Local wrestlers and swimmers were in the spotlight last weekend, competing in state championship meets. But excitement also swirled in basketball circles where teams were determining who would advance to the 16-team state tournaments.
Here’s where everything stands for Enumclaw High and White River athletes, following a busy, busy week.
STATE WRESTLING: BOYS
White River took six wrestlers to the Tacoma Dome for the February 16-17 state meet, saw three advance to the championship round and eventually placed third in the Class 2A team standings.
Leading the way for the Buckley squad was junior Riley Simmons who battled his way to an individual championship in the 215-pound division. He won four straight matches, registering a technical fall and two pins before winning the title with a 5-3 decision.
Teammates Caleb Dale and Luke Lisherness, also juniors, opened with three victories to reach the finals at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively. Both collected valuable team points with second-place honors.
Also on the mats for White River were 190-pound junior Tyson Moran, who placed sixth; junior Hunter Oswold, seventh at 150 pounds; and freshman Brayden Thacker, seventh at 120 pounds.
Enumclaw High was represented at Mat Classic by two wrestlers. Junior Caleb Grantham was in the 132-pound field and freshman Cole Schumacher competed at 144 pounds. Each wrestled three times, winning once.
STATE WRESTLING: GIRLS
With just four girls scoring team points, White River High placed seventh in the Class 2A team standings.
The squad was paced by the championship performance of Lilyana Lamothe, who defeated four straight opponents to earn the title at 130 pounds. After starting with a first-round bye, she registered a pin and a major decision before winning by fall in the finale.
Taking third-place honors at 110 pounds was White River freshman Amanda Lillie. After opening with a bye, she wrestled five times over the course of the two-day state meet, winning her final four matches, including a 3-0 decision in her tourney finale.
Also earning team points for White River were freshman Marli Miller, who split four matches at 125 pounds, and senior Adriah Blue, who opened with a pin but then dropped two matches at 135.
Enumclaw High had advanced a lone wrestler, sophomore Sydney Poe, to the state championships. She competed in the 190-pound division, dropping her first match before advancing with a bye and then winning by decision in back-to-back bouts. She lost in the consolation semifinals before coming out on top in a 3-2 decision to leave the mat with fifth-place individual honors.
STATE SWIM & DIVE: BOYS
Swimmers and divers from all corners of Washington traveled to the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way for the February 15-17 state championships.
In a Class 2A field of 34 teams, White River landed in seventh place.
Pacing the Buckley bunch was sophomore Conroy Meyers who placed second in the 100-yard freestyle and third in the 50-yard freestyle. Senior teammate Mason Arnold finished seventh in both the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley.
Those two joined with William Halaas and Evan Weisheyer to compete in two relay races. The foursome placed fifth in the 200-yard freestyle relay and 12th in the 200-yard medley relay.
Enumclaw was represented at state by David Prince. The EHS junior placed eighth in diving and 12th in the 200-yard freestyle.
ALL TEAMS TO STATE HOOPS
White River: The highest-rated of the local teams are the White River High girls who won the SPSL 2A title, captured a District 2/3 championship and are headed to the Yakima Valley SunDome for the state Class 2A tournament.
Already in the state’s Sweet 16, the first step is the regional round of competition. White River, seeded No. 7 into state, is paired against the No. 2 team from Lynden High. The state opener is set for February 23 at Lynden with a 6 p.m. tipoff.
Because they are seeded in the top eight, coach Chris Gibson and his girls are in double-elimination territory. With a victory over Lynden, the Hornets would advance to a SunDome quarterfinal game on February 29, guaranteed of at least two tournament contests in Yakima. A loss to Lynden would put the Hornets in the Round of 12 and a February 28, loser-out game in Yakima.
White River’s boys are seeded No. 13 into the Class 2A state tournament, opening with a loser-out contest against No. 12 Columbia River. The game will begin at 6 p.m. February 24 at Battle Ground High School. The winner will advance to Yakima and a February 28 game at 7:15 p.m., also of the loser-out variety.
Enumclaw: After finishing second in league play and fourth in the District 2/3 tournament, the Enumclaw High girls were seeded No. 12 in the state tournament field of 16 teams.
Coach Danny Graham’s squad begins the regional round February 24 against No. 13 Mark Morris High of Longview. Tipoff will be at noon at Auburn High School.
The EHS game against the Monarchs is a loser-out affair. The winner will head into the state Round of 12, playing February 28 in the SunDome in a loser-out contest.
The Enumclaw High boys are the No. 16 seed into the state field and open tourney play February 23 against the No. 9 Pullman Greyhounds. The game is slated for 6 p.m. and has the EHS squad headed to Spokane County, playing at Cheney High School.
The loser is finished for the season while the winner advances to the Yakima Valley SunDome and February 28 contest; the game is another of the loser-out type and begins at 9 p.m.
Photo by Kevin Hanson White River’s Riley Simmons took first place in the SPSL 2A state league at 215 pounds, helping carry his team to third place overall.
