After nearly two weeks of weather-related delays, the Enumclaw High wrestling team finally got on the mat Saturday at the Rogers Holiday Tournament and proved, even with the time away, they can win it.
“It’s just nice to get on the mat,” coach Lee Reichert said. “It’s been brutal. They need that competition to keep going. The kids were excited and so we were as coaches.”
The No. 1-ranked Class 3A Hornets won the 12-team tournament, originally set for Dec. 20, with 255.5 points. Host Rogers was second with 188.5 followed by Todd Beamer, Woodinville, Franklin Pierce and Mountain View of Vancouver.
“We wrestled very well, I thought,” Reichert said. “Being off like we were, the kids wrestled well.”
Enumclaw placed eight wrestlers in the finals and before the day was done scored seven champions.
Hunter File, wrestling unattached and earning no team points for the Hornets, claimed the 119-pound title with a 4-minute, 23-second pin over Owen Williams of Curtis.
Sam Bauer scored two pins on his way to the 125-pound crown where he topped Brady Olson of Woodinville, 16-5 major decision. He was also named tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
Wayne Horton returned to the Hornets’ lineup to finish second at 130 pounds. He lost a 5-1 battle with Brian Bitney of Rogers in the title round.
Jason Gray won the 140-pound division with a 21-4 technical fall victory over Tyler Enos of Todd Beamer. Gray scored two pins on his way to the crown.
Jacob Jokela scored three-straight falls enroute to the 145-pound championship, including the title-winner in 4:19 over Torrey Turner of Franklin Pierce.
At 160 pounds, Connor Elder also scored three pins on his way to the championship. He pinned Ben Draeger of Todd Beamer in 1:44 for the title.
Tyler Rewaldt, who scored back-to-back pins in the first two matches, won the 189-pound title with a 6-3 decision over Dwayne McCarver of Franklin Pierce.
Mike Staples earned the 215-pound crown for the Hornets. He picked up the second of two pins in the title round, taking Ricky Manz of Rogers to the mat in 4:11.
Hornets Travis Reano, 103 pounds, and Chance Mitchell, 135 pounds, finished third.
Enumclaw scored three fourth-place finishes: Marcus Nichols, 112 pounds; Cole Snider, 119 pounds; and Adam Connors, 171 pounds.
Heavyweight Brad McCutchen finished fifth. While Kario Wallin earned a sixth-place finish at 152 pounds.
The Hornets take their No. 1 ranking and head to the prestigious Pac-Coast Tournament Friday and Saturday in Vancouver, Wash. Brackets were not posted at press time, but are available at www.washingtonwrestlingreport.com.
“It’s a compliment to the program and kids,” Reichert said of being Washington Wrestling Reports top 3A pick. “And it’s nice that they respect us, but we are not, by any means, overconfident or looking past anyone. We look forward to the challenge to see if we can do it (repeat as state champs) again.”
The Hornets return to South Puget Sound League 3A action and their quest for a second-straight title Jan. 7 with White River.
Reach Brenda Sexton at bsexton@courierherald.com or 360-802-8206.
