White River High’s wrestling team closed out the regular season with a pair of league wins and the first-place trophy at Saturday’s Jaguar Invitational at Emerald Ridge High in Puyallup.
“It’s a good time to win one,” coach Joe Klein said. “Get our confidence up before going into districts. It’s going to be tough at districts.”
The Hornets closed out South Puget Sound League 3A action Thursday with a 46-18 win over Peninsula to finish with a 6-2 record, good for third place behind Enumclaw and Auburn Mountainview. They will rest up in preparation for the subdistrict tournament Feb. 5 and 6 at Auburn Mountainview.
With 14 place winners, four of them champions and two more runners-up, the Hornets cruised Saturday to their first tournament victory in a number of years, winning by 45 points. Kelso was second, followed by Kentwood and Rogers.
“That’s a good day, I don’t care where you wrestle,” Klein said.
The Hornets placed in all but three weight classes, starting with champions Brandon Short, Austin Shirey, Alec Williams and Chase Myers.
Short, a freshman, pinned Decatur’s Rad Krysa for his 119-pound title. Shirey won a 12-8 decision over Brennan Sanchez of Jackson at 135 for his crown. Williams scored a 3-1 decision over Torrey Turner of Franklin Pierce for the 140-pound medal and Myers captured the 215-pound title by pinning Joe McDanile of Emerald Ridge.
At 160 pounds, Austin Bethel fell 12-9 to Dylan Aparis of Decatur in the finals, while Hornet heavyweight David Meagher dropped an 8-0 decision to Nathan Herrick of Kentwood.
Richard Geddes, 103, Robert Kautzman, 125, Caden Pugmire, 152, and Jeff Kisner, 171, earned third-place finishes. Anthony Moore, 145, was a fourth-place finisher.
“Last week wasn’t easy either,” Klein said.
The Hornets used a steady attack to put away Peninsula Thursday, getting pins from Shirey, Williams and Myers, a major decision from Austin Bethel and decisions from from Carl Klein, Geddes, Moore and Kisner, plus a pair of forfeits.
White River topped Lakes 50-28 Jan. 20. The Hornets collected pins from Klein, Jacob Short, Myers and Meagher. The Hornets also got a pair of major decisions from Williams and Bethel. Lakes handed the Hornets 18 points with three forfeits.
