Mat Classic: GSL must focus on individual awards

TACOMA – No Greater Spokane League wrestling team is in the chase for a state championship at Mat Classic XXVIII.

In fact, it might be all 3A Mt. Spokane and North Central and 4A Central Valley can do to earn a trophy.

In terms of individuals, though, the GSL represented well as action got underway Friday at the Tacoma Dome.

The day started with a lot of promise for Mt. Spokane. Coach Travis Hughes shrugged his shoulders when he thought a moment about his team’s first day.

“We’re battling,” Hughes said. “It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. We’re still doing well. All those guys (in the semifinals) need to win for sure, but the back door is just as important.”

3A: Freshman Blake Haney (106 pounds), Jake Howerton (120), Alec Hoover (126) and Morgan Ruegsegger (160) all moved to the semifinals for the Wildcats.

Haney won by pins, needing 1:36 in his opener and :59 in the quarterfinals.

His composure belies his youth.

“It’s good coaches and I’ve been wrestling for a long time,” Haney said about his success. “I want to think I can win this year, but I’m just working hard and it’s one match at a time.”

“He’s one of the toughest kids in the head that we’ve ever had,” Hughes said of Haney. “He can get a little uptight, but he always performs well.”

Arlington built a big lead with 80 points. Mt. Spokane is fourth with 57 and North Central is fifth (45).

Others area wrestlers advancing are Clayton Gilliam (113), Clai Quintanilla (126) and Bryan Wais (152) of NC; Edward Smith (132), Marcus Phillips (138) and heavyweight Markus Robinson of Rogers; and Bryden Uyehara (152) and Eddie Montiel (160) of Shadle Park.

Quintanilla is seeking a third straight title.

4A: Seven area wrestlers advances to the semifinals: freshman Chase Tebbets (106) and Malachi Thompson (182) of Mead; Bryson Beard (126), Bridger Beard (132) and Braedon Orrino (145) of Central Valley; and Cam Sorensen (132) and Levi Meinzinger (182) of University.

Bryson Beard and Meinzinger are defending champs.

Bridger Beard had a controversial finish in his quarterfinal that went to four extra sessions before he prevailed 5-4.

The final 30-second period found Beard having to keep control and not let his opponent escape. It appeared for a split second that Justin Sipila of Tahoma had pulled his foot from Beard’s grasp. Beard quickly regained control.

It took tournament officials eight minutes to decide Beard won. The referee contemplated giving Sipila the win based on the escape attempt, but it was determined that he didn’t settle his momentum and face Beard to prove he escaped.

Tebbets needed a late reversal to win in the quarters, beating a Lake Stevens opponent he defeated 4-1 for third place at Tri-State in December.

“I knew I was in trouble and that I was down and so I just wrestled and tried to turn him,” Tebbets said.

Orrino wrestled well, but it wasn’t a piece of cake.

“It’s just as hard as I thought it would be,” Orrino said. “I had to come in with the mindset of wrestling my hardest.”

Sorensen won 6-0 in the quarters after opening with a technical fall.

It’s the fourth straight year Sorensen qualified for the semifinals.

“I finished all my shots really well today,” Sorensen said. “That was a big focus for me.”

Trevor Senn of Mead wrestled Michael Soler of Lake Stevens well at 170. Soler, who is trying to become the first four-time champ in 4A history, won 4-0 in a grinder.

Lake Stevens takes a lead into Saturday. The Vikings finished the first day with 58 points and defending champ Moses Lake is next with 53.

CV is in ninth with 31, 1.5 ahead of U-Hi.