Eight regional boys champions will lead a sizeable Twin Harbors contingent to Mat Classic XXX.
Wrestlers from Aberdeen, Montesano, Elma, North Beach and Raymond were among the champions in regional boys competition on Feb. 10.
Montesano’s Ty Ekerson, Tony Williams and Carson Klinger and Elma’s Justin Sample were among the winners at the Class 1A regionals at Klahowya High School in Silverdale.
Aberdeen’s Tyler Souphommanichanh took the 126-pound title at the 2A regionals at Tumwater.
Jack Jordan and Christian Anderson, both of Raymond, and North Beach’s Garrett Armbruster earned championships at the 2B regionals at Kalama.
They will join more than two-dozen other Twin Harborites in the male portion of Mat Classic — the all-classification state extravaganza — on Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.
Class 1A
Montesano enjoyed a particularly productive tournament, advancing six wrestlers in the finals and qualifying 10 for state. The Bulldogs were second to Forks in the team competition.
“That’s definitely the best we’ve wrestled as a team,” Monte coach Jeff Klinger said. “Jeff Catterlin, one of my assistants, and I always play the best-case, worst-case scenario. That was pretty close to the best-case scenario.”
Ekerson took the 113-pound title with a 10-6 decision over Forks’ Andrew Santos-DeLaCruz. The win was more decisive than the score indicated, as Santos-DeLaCruz narrowed the gap with two takedowns in the final minute.
Carson Klinger pinned Hoquiam’s Brady Cummings in 55 seconds to capture the 152-pound crown.
Williams won the 145-pound crown when teammate Brent Hollatz defaulted the title match to him (technically an injury default).
Hollatz had reached the title match by pinning Klahowya’s highly regarded Karsten Jensen in the third round of the semifinals.
“That was an upset to everyone but us,” Coach Klinger said.
Andy Fry (106 pounds) and Kai Olson (170) both ran afoul of Forks’ opponents in title matches. Fry was decisioned by Forks’ Josue Lucas, 7-1, while Olson dropped a 7-2 verdict to Shane Queen.
Elma’s Sample continued his season long excellence by taking a 13-12 thriller from Vashon’s Nico Nuxoll in the 138-pound final.
The Eagles, in fact, enjoyed a fine tourney. Colten French nearly took the 126-pound title, dropping a 7-6 decision to Forks’ Colton Duncan in the final.
Elma advanced five wrestlers to state.
Hoquiam will also send five to state. Cummings was the lone Grizzly regional finalist.
“The kids that took tough losses ended up coming back and showed a lot of grit,” Hoquiam coach Terry Helland said. “I was pleased with the guys’ effort.”
The top four at each weight earned state berths.Grays Harbor’s state qualifiers:
106: 2. Andy Fry (Monte). 3. Lutra Felten (Hoquiam). 4. Cooper Johansson (Monte). 113: 1. Ty Ekerson (Monte). 3. Aaron Lano (Monte). 120: 3. Alex Houbregs (Hoquiam). 126: 2. Colten French (Elma). 4. Malaki Eaton (Hoquiam). 138: 1. Justin Sample (Elma). 3. Antonio Garcia (Hoquiam). 145: 1. Tony Williams (Monte). 2. Brent Hollatz (Monte). 152: 1. Carson Klinger (Monte). 2. Brady Cummings (Hoquiam). 4. Mason Lutz (Monte). 160: 4. Asai Villarreal (Hoquiam). 170: 2. Kai Olson (Monte). 182: 4. Tanner Rossmaier (Monte). 195: 3. Taitum Brumfield (Elma). 220: 4. Jacob Garcia (Elma). 285: 4. A.J. Hernandez (Elma).
