Wrestlers start quest for state

Casey Grant of Potlatch goes airborne with Bulldog senior Kevin Nellis providing the launch Thursday at Freeman. Nellis won the match on a decision.

Colfax wrestlers will start the quest for a slot in the state mat classic this Saturday with the sub-regional tournament at Coulee City. The sub will include wrestlers from 13 teams and the top six finishers in each weight class will advance to the regionals next week in Reardan.

Top five at the Reardan show will get a ticket to state at Tacoma.

Out of the action will be Cody Evans, Colfax senior who injured an elbow last week at Lewiston. Evans had rolled up a 20-8 mark in the 125 class this year and figured to be on track for a slot in the state show.

Coach Dennis Gransbery said Evans has been a great leader for the Bulldog team which is striving to rebuild this year.

Kevin Knauff, lone wrestler from Garfield/Palouse who booked a 3-0 mark last Thursday night at Freeman, has earned a number-one seed in the 152 class at Coulee. Colfax junior Justin King has a number-three seed with a 15-13 record in the 171 class.

King Thursday at Freeman pinned Austin Munson, a 160 pounder from Freeman, in the second round and then lost to Joseph Schweiger, Freeman’s 189 pounder.

Kevin Nellis decisioned Casey Grant of Potlatch 9-7 and sustained a pin at the hand of Munson.

Evan Lord was pinned in the third round by Jacob Dixon of Freeman in the 215 class and pinned in the third round by Schweiger.

At Tri-Cities Saturday, Nellis pinned John Hylden of TCP and was pinned by Knauff.

King pinned Nico Nanyex of White Swan in the first round and Eleu Gonzalez of Warden in the third before losing 2-9 to Hugo Rodriquez of Warden.

Evan Lord lost a 3-4 decision to Collin Ireland in the 215 class, and sustained first round pins from Tevin Stutzman of TCP and Derrick Nanez of White Swan.