wasn’t using my moves right and that created bad angles and caused me to use muscle instead of good position.”
Sorensen will take on Michael Soler of Lake Stevens for a berth to the finals. Sorensen is familiar with Soler after beating him 9-7 at the Tri-State tournament in December.
After having to go to the second period before winning by pin in his opener, Orndorff flattened Austin Duncan of Kentwood in 23 seconds in the quarterfinals.
The Beard brothers are back in a familiar place. Blake, a senior, is seeking a third straight title while Bryson, a runner-up last year, is hoping to become the second Beard champion.
“I wrestled really hard and had to keep the pressure on,” Bryson said.
Bryson went on a run immediately following his major decision in the quarterfinals.
“I wanted to get one pound off so I can sleep the last pound off,” he said of the final weigh-in before the semifinals.
He said the key for him is basic.
“I can’t let up on anyone,” he said.
Blake had a difficult quarterfinal against an opponent that didn’t want to get anywhere close to him. Beard had the only offensive move, a takedown, to pull out a 3-1 win.
Meinzinger’s wins were by decision and pin.
Rickel had two pins and will match up against Dallas Goodpaster of Evergreen. Goodpaster, a transfer from Prairie, is a three-time semifinalist.
Boharski rode a razor’s edge, posting two one-point decisions.
Buckley got a pin and then defeated Austin Wright of Evergreen 10-5.