Barney, Knauff take third, fourth place at Tacoma Dome

Colfax High freshman Mitch Barney beat Matt Carroll of Tacoma Baptist 9-8 to finish third in the 113-pound class at the 1B-2B state wrestling championships at the Tacoma Dome.

Barney won three matches total in the state tournament Feb. 15-16, losing only to the champion.

Kevin Knauff, a junior from Gar-Pal, took fourth-place in the 160-pound bracket, losing to Zach West of Tacoma Baptist 12-6 in the consolation final match.

The Colfax team tied for 22nd out of 38 teams competing.

“Just being one of those 38 teams is an accomplishment and a step in the right direction,” said Colfax coach Dennis Gransbery.

Thomas Newton of St. John did not place.

“He is a senior and he will be missed on the mats next year,” said Gransbery.

Juniors Evan Lord (182) and Ray Compton (195) did not place.

Gar-Pal sophomore Trapper Askins went to the Tacoma Dome as an alternate but did not get to wrestle.

The Colfax High wrestling program operates a co-op with St. John and Garfield-Palouse.

(Clockwise from bottom) Mitch Barney wrestles in a 113-pound semifinal match as Coach Gransbery and Barney’s father Rex look on. Kevin Knauff takes it vertical in a 160-pound semifinal loss to Zach West of Tacoma Baptist.

Pictures by Marcea Newton