Mat Classic XXXIII: North Central’s Kenndyl Mobley wins third state title; Mead captures 3A crown

TACOMA – Kenndyl Mobley finished his high school wrestling career with three state championships while Q’Veli Quintanilla and Zach Lopez recorded their second at Mat Classic XXXIII on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

Three Spokane schools dominated the team competition in 3A. Mead finished first with 236 points, with University (167.5) third and Mt. Spokane (162) fourth.

Though many Panthers medaled, Jakob Connors was Mead’s lone champion, topping Garfield’s Michael Montgomery in the 220 final.

“Obviously I’m really happy for our guys, we’ve got a great group of kids,” Mead coach Phil McLean said. “Every tournament we went to it felt like we got the tar beat out of us, and then we win the tournament.”

McLean’s happy to be chased by two other local programs.

“It’s really cool, it’s really beneficial,” he said. “We made each other better all year long, pushing each other. You had to be ready.”

University coach Ryan Montang agreed.

“I couldn’t be more proud to be from the GSL,” he said. “There’s an old saying ‘steel sharpens steel.’ With teams like us, and Mead and Mt. Spokane competing and fighting against each other it makes us elevate our game.”

Mobley won every title he could in his four-year career with last season’s Mat Classic a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It feels good. I kind of did it my own way this year,” he said after an 8-2 decision over Stanwood junior Tyler Rhue. “Our coaching system kind of changed so I went my own way a lot.”

A bit drained after the first day of the meet, Mobley made sure to drink plenty of water and down a turkey sandwich and a fruit bowl early Saturday.

Mobley’s own path will also take him into a gap year of travel before starting college and perhaps a wrestling career at that level.

Quintanilla, University’s exceptional 145-pound junior, long had a goal of matching his older brother’s reign as a four-time state champion.

When that was nixed by the pandemic after a title as a freshman for Gonzaga Prep, he mixed in a national championship at the prestigious Fargo meet in 2021 instead.

“He’s setting his sights on big, big things,” Montang said. “He’s finding ways to become a better wrestler with every opportunity he can find.”

Quintanilla, who thrashed Thomas Rhodes of Shorecrest 22-7 for a technical fall, elaborated.

“My family’s so competitive. We always build each other up for success – but there’s always bragging rights. I got a Fargo title out of the COVID year and I figure that equals a state title. I’m grateful that my team and family and friends were with me every step of the way.

“It was hard.”

Montang said Quintanilla reciprocated the support.

“What I thought he did that was particularly good was he got behind the team. Everybody knows that Q’Veli’s going to go out and put on a show. But from my perspective, having somebody like that who is also so selfless and cares about the guys who are wrestling with him just as much as himself – that’s what people need to know,” Montang said.

In 2A, Shadle Park’s Lopez earned a second title by holding off Enumclaw’s Cade Carter, 6-5, in the 132-pound final.

“He stayed true to himself, he wrestled the way Zach Lopez does,” Shadle Park coach Shawn Howard said. “He had fun all week at practice, he had fun at the tournament. He’s been loose and ready to go.”

“I worked hard last year and this year to become a two-timer,” said Lopez. “It sucked not to have a chance to become a three-timer, but all you can do is keep training and be ready for the next season.”

Pullman’s Gabriel Smith (152), who was a state runner-up in 2020, defeated Selah’s Alonzo Smith 6-3 in the 2A 152 final.

The Greyhounds, who won their first league title since 1976 and took fourth in regionals, placed fifth at state.

Other notable performances

4A: Joshua Niewert (Gonzaga Prep) second, 126.

3A: Tanner Crosby (Mt. Spokane) second, 106; James Mason (Mead) second, 113; Tyler Walker (University) second, 120; Cole Turner (Mead) second, 132; Hudson Buth (Mt. Spokane) second, 138; Jonathan Mason (Mead) second, 152; Austin Justice (Mead) second, 160; Deklen Algoinga (Mead) second, 182.

2A: Aydin Peltier (Pullman) second, 120; Ivan Acosta (Pullman) second, 138.