Sumner High took a half dozen grapplers to Saturday’s South Puget Sound League 3A subdistrict wrestling tournament at Auburn Mountainview High School and had three advance to the coming district competition.
“The silver lining in the cloud for us was that we didn’t end up in last place even though we only brought six guys to the subs,” said Sumner coach Jeremy Horsley, whose squad did not emerge victorious in a single dual match all year and was decimated by injuries throughout the campaign.
Although the Spartans didn’t grab any champion’s belts, they did claim one silver medal when senior 125-pounder Tyler Wooding weaved his way through a highly competitive bracket, chock -full of obstacles, including wrestlers who saw action at the state level last season.
Wooding earned a shot in the championship bout against Enumclaw’s Sam Bauer, by pinning another EHS Hornet, Russell Horton, 48 seconds into the second round. Then, Wooding rose to the occasion and toppled AMHS Lion, Drew Dacey, narrowly edging him out in the semis with a 10-8 decision. Going into the third round of the championship tilt between Wooding and Bauer, the score was 10-7 and the two top 125-pounders stalemated in the third as the defending state champion Bauer kept Wooding at bay, winning 10-7.
Meanwhile, Sumner recorded a pair of fourth place finishes as Spartan wrestlers Phillip Ramirez, 145 pounds, and Keiffer Comstock, 215 pounds, will also be taking the next step toward state competition.
The three Spartan representatives have slots reserved for them Saturday at the West Central District 3A regional wrestling tournament at Bonney Lake High School. Action begins at 10 a.m.
Reach John Leggett at jleggett@courierherald.com, or 360-829-0447.
