State 3A wrestling: North Central’s Clai Quintanilla, Bryan Wais take home titles

TACOMA – It didn’t make a difference in how the team fared, and that was quite fine with North Central wrestling coach Luke Leifer.

Clai Quintanilla and Bryan Wais of North Central were the Greater Spokane League’s lone State 3A champions Saturday as Mat Classic XXVIII finished at the Tacoma Dome.

The 126-pound Quintanilla put on a performance, topping Alec Hoover of Mt. Spokane for a fourth time this season.

And it was Quintanilla’s most dominating win over his Greater Spokane League rival, a 13-2 major decision.

“I came out with a different game plan,” Quintanilla said. “He’s trying to slow the match down so I was trying to move my feet more, be on his head more and be more aggressive.”

Quintanilla paired five takedowns with back points.

He wants to be NC’s first four-time state champ.

“It’s been a goal since I was in elementary (school),” Quintanilla said. “It’s always been my goal to dominate this state and be a four-timer and nothing less than that.”

Quintanilla’s three titles equal his brother, Izaec Quintanilla.

In another all-GSL final, Wais stopped Bryden Uyehara of Shadle Park 3-1 at 152, the deciding points coming on a takedown with 5 seconds remaining.

It was the eighth time in their careers that Wais and Uyehara matched up and fourth time this season. Wais’ win reversed a 5-2 loss at regionals.

And most of their showdowns have gone to overtime. That got Wais to thinking as the waning seconds of the match ticked away.

“I think he thought we were going to overtime again so I fired off a quick move when things were slowing down,” Wais said. “I caught a slick takedown and ended the match.”

The state titles for Quintanilla and Wais were especially satisfying to Leifer. All seven Indians who qualified return next year.

Mt. Spokane pursued a state title but fell a few points short. Arlington captured the title with 148 and Mt. Spokane was next with 126. NC took seventh (92.5).

The bulk of Mt. Spokane’s points came behind runner-up Blake Haney (106) and four third-place finishers.

Freshman Clayton Gilliam (113) of NC finished runner-up.

Twelve other area wrestlers placed.