If everything goes as planned it could mean a third state wrestling championship for Enumclaw High Saturday night, but there are few schools standing in the way.
The No. 3-ranked Hornets will have to get by top-ranked Yelm, South Puget Sound League nemesis Auburn Mountainview, Bonney Lake and White River. They will also have to stay healthy and prepare to battle through “some make-it-or-break-it” matches.
“We have 11 going through,” coach Lee Reichert said. “Yelm has the same number, so we’re going in even. We wrestled really well. It’s exciting to qualify that many kids.”
Reichert said with those numbers, the Hornets’ current work ethic and some good draws, he’s optimistic about a three-peat.
“I’ve told them there’s no pressure on us,” Reichert said. “Let’s go in, push it to the limit and enjoy the experience.”
Saturday’s regional championship would indicate the Hornets can do it. The Hornets won the Region II title with 235 points, four champions and four runners-up. White River finished second at 186.5 points. Auburn Mountainview was third with 128.5 and Bonney Lake finished fourth with 84.5.
Enumclaw brought 14 wrestles into the tournament and advance 11 and two alternates into Friday’s Mat Classic, the state wrestling tournament at the Tacoma Dome.
“For us to get eight in the finals was huge for us,” Reichert said of his team’s fourth-straight regional championship.
Andrew Fox earned the Hornets’ first title of the night with a 4-0 decision over teammate Kyle Young at 135 pounds. The pair has a good chance of facing each other in the state final as well. Young opens the tournament Friday morning against Joey Castrey of Hudson’s Bay. Fox starts off with North Kitsap’s A.J. Milyard.
Josh Musick captured the 152-pound title with a 5-3 win over Tyler King of Auburn Mountainview. Musick, a third-place state placer in 2009, starts his 2010 quest with Jon Reynolds of Union.
Kario Wallin won his 160-pound regional title by pin, earning a starting match at state against Lee Amador of Mount Si.
D.J. Qualls was the Hornets’ final regional title winner, capturing his crown with three-straight pins at 189 pounds. He will face Jeffrey Leuth of Yelm for his opening state match.
Enumclaw also picked up team points from runners-up Hunter File, Lucas Somera and Steven Knapp.
File, at 125 pounds, faces Jack Forrest of Everett Friday morning in the Tacoma Dome. Somera, a 130-pound freshman, kicks off his first state tournament with Jake Portes of O’Dea.
Knapp, at 215 pounds, opens at state with Chris Harlin of Liberty.
Chance Mitchell and Colton Malek earned third-place finishes at the regional tournament. Mitchell will face Matt Owens of Hanford in the 145-pound bracket, while Malek meets Caleb Malychewski of Camas at 171 pounds.
Enumclaw’s Riley Klein earned his spot in the state tournament with a fourth-place finish at 125 pounds. He opens with Nathan Brown of North Central.
Fifth-place regional finishers Cole Snider and Tanner Southland will serve as alternates for the Hornets. Freshman David Kingman finished sixth for EHS.
