Here are 10 of the Tri-City region’s best wrestlers vying for WA titles this weekend

When Mat Classic XXXIII — the state’s high school wrestling championship tournaments — gets under way in the Tacoma Dome on Friday, there will be 114 wrestlers from the Mid-Columbia among the over 1,000 competitors vying for a title.

That number includes 14 competitors (13 boys and one girl) from Chiawana in Pasco; 16 wrestlers from Sunnyside (including two girls); and 15 (12 boys and three girls) from Othello.

Other Tri-City high schools also are sending top wrestlers.

Competition begins at 10 a.m. both Friday and Saturday, and finals for all weight classes start at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The entire weekend is nothing if not entertaining, with numerous mats all over the Tacoma Dome floor and matches running non-stop.

In my opinion, It’s one of the top sporting events in the state.

Here’s a look at 10 of our region’s best wrestlers, who have a pretty good chance of earning a state title:

▪ Isaiah Anderson, senior, Chiawana: Generally regarded as the best wrestler in Washington state, Anderson missed all of the past football season and much of the wrestling season after injuring his shoulder last summer.

He made it back to competition in January, and enters the 4A boys tournament the heavy favorite at 195 pounds. A two-time state champion, Anderson is currently 11-0 and also headed to Oregon State University in the fall, when he’ll compete for the Beavers.

▪ Judah Bishop, junior, Chiawana: He doesn’t get as much attention as the Riverhawks seniors, but Bishop is the start of a run in the upper weights where Chiawana dominates.

He currently has a 27-2 record, and is a favorite to take the 4A boys 170-pound title.

▪ Sara Correa Cambindo, senior, Kennewick: The Lions’ female standout placed fifth in 2020 and currently holds a 23-2 record at 145 pounds. Overall, washingtonwrestlingreport.com ranks her as the third-best 145-pounder in Washington.

▪ Alanna Haney, junior, Chiawana: Looked at as the top 135-pound girls wrestler in the state, Haney has a record of 36-4 since February of 2021.

▪ Jake Humphrey, senior, Walla Walla: He’s headed to Montana Western for football in the fall. But he could also wrestle in college. He’ll battle for the 3A boys title at 170 pounds, bringing a 32-2 record with him.

▪ Jake Hubby, junior, Hanford. The Falcons standout won the regional title in Moses Lake last week, and with an 18-1 record, the 138-pounder could be ready for a 4A title.

▪ Daeton Johnson, freshman, Chiawana. The younger of the two outstanding Johnson brothers for the Riverhawks, he carries a 31-3 record going into Class 4A boys competition at 113 pounds after winning the regional crown last week.

▪ Darion Johnson, senior, Chiawana. The 182-pound star is 35-0 heading into the 4A tournament. He was the Riverhawks’ first-ever state champion as a freshman; then placed second as a sophomore.

Outside of his buddy Anderson, this guy could be the best wrestler in the state.

▪ Adrian Magana, junior, Connell. He’s looking to break out in the 1A ranks, and placed second at last week’s regionals. That loss was his only blemish to his 21-1 record.

▪ Alondra Morales, junior, Royal. The Knights’ standout will be a big favorite in the girls 140 division. She carries a 33-2 record since last February.

Regionals

CLASS 4A

Chiawana and Sunnyside finished 1-2 in Moses Lake last Saturday, and it could be those two battling this coming weekend for the team title.

We’ve already mentioned Chiawana’s regional champions in Daeton and Darion Johnson, Bishop, and of course Anderson.

Sunnyside will boast regional champions in Jayden Jasso (106 pounds), EJ Villanueva (145) and John Rendon (160).

Kamiakin adds regional champions in Juan Hoffman at 120 pounds and Jaxin McCallum at 285 as potential state champs.

Pasco’s Victor Godinas, who won the regional crown at 126, could be a force to reckon with in Tacoma. And Hanford’s Hubby carries a regional title into Tacoma at 136.

CLASS 3A

Host Hermiston, which finished third in the team race at the 3A regional tournament to champion Mead and runnerup University, will still send 11 wrestlers to Tacoma.

That will include regional champ and 285-pounder Sam Cadenas (30-3 record); and 160-pounder Benjamin Larson (31-5), who also earned a regional title.

Jake Humphrey, of course, has a shot at the 170-pound crown for Walla Walla, while Southridge sophomore Jacob Chapa, a sophomore, carries a 34-8 record into the tournament.

Both won 3A regional titles last weekend.

GIRLS

Toppenish dominated the team race in Ephrata with 194 points, while Othello (84 points) and Kennewick (79) were a distant second and third, respectively.

Chiawana’s Haney (135 pounds) and Royal’s Morales (140) have been mentioned above, and were regional champions.

But keep an eye on 190-pound regional winner Erin Kremer of Richland, as well as Kennewick senior Ayanna Asselin, who won a state title in 2020 at 155 and will be competing this time at 170.

CLASS 2A

Othello won the regional crown last week, edging out runnerup Selah 240-236.

The Huskies could roll up some points, especially from sophomore Isaac Campos (106 pounds), junior Josue Solorio (220), and sophomore Marcos Zuniga (113).

All three of them won individual titles last week in regionals.

CLASS 1A

Toppenish is the heavy favorite after compiling 390.5 points in last week’s regional tournament in Royal City.

Besides Connell’s Magana, keep an eye on his teammate, sophomore Jackson Forsyth at 220 pounds; as well as the Royal senior duo of Kevin Dominguez (285) and Kaleb Hernandez (170).

CLASS 1B/2B

Tonasket dominated the Warden regional last Saturday with 256 points.

Watch out for the following locals: Warden senior Cael Cox at 126 pounds; River View junior Birch Verdino at 195; and Mabton senior Marcos Velazquez (22-5 record) at 285.