Gonzaga, University boys in second place after opening day of 4A, 3A tournaments | Mat Classic 37
Even with getting six wrestlers into the 4A boys semifinal rounds, Gonzaga Prep will face a tough task in toppling Tahoma after the first day of Mat Classic 37 on Thursday in Tacoma.
The Bullpups sit in second place in the team standings with 138 points, 43 behind Tahoma – the defending champions. Mead is third with 123.5 points after the quarterfinals.
Freshman standouts Miro Parr-Coffin and Karver Peasley advanced to the 106-pound semifinals, while fellow freshman Ryder Owen (126) and Austin Schield (132) are also in the final four. Seniors and two-time Mat Classic champions Izzy Acosta (150) and Brock Gustaveson (190) both breezed through their opening matches into the semis as well in the Tacoma Dome.
Gustaveson will have the must-see semifinal of the group as he will take on Mead’s Ethan Harvey for a chance to wrestle for a title Saturday afternoon. The pair met two weeks ago at the District 6 tournament with Harvey pinning Gustaveson.
Harvey is joined in the semifinals by teammates Billy Weisgerber (132), Duane Leslie (175) and a pair of 215-pouners in Logan Ullah and Caden Brooks.
Both the pairs of Parr-Coffin and Peasley, and Ullah and Brooks are on opposite sides of the bracket from each other, meaning they could meet in the finals.
In the 4A girls tournaments, Mead freshman Briella Portrey used a pin and a technical fall to reach the 110-pound semifinals, while Lewis and Clark freshman Adelina Berry also made the semis at 135-pounds in her first Mat Classic appearance.
University second in 3A boys
Three matches down, two to go for University senior standout Czar Quintanilla as he chases his fourth Mat Classic title.
Quintanilla won his first two matches via first-period pin before earning a major decision victory in the quarterfinals. He’s joined in Friday’s semifinals by teammates Colton Roberts (113), Paxon Cunanan (150), Isaiah Ramirez (157) and Jaxon Lefler (190).
The Titans sit second in the team race with 154.5 points. Hermiston (Oregon) was first with 192.5 by press time.
Mt. Spokane also sent a pair to the semis with junior Maddox Taft (106) and senior Brendan Hughes (215) breezing through their opening rounds. Hughes won his only Mat Classic title two years ago before missing last season with a knee injury.
The Titans also advanced a trio of girls into the 3A semifinals, with Lily Cunningham (100), Denni Bippes (105) and Camryn Daines each handling early business.
Cheney added two semifinalists in Jalisca Holmgren (125) and Paige McGee (135), while Ridgeline’s Hailee Argaw (140) is also just two wins away from a Mat Classic title.
The Blackhawks are sixth in 3A girls scoring with 99.5 points after the quarterfinals.
Wrestling continues Friday morning with the start of the boys 2A, 1A and 2B/1B tournaments, along with the girls 2A and 1A/2B/1B tournaments. Those wrestlers will compete until the early afternoon, before the 4A and 3A tournaments will resume at 3:30 p.m.
4A and 3A finals are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.