Chiawana boys, Hermiston boys and girls roll to district wrestling titles

The Chiawana Riverhawks may have changed head coaches this season, but the results remain the same.

Manny Plata took over for Jack Anderson, who stepped down at the end of last season.

But Chiawana still dominated the 4A Mid-Columbia Conference district tournament Saturday at Richland High, winning the team title as well as having five individual champions.

It was Chiawana’s sixth district title.

Anthony Pina at 106 pounds and Isaiah Medina at 113 opened the finals for the Riverhawks with victories. Daeton Johnson followed soonafter with a title at 126.

Jordan Tobias (138) and Lane Hedrick (220) added crowns for Chiawana.

“The kids have been putting in the work,” said Plata. “They’ve been grinding, and they want that fourth team state title. I’m happy with their performance today.”

For the Riverhawks, sometimes the toughest competitors they face each week are in that practice room.

“It’s the same thing. We get out on the mat and we beat up on the guys in the room,” said Plata.

Hanford had four titles, which included an impressive run at 152 (Jake Hubby), 160 (Caden Wilson) and 170 pounds (Eli Perkes).

Hubby, at 32-3, is a defending state 4A champion; Wilson is now 35-2 on the season; and Perkes had perhaps the most impressive final of the day when he pinned Chiawana’s Judah Bishop.

There is a good chance that all three of those Falcons could be battling for state titles in two weeks in Tacoma. But Falcons head coach Dom Duncan doesn’t want anyone to get ahead of themselves.

“We’ve got to get through regionals first,” he said.

With the Big Nine meeting up with the MCC’s best this coming Saturday at regionals at Hanford High, it won’t be easy.

Plata believes that Sunnyside will be the favorite heading in.

Either way, said Duncan, “(Regionals) will be a bloodbath.”

Richland had two champions, with Koen Hanson at 182 pounds, and Melvin Kreitzer at 195.

Kamiakin also had two champs with Antonio Nicacio at 145 (he’s now 32-4), and Juan Hoffman at 120 — who beat Richland’s Saul Salinas in overtime with a takedown for a 7-5 win.

Trenton Rowton also won a title at 285 for Hanford.

Pasco’s Alexander Barajas earned the title at 132.

3A MCC district

Hermiston had eight individual champions to easily take the team title with 478.5 points last Saturday at Walla Walla High School.

The Bulldogs got titles from Aiden Favorite at 120 (now 26-4), Daniel Garza (138), Jaxson Gribskov (182), Hayden Larsen (145), Ben Larson (170), Joshiah Tejada Garza (126), Jaysen Rodriguez (132), and Maximus Ugarte (220). Gribskov is a defending state 3A champion.

Walla Walla had three winners with Mateo Caso at 152, Ethan Kregger at 195, and Carter O’Dell at 160.

Caso now has a 36-4 record.

Southridge had two champions in Jacob Chapa at 113 pounds and Trevor Hoopes at 285. Chapa, now 36-5 on the season, is the defending 3A state champ.

Kennewick’s Abraham Noriega took the 106-pound crown.

The regional qualifiers now advance to the 3A site of Juanita High in Kirkland this coming Saturday.

3A/4A MCC sub-regional

Hermiston came away with the team title at Richland High, scoring 249 points. Kennewick was second with 238.5.

Chiawana’s Alanna Haney was the day’s highlight, winning the 140-pound title and improving her record to 40-1.

Kennewick had the most individual titles with three. Jamie Hoffman (110 pounds), Vanessa Robles (130) and Navaeh Vogtman (135) were champs. Vogtman improved to 26-5.

Hermiston had two champs: Laura Meyers at 155, and Lindsey Perkins at 235.

Other winners were Hanford’s Jessa Duggan (115), Southridge’s Lexi Gideon (125), Richland’s Erin Kremer (170), Pasco’s Natalia Tovar (100), and Walla Walla’s Kylie Whitaker (120).

Kremer improves to 27-5 on the season.

Everyone moves over to Hanford High this Saturday for regionals.

4A CBBN boys

Last Saturday at Davis High in Yakima, the Grizzlies scored a whopping 505.5 points in the team scoring race, well ahead of runnerup Wenatchee’s 226.

Sunnyside had eight individual champions, and actually had two wrestlers in five of the final matches.

Grizzlies won won titles were Mateo Armendariz (285 pounds), Alejandro Fernandez (132), Jayden Jasso (106), Stephen Maltos (120), Edwin Puga (170), John Rendon (160), Samuel Valencia (113), and Christopher Villanueva (145).

Armendariz improves to 34-5, Fernandez is now 32-5, and Jasso now is 15-3.

2A CWAC boys

Othello dominated the field last Saturday to take the CWAC district team title with 474 points.

The Huskies had five district champions: Isaac Campos at 113 pounds, Adriel Flores at 132, Terrill Freeman at 195, Camilo Mendez III at 145, and Mason Russell at 120.

Grandview had three champs, including Evan Benitez at 126 pounds. Benitez is now 29-0. Other Greyhounds winners included Anthony Ramos at 220 pounds, and Julian Sanchez at 138.

Prosser’s Alexis Hurtado (106) and Neo Medrano (182) also won titles.

The 2A regional tournament is this coming Saturday at East Valley of Spokane.

1A SCAC East boys

Connell had seven individual titles en route to winning the team title at Royal City last Saturday.

The Eagles scored 267 points, led by division wins from Isaias Lombera (152), Jordan Mendez (120), and Colton Vincent (138).

Connell also snared the final four weight-class titles of the day: Adrian Magana (182), Nathan Chavez (195), Jackson Forsyth (220) and Mark Andrewjeski (285).

Host Royal finished second with 237 points, and Kevin Almonte (132), Aram Garnick (170) and Dennis Hernandez (113) won titles.

Other winners were Kiona-Benton’s Keeven Gifford (145) and Derrick Riedinger (106); Wahluke’s Josue Mendoza (126); and College Place’s Ethan Parker (160).

Parker’s record improves to 25-5, while Gifford is 23-5.

The regional tournament is at Toppenish this coming Saturday.

4A CBBN girls

Sunnyside dominated its sub-regional tournament among Big 9 schools, scoring a tournament-best 271 points.

The Grizzlies had four individual champions: Delilah Chavez at 135 pounds (and a record of 17-5), Jeanette Cortes (190), Esmeralda Lares (235), and Alexxus Ramos (110). Ramos now has a record of 26-1.

Sunnyside and the rest of the Big Nine advance to the 3A/4A regional tournament this coming Saturday at Hanford High School.

Girls Selah sub-regional

Toppenish pounded the field with 530 points, but three Mid-Columbians earned titles: Othello’s Lucy Giles (135 pounds) and Elia Velazquez (190); and Warden’s Jada Hernandez (115).

Hernandez now improves to 38-4. Regionals will be at Warden this Saturday.

Girls Spangle sub-regional

Royal had three individual champions to help win the team title. The Knights had 138 points, while Wahluke was second at 131.

Alondra Morales won at 145 pounds for Royal and is now 29-1, while Emma Villa took the 170-pound crown and is 25-0. Teammate Lauren Jenks also won at 130.

Wahluke at two champs: Jarelyn Perez (110) and Jose Salazar (155). Lind-Ritzville’s Myra Miller won at 190 pounds.

Regionals is this coming Saturday at Rogers High School in Spokane.