Bailey, Johnson claim titles as Hornets finish runner-up to White River

Moving all five ladies onto the state tournament is the Enumclaw High girls wrestling team’s goal and coach Jerry Scheidt thinks his team has a good shot at it, especially after Saturday’s runner-up finish to White River at the subdistrict tournament.

Enumclaw closed out the night with 70 points to White River’s 100 and scored three champions and two runners-up along the way.

The top six from Saturday’s regional tournament at Emerald Ridge in Puyallup advance to the Mat Classic, the state tournament, Feb. 20 and 21 at the Tacoma Dome.

At the subdistrict tournament Saturday at Auburn Mountainview, Rose Johnson scored seven points in the closing 30 seconds of the 171-plus weight class to win the title with an 8-6 decision over the Lions’ Alanna Alegria.

Johnson picked up nearfall points in the final seconds for the come-from-behind victory.

“It was a good match for her,” Scheidt said of the junior who was the Hornets’ lone regional participant last season. He said her chances of getting to state look good.

“She’s seen all the girls she’s going to wrestle. If she has a good tournament she should advance.”

Junior Chantelle Bailey picked up the 171-pound crown by pinning her teammate, fellow junior Breanna Flaquinti, in 2 minutes, 59 seconds. Both advance to Saturday’s regional matches.

The Hornets will also send senior Jenny Paterson who lost a 6-2 championship bout to Lilia Gudzyuk of Auburn Mountainview, and Kasandra Renfro, a freshman, who finished third.

“Our goal is to get them all to advance,” Scheidt said.

Reach Brenda Sexton at bsexton@courierherald.com or 360-802-8206.