State wrestling: Pasco’s Gonzalez, Southridge’s Al-Ghani win titles
Pasco freshman Isaiah Gonzalez won the 113-pound state championship Saturday at the Class 4A portion of Mat Classic in Tacoma.
In the 3A ranks, Southridge senior Zayid Al-Ghani took gold at 170 pounds.
Gonzalez defeated Austin Michalski of Tahoma 1-0.
Earlier, Chiawana freshman Robby Vaughn lost to Mead’s Chsae Tebbets 2-0 in the 106 title match.
Sunnyside’s Josiah Rodriguez beat Davis’ John Sowers 5-1 for the 132 championship.
Grizzlies teammate Elias Romero placed second at 120 after losing 5-4 to Ethan Rotondo of Union.
Chiawana’s Nathan Bengen placed third at 126 with a 2-1 victory over Sumner’s Austin Cleland. Teammate Clayton Silvers was third at 195 with a 3-1 win over Davis’ Christian Reyes.
Other area placers include: Chiawana’s Rey Aranda (6th, 132), Tyson Stover (7th 138), Riley Cissne (8th 145); Pasco’s Avery Burrows (8th 170); Sunnyside’s Jose Campos (8th, 120).
Class 3A
Al-Ghani won 5-2 in the championship against Keith Pablo of Marysville-Pilchuck.
Kamiakin’s Austin Almaguer bounced back from a disappointing quarterfinal loss on Day 1 with a dominant Day 2, rolling to a third-place finish at 120 pounds.
The sophomore scored wins of 11-0, 10-0 before winning 9-1 over Mt. Spokane’s Steve Hansen for third.
Braves teammate Sione Halo placed third at 160 with a 12-3 major decision of Southridge’s Mark Meier.
The two MCC rivals also squared off at 126: Kamiakin’s Jesus Romero placed seventh with a 5-3 win over Xavier Velasco of Southridge.
Kamiakin’s Zach Borisch was fourth at 182 .
Other placers include: Kamiakin’s Tanner Bushman (7th 113), Joey Chavez (5th 132), Rece Quintana (5th 138), Liam Walker (5th 145), Cyle Deleon (8th, 152), Luke Eskelsen (5th 195); Southridge’s Ryan Nett (8th, 138), Derrick Gillespie (7th, 145); Kennewick’s Emilio Ramos (5th 152).
Class 2A
Reese Jones won the title at 170 pounds for Othello with a 3-2 win over White River’s Ryan Redford.
The Huskies hope he’ll be joined on the top step by teammate TJ Martinez at 195.
Collin Freeman of Othello placed fifth with an 11-4 win in his placing match.
Class 1A
Connell junior Alexander Deines looked unstoppable over the weekend as he pinned his first three opponents to reach the 285-pound championship match.
But he was disqualified from that tilt for headbutting his opponent, Montesano’s Taylor Rupe, and had to settle for a second-place finish. It was Rupe’s second straight 285-pound title.
Kiona-Benton senior Anthony Llernas lost to Rupe 11-4 in the semifinals, but pinned his four other opponents to finish third in the weight class. He took 2 minutes, 23 seconds to finish off Colville’s Sawyer Hughes in the consolation match.
Kiona-Benton senior Jaron Gunter finished second at 120 after a 7-3 loss to Colville’s Trent Baun.
Connell freshman Johnathan Magana lost to Forks’ Josue Lucas 8-4 in the 106 final.
Royal’s Abraham Medina lost to Granger’s Chuco Cisneros 5-2 to place second at 126.
Other top 4 placers: Kiona-Benton’s Flavio Sandoval (4th 138); Warden’s Anthony Martinez (3rd 113), Rodrigo Ozuna (3rd 132); Royal’s Eduardo Rodriguez (4th 120);
Girls
Othello’s Nikki Velazquez placed second at 130, losing to White River’s Erin Redford 13-6 in the championship.
Hanford’s Libby Graham placed eighth at 145, and Pasco’s Natalie Hall was sixth at 155.
Other top 4 placers: Warden’s Aaliyah Escamilla (3rd 100); Sunnyside’s Stephanie Blankenship (4th 105); Othello’s Elizabeth Giles (4th 135).
This story was originally published February 18, 2017 at 6:18 PM with the headline "State wrestling: Pasco’s Gonzalez, Southridge’s Al-Ghani win titles."