SPARTANS SEND NINE WRESTLERS TO STATE MEET

CASTLE ROCK–  Spartan wrestlers led North Olympic Peninsula schools at the Rocket gymnasium in the first two rounds of regional competition.

The regionals were held in Castle Rock Friday and Saturday and served as the final qualifier for the Mat Classics state meet.

Of the 13 Spartan wrestlers who qualified, only one would be eliminated the first night. A “super regionals” format was used, where several regions compete in one big qualifier, in our case 21 schools were vying for the top six spots in each weight class to continue on to the state meet.

The team overall did very well, taking fourth place overall and missing a tie with Vashon Island for third by one point. Castle Rock and Orting tied for first.

“This was a good look at what to expect next week,” coach Bob Wheeler said following the meet. “We lost some matches in the final seconds and I hate to see that, but I am happy with the team. They have been working hard all season and now have their chance to take it all.”

Lucas Dixon won the regional championship at 189 pounds, pinning Ben Ward of Columbia in the first round, then Vashon Island’s Geran Webb. Dixon then drew Dane William’s of Castle Rock, the top-seed for the bracket, and fell by a pin in the second.  Dixon then wrestled Ira Alefteras of Montesano, winning 14-2 to claim first in his division at the regionals.
The two Spartan 103 pounders – Tyler Hillcar and Tyler Cortani – lost in some close matches.

At 130 pounds, Robbie Wheeler, nursing an injured foot on Saturday, lost to Montesano’s Dillon Ford in his final round, but moved ahead to the state meet with a fourth place finish.

Marshall Petrovich came on strong at 135, facing last years state champion, Vashon Island’s Rogen Lopez in the finals. Lopez won, 5-3, earning Petrovich a second place finish and a trip to state.

At 140, Petro’s younger brother, Travis Petrovich, found himself in the same boat, also taking second at the regional meet, losing to Orting’s Jeff Fetter in the championship match.

Edgar Ayala, wrestling at 145, earned an alternate position at the state meet by beating Castle Rock’s Jeff Edwards, 6-0 for a seventh place finish overall.

Spartan Senior Noee Borjas took eighth overall in his weight.

Sam Poppe and Brien Jaksha, both entered at 160 pounds, and placed well.  Poppe came out fourth and Jaksha clinched fifth.

Gabe Wishon and Tanner House in the 215 division, with Wishon taking third place and Salazar sixth, with both wrestlers heading to the state meet.

The Mat Classics are scheduled to run Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.