TUMWATER — Centralia sent eight varsity wrestlers to the Pat Alexander Invite in Tumwater on Saturday and wound up claiming fifth place as a team.
The Tigers boys squad had one runner-up, a pair of third place finishers, a fourth and a fifth place finish to accumulate their points.
Tournament participants included the host Thunderbirds, Adna, Winlock, Aberdeen, Elma, Olympia, and Yelm.
Centralia’s Juan Gaspar placed second at 120 pounds while Alex Hicks-Avron and Eddie Matias won their third place matches at 132 and 145 pounds, respectively. Caleb Hylton claimed fourth place at 170 pounds for the Tigers while Justin Lake finished fifth at 145 pounds.
“Our JV wrestler also competed and did very well. We are going to continue to get better every week,” noted Centralia coach Scott Phillips.
The Centralia varsity team will wrestle next at the Washougal River Rumble on Dec. 29.
Slape Takes First in Tumwater
TUMWATER — Matthew Slape of Adna claimed first place at the Pat Alexander invite on Saturday in the 160 pound bracket.
Ashton Dowell added a second place finish at 170 pounds for Adna while Tristan Ridley took fourth place at 138-pounds.
“Matthew wrestled two very smart and technical matches on his way to the championship,” noted Adna coach Craig Ferrier. “I was also very pleased at the way Tristan Ridley wrestled, medaling for his first time in his high school career.”
Ferrier added that Woodroe Kiser won all three of his matches at 160 pounds in the round robin division.
Adna will wrestle again on Jan. 5 at the Chelan New Year’s Invite.
Bearcats Place Three at Hammerhead Invite
BREMERTON — W.F. West ran headlong into a heap of stout competition here last weekend as they managed to place just three wrestlers at the Hammerhead Invitational Tournament.
Bo Davis claimed fifth place in the 120 pound bracket while Chris Powe and Carver Brennan each placed sixth at 182 and 152 pounds, respectively.
“We had five other guys make it to the second day but it was a pretty tough tournament. They’ve got 64 man bracket and there were 45 tough teams so it gave us a pretty good idea of where we’re at,” said W.F. West coach Jamie Rakevich. “South Kitsap kind of ran away with it and Union is there and they’re always good. Forks was there too and they are considered the favorites right now at the 1A level.”
W.F. West will host Montesano on Tuesday.
GIRLS WRESTLING
Centralia Settles for Third at Castle Rock Invite, Adna Takes Fifth
CASTLE ROCK — The Tiger wrestlers were able to overcome some early round disappointments in order to grab third place as a team at the Castle Rock Invitational on Saturday.
The Centralia girls wrestling team finished behind only Aberdeen and W.F. West in total points at the second annual invitational tournament. That point surge was fueled in large part by the seven Tigers who managed to make an appearance in championship bouts and their two champions.
Centralia’s Kalyssa Conway was able to pin Elizabeth Patana of W.F. West for the 105-pound title. Tigers coach Mark Holmberg noted that it was Conway’s first match of the season at that weight.
Olivia Delaney was also able to take the top spot on the podium, but it was not a direct route for the Tiger. Delaney dropped an early match to Winter Kindle of Castle Rock before coming back to pin Kindle in the semifinals. She also registered a pin in the title tilt.
Centralia’s second place finishers included Taryn Salazar, who has made the championship round in all three tournaments so far this year. Ali Silva fell in the finals to Cheyeann Meyer of Adna. Holmberg pointed out that Meyer is currently ranked third in the state at 130-pounds.
Analeese McAllister, Marely Farfan and Alex Hamilton (120) also placed second for Centralia.
Angie Contreras and Jakayla Shipe won third place matches for the Tigers while Mariah Taylor and Berenice Ramirez took fourth and fifth place, respectively.
“This is the most girls we have put in the finals of any tournament ever. So it appears we are headed in the right direction,” said Holmberg. “I was also impressed with Coach Patana and W.F. West. He's a first year head coach and has the Bearcats competing at a high level. Which should make for an exciting rivalry.”
With help from Meyer’s championship Adna was able to take home a fifth place team finish. Samantha Meyer added a third place finish at 125 pounds while Jordyn Robertson finished fourth at 170 pounds. Zarine Walker and Lorien Walker added fifth and sixth place finishes, respectively.
Centralia will wrestle at the Tenino Girls Tournament beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Adna will wrestle on Saturday at the Stocking Stuffer Tournament in Hoquiam.
