Seven wrestlers head to regionals

Seven wrestlers from the three B division teams in the county qualified for slots for the state regional tournament at Kittitas Friday and Saturday. The locals earned the tickets in an all-day sub-regional show Saturday at Warden.

Top six qualifiers out of Warden advanced to the regional where they will go up against the top six from the north sub-regional last week at Lake Roosevelt.

Five tickets to the state mat classic will be on the table at Kittitas. A west side regional will qualify three wrestler for the B division of the state event which starts with eight wrestlers in each weight class.

Colfax senior Justin King and junior heavyweight Dayton Maltone both finished in third place at Warden. Maltone was derailed by Warden’s Mathew DeLoen in the semi-final round. He went on to stop both Wilbur-Creston heavies, Spencer Nee and Damon Dixon. Both became familiar foes for Maltone at the close of the season.

DeLeon, who moved up to the heavies were he placed third last year, was stopped by Jesse Billups of ACH, a wrestler that loss to Maltone on the Colfax mats two weeks ago.

King ran into Hector Camacho of Warden in the 170 semi round, but he also bounced back with two wins in the consolation bracket to place third. Pomeroy’s Tory Knebel won the 170 class in his bid to get another state title.

Garfield/Palouse lightweight Trapper Askins also advanced to the semis, met defeat and came back for two wins to land a third place.

Kevin Knauff, GP 160 pounder, and Brandon Arneson, Colfax 145 pounder will wrestle first at Kittitas Friday to determine the 5-6 slot in the south side entry. The final in both of those weight classes was moved to Friday because the wrestlers hit their daily limit of five matches in the crowded bracket.

St. John/Endicott junior Thomas Newton finished fourth after he booked a split in his last two matches. The Eagles also qualified Rowdy Brown, freshman lightweight in sixth place.

Kaleb Kolb and Zach Davis of the Eagles also wrestled to seventh place finishes which qualify them as alternates for the regional meet.

Colfax

145-Brandon Arneson over Alvaro Gonzalez-WS 14-10; pinned by Alexander Edwards-Wdn, third; over Trevor McCleary-ACH 11-6; pinned David Ogle-WCK, first for 5-6 quallifier Friday.

160-Dalton McNeilly pinned by Wyatt Jenkins-Pom; pinned by Drew Wilke-LRS, second.

170-Justin King bye, pinned John Walamet-WS, second; pinned by Hector Camacho-Wdn, second; pinned Nicholas Guerra-Wdn, first; over RC Carstensen-ACH for third place.

Heavyweight-Dayton Maltone bye, pinned Jacob Schmauch-Liberty, first; pinned by Mathew DeLeon-Wdn, third; over Spencer Nee-WCK 3-2, pinned Damon Dixon-WCK for third place.

Garfield/Palouse

120-Trapper Askins bye, pinned Elizandro Cyapa-TCP, 1:40; pinned by Ramses Rodelo-Wdn, 2:00; pinned Rama Rudolph-TCP :47; pinned Steven Chicklinski-WCK, 4:00 for third place.

160:Kevin Knauff pinned Micah Selk-SJE, :39; over Zach Hill-WCK 13-0; pinned by Waylen Pinderson-Rdn, 5:10; pinned by Johnny Pruneda-Wdn, 4:00 to quality for 5-6 qualifier.

St. John/Endicott

113-Rowdy Brown bye, pinned by Arthur Martin-WS; bye; pinned by Joseph Pruneda-Wdn, second; pinned by Martin, first for sixth pace.

132-Kaleb Kolb pinned by Ernesto Orozco-Wdn, first; bye; bye; pinned by Trento Kitselma-WP for seventh alternate.

132-Thomas Newton bye; pinned Kistelman, second; pinned by Orozco, second; pinned Kyle Hyer-first; pinned by Saul Hinojosa-Wdn, for fourth place.

160-Micah Selk pinned by Knauff-GP, first; to Ethan Melville-LRS 2-6.

170-Gabe Davis pinned Jacob Schuh-Pom, first; pinned by Tory Knebel-Pom, lst; bye; bye; to Nicholas Guerra-Wdn 8-12, pinned John WaHamet-WS, second for seventh alternate.