When it’s wrestling season there’s not much that can get in between a wrestler and their mat other than a singlet and perhaps an opponent’s pinned shoulders.
After last weekend you can add snow to that short list.
The steady snow storms that began to blanket all five corners of the state late last week put the kibosh on the annual round of regional wrestling tournaments due to a drift of safety concerns. That second round of the postseason is typically used by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association to seed a 16-wrestler bracket for each weight class in all six classifications of competition. Instead of those tournaments the WIAA opted to essentially double the number of entries into the 31st rendition of the state Mat Classic tournament.
Most classifications will run a 32-wrestler bracket with the top finishers at each sub-regional tournament advancing. One estimate put the total number of wrestlers at 2,688 over 28 weight classes and six classifications. The bar for entry was different at each classification though. At the 1B/2B level the top six finishers punched their ticket to state. The 1A and 2A schools were able to send the top four finishers and the girls bracket, which includes all size classifications, is comprised of the top three finishers from sub-regionals.
Here's the complete list of area wrestlers heading north this weekend:
Battle Ground
Daniel Joner (4A 126) and Grant Kincaid (4A 220).
Hockinson
Garret Gundy (2A 182), Makaio Juarez (2A 126), Aiden Mallory (2A 170) and Cody Wheeler (2A 195).
La Center
Alder Brigham (1A 145), Ian Crocker (1A 126), Mitchell France (1A 120), Robel Grove (1A 126), Eli Johnson (1A 106), Sam Kitchell (1A 170), Alexis Kysar (Girls 190), Max Muffett (1A 220), Jamie Osato (Girls 100), Makai Rivers (1A 160) and Clay Roberts (1A 182).
Prairie
Easton Lane (3A 170), Nick Langer (3A 182), Noah Larsen (3A 113), Benjamin Matson (3A 160), Bridger Paradis (3A 126), Brody Schlaefli (3A 285), Brayden Sofianos (3A 145), Justace Walmer (3A 160) and Jason Wilcox (3A 132).
Ridgefield
Cole Andersen (2A 195), Dylan Draper (2A 132), Bryce Lawrence (2A 160), Clay Madsen (2A 145), Bracen Nash (2A 106), Logan Newman (2A 160) and Cyle Workman (2A 145).
Woodland
Anthony Clifford (2A 145), Ashlyn Daugherty (Girls 105), JJ Fuerst (2A 126), Parker Owen (2A 120), Gaige Pilot (2A 106), Andrew Pottratz (2A 285), Judeah Saunders (2A 113) and Josiah Saunders (2A 113).
