A fifth-place performance with a number of junior varsity wrestlers was a great finish for White River High’s wrestling team Saturday at Fife’s Impromptu Tournament.
“We sat 75 percent of our varsity wrestlers,” coach Joe Klein said. “A bunch are close to match count. I was happy to see a lot of our younger guys wrestle.”
It went so well, Klein was wrestling a steak on the grill Sunday night and wanted his team to know he marinated the beef in his tournament standby, Mountain Dew.
The Hornets placed seven wrestlers, including champions Chase Myers and Austin Bethel and runner-up Caden Pugmire.
Mount Baker won the tournament with 199.5 points. Lakes was second at 172.5. Host Fife finished third with 154.5, Emerald Ridge took fourth with 136.5 and White River was right behind at 132.
A steadily improving Bethel won the 160-pound title with a 6-4 decision over Vlas Bezugly of Mount Baker.
Myers, a state place winner last season who has been battling injuries, pinned Alec Postlewait of Mount Baker in 1 minute, 15 seconds for his 215 pound crown.
Pugmire suffered a pin in the final round of his 152-pound match with Sean McNeil of Lakes for second.
The Hornets got third-place finishes from freshman Carl Klein at 103 pounds, Nathan Linder, who battled back to win a close match for his third place, and Tony Tyler at 140. Bryce Thompson took fourth at 112.
White River High’s wrestling team improved to 4-2 in South Puget Sound League 3A matches with a 72-0 drubbing of Franklin Pierce Jan. 13.
Franklin Pierce forfeited three matches while the Hornets earned the remainder outright. White River’s Robert Kautzman, 130 pounds, Austin Shirey, 135, Pugmire, 152, Bethel, 160, Jeff Kisner, 171, Jacob Short, 189, and Myers, 215, scored pins. Richard Geddes, bumping up to 112 pounds, Brandon Short, 125, Alec Williams, 140, and Anthony Moore, 145, won their matches by decision.
White River doesn’t rest, competing at Lakes High tonight, Wednesday, and hosting Peninsula Thursday before heading off to a tournament Saturday at Emerald Ridge.
