Mat Classic Roundup: Montesano takes third in state

Led by Ty Ekerson, Kenny Koonrad, Bulldogs place third in 1A class

By Ryan Sparks • February 23, 2020 1:30 am
Montesano’s Kenny Koonrad pins Dylan Davis of South Whidbey to take third in the state in the 1A 285-pound class at the Mat Classic XXXII state-championship meet on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. (Photo by Sue Michalak Budsberg)
Montesano’s Kenny Koonrad pins Dylan Davis of South Whidbey to take third in the state in the 1A 285-pound class at the Mat Classic XXXII state-championship meet on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. (Photo by Sue Michalak Budsberg)

The Montesano boys wrestling team wrapped up a successful trip to the Mat Classic XXXII state championship wrestling tournament by placing third overall as a team at the conclusion of the two-day meet on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

Led by a third-place finishes from Ty Ekerson (145 pounds) and Kenny Koonrad (285), the Bulldogs scored 98.5 points to place third in the Class 1A team standings.

Granger finished with 178 points to win the 1A state title followed by Zillah (148.5).

South Bend’s Chase Flynn was the only Twin Harbors athlete to reach a state-championship final match on Saturday. Flynn placed second in the 1B/2B state championship after losing an close 4-2 decision to Darrington’s Johnny Franke in the final.

Montesano’s Ty Ekerson, top, controls Ricky Cisneros of Granger in the 145-pound 3rd/4th place match at the Mat Classic XXXII meet on Saturday in Tacoma. Ekerson won to place third in the state and help the Bulldogs to a third-place team finish. (Photo by Sue Michalak Budsberg)

Montesano’s Ty Ekerson, top, controls Ricky Cisneros of Granger in the 145-pound 3rd/4th place match at the Mat Classic XXXII meet on Saturday in Tacoma. Ekerson won to place third in the state and help the Bulldogs to a third-place team finish. (Photo by Sue Michalak Budsberg)

Results of local wrestlers who placed at the meet are as follows:

Aberdeen Boys (2A)

195: Liam Heikkla (Aberdeen) placed 6th and scored 9.0 team points. Champ. Rnd. 1 – Heikkla won by fall over Alva Fauna (Olympic), 1:51; Quarterfinal – Heikkla won in the ultimate tie breaker over Josue Solorio (Othello), 3-2; Semifinal – Mac Laird (Ephrata) won by fall over Heikkla, 1:12; Cons. Semi – Kevin Pelayo (Ephrata) won by major decision over Heikkla, 13-4; 5th/6th Place Match – Tyler Woods (Tumwater) won by fall over Heikkla, 2:28.

Drew Lock (120 pounds), Eric Hayter (285) failed to place.

Elma (1A)

Boys: Cole Tenny (160) failed to place.

Girls: Jamison Carrell failed to place.

Hoquiam (1A)

Xavier Garcia (126), Malaki Eaton (145), Thomas Goulet (195), Noah Sudderth (220) failed to place.

Montesano (1A)

106: Champ. Rnd. 1 – Jacob Salstrom (Montesano) won by fall over Ben Godwin (Vashon Island), 1:27; Quarterfinal – Hudson Garcia (Zillah) won by decision over Salstrom, 5-2; Cons. Rnd. 2 – Salstrom won by decision over Conner Demorest (Forks), 7-4; Cons. Rnd. 3 – Salstrom won by fall over Nico Johnson (Mount Baker), 1:39; Cons. Semi – Tomio Yamada (Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls)) won by decision over Salstrom, 13-8; 5th/6th Place Match – Salstrom won by major decision over Jordan Mendez (Connell), 9-0.

120: Champ. Rnd. 1 – Cole Ekerson (Montesano) won in sudden victory over Aden Carl (Medical Lake), SV-1 12-10; Quarterfinal – Ekerson won by decision over Madden Garcia (Zillah), 6-2; Semifinal – Nathan Gregory (Deer Park) 10-0 won by major decision over Ekerson, 13-2; Cons. Semi – Aden Carl (Medical Lake) won by fall over Ekerson, 2:50; 5th/6th Place Match – Ekerson won by decision over Madden Garcia (Zillah), 7-5.

126: Champ. Rnd. 1 – Cooper Johansson (Montesano) won by fall over Logan Weaver (Klahowya), 1:12; Quarterfinal – Mitchell Helgert (Naches Valley) won by fall over Johansson, 2:30; Cons. Rnd. 2 – Johansson won by fall over Griffin Zetterberg (Cascade Christian), 1:26; Cons. Rnd. 3 – Abel Morales (Connell) won by decision over Johansson, 4-0; 7th/8th Place Match – Parker Stinebaugh (Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls)) won by fall over Johansson, 4:58.

145: Champ. Rnd. 1 – Ty Ekerson (Montesano) won by decision over Adian Arceo (Cascade (Leavenworth)), 5-2; Quarterfinal – Ekerson won by tech fall over Keaton Covington (Kiona Benton), TF-1.5 5:07 (15-0); Semifinal – Takoda Morrison (Colville) won by decision over Ekerson, 3-2; Cons. Semi – Ekerson won by fall over DeAunte Epp (Bellevue Christian), 2:37; 3rd/4th Place Match – Ekerson won by injury default over Ricky Cisneros (Granger), Inj. 1:09.

182: Champ. Rnd. 1 – Tanner Goff (Colville) won by fall over Brent Hollatz (Montesano), 4:29; Cons. Rnd. 1 – Hollatz won by fall over Mark Bonilla (Connell), 4:14; Cons. Rnd. 2 -Hollatz won by major decision over Sterling Ritch (Okanogan), 10-2; Cons. Rnd 3 – Hollatz won by major decision over Bowen Durkee (Columbia (White Salmon)), 10-0; Cons. Semi – Hunter Wallis (Klahowya) won by decision over Hollatz, 5-2; 5th/6th Place Match – Hollatz won by decision over Jesus Ramos (Connell), 5-2.

285: Champ. Rnd. 1 – Kenny Koonrad (Montesano) won by fall over Frans Hokanson (Connell), 0:35; Quarterfinal – Ben Vanderwel (Granite Falls) won by fall over Koonrad, 5:43; Cons. Rnd. 2 – Koonrad won by fall over Nathan Antonescu (Bellevue Christian), 0:21; Cons. Rnd. 3 – Koonrad won by fall over Alex Smith (College Place), 1:33; Cons. Semi – Koonrad won by fall over David Durham (Columbia-White Salmon), 0:32; 3rd/4th Place Match – Koonrad won by fall over Dylan Davis (South Whidbey), 0:48.

Konnor Odekirk (113), Aaron Lano (120), Lucas Salstrom (138), Isaac Pierce (152), Isaiah Pierce (160), Brandon Kroeger (160), Agustin Arreguin (170), Mateo Sanchez (182), Stephen Radamacher (220) failed to place.