BLHS WRESTLING EIGHTH IN STATE: Panthers score state Top 10 | SLIDESHOW

A young Bonney Lake High wrestling squad did itself proud at the 3A state wrestling tournament, finishing eighth in the team scoring at in the Tacoma Dome with a solid 62.5 points.

To buy photos click here A young Bonney Lake High wrestling squad did itself proud at the 3A state wrestling tournament, finishing eighth in the team scoring at in the Tacoma Dome with a solid 62.5 points. “With a few exceptions we did not wrestle well the first day of the tournament,” coach Anthony Clarke said, noting the only Panther with state experience was 112-pound junior Andrew Cunningham, who claimed the state title at 103 pounds a year ago. “Some of these eight young guys were kind of star-struck when they first came out on Friday, because I don’t think freshman and sophomores know what a huge stage the state tournament really is until they get there,” said Clarke, who was voted the 3A Coach of the Year. The lion’s share of Bonney Lake’s points were generated by the championship match performances of Cunningham and freshman 103-pounder Colton Tracy. Both took second-place honors, while 160-pound Panther junior Jake Lueders battled to a fourth-place finish in his first state appearance. Cunningham pinned his first two foes Friday and was on track to meet rival Tyler Clark of Spokane’s University in the title bout. Cunningham first dismantled Hazen’s Derek Coburn and then pinned Sunnyside’s Santos Guerrero. Saturday, he went toe-to-toe with Shadle Park of Spokane’s Terrance McKinney. Cunningham pulled out a narrow 5-3 decision to move on to the title bout with Clark. “Cunningham has an unbelievable training regimen and I can’t even describe what a pleasure it is to coach such a kid as him,” Clarke said. Cunningham finished the season with a 37-4 record. Clarke said he was heartbroken for Cunningham and Tracy, 35-5 on the season. Lueders battled his way back through the consolation bracket to finish fourth. Lueders, who struggled with injuries toward the end of the regular season won three consecutive bouts before falling 3-1 to Kamiakin High’s Sisto Santana Pina for the bronze medal position on the state podium.