Kamiakin looking to make run for 3A district wrestling title

The Kamiakin Braves have had their share of success on the mat this season, and they aren’t about to let up now.

The Braves won the Mid-Columbia Conference title with a 7-0 record. Kamiakin coach Jordan Anderson, in his fifth season, posted his first win over brother Jack’s Chiawana team, and took “The Bone” from Southridge last week in a clash of cross-town rivals.

Today, the Braves are in the hunt for the MCC Class 3A district title, and have the horses to get the job done.

“We have to show up and wrestle,” Jordan Anderson said. “No one is going to give it to us — we have to earn it. Everyone is going for the title. Southridge and Hanford won’t roll over for us.”

The tournament begins at 10 a.m. at Kamiakin High School. Finals are slated to begin about 2:30 p.m.

The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to regionals next week at Hanford High School. Also competing at regionals will be teams from the Greater Spokane, KingCo and Greater St. Helens leagues.

Though the MCC did not release its brackets, it’s a no-brainer to pencil in Kamiakin sophomore Riley Gurr as the top man at 113 pounds and senior Nick Little as the No. 1 seed at heavyweight.

Also making waves for the Braves are freshemen Austin Almaguer (106, 33-3 record) and Sione Halo (145, 28-6).

“It’s nice to have a foundation with those kids,” Anderson said. “They will compete for district and regional titles. They will be setting the pace for us. Riley is phenomenal, considering he has only been wrestling for five years. He puts in the time and the work and he gets rewarded for it.”

The latest rankings from the Washington Wrestling Report have Gurr ranked No. 1 in the state at 113 pounds. He has wrestled at 113, 120 and 126 this season, but decided 113 was the best weight for him going forward.

“I wanted to go 113,” said Gurr, who was second at state last year at 106. “That’s where I feel most comfortable.”

Not many have felt comfortable on the mat with Gurr this season. He is 35-0 with 26 pins.

“I hate losing,” Gurr said. “I think that is the biggest thing. When we are at practice and I get scored on, I get mad. Winning is everything — losing sucks. What’s the use of competing if you lose.”

Having Almaguer in the wrestling room this season has helped Gurr, and he’s quick to give the freshman credit.

“Austin is a big part of what I have done,” Gurr said. “I never got that drilling last year.”

There is no shortage of confidence when it comes to Gurr. His dad, Shawn, pushes him through the tough times, and his mom, Stefni, keeps him on an even keel. She’s also good for hugs and cookies when he’s had a tough day.

“Hugs and cookies make it all better,” Gurr said.

Little, who hasn’t wrestled a match nearly a month because of illness and forfeits, won’t get much action this weekend either with just one other guy in the 285-pound bracket — Southridge freshman Atsamaz Pliev.

But Anderson isn’t worried about his big man.

“It’s been a well-needed break for his body,” Anderson said. “We aren’t worried about him. He has almost 30 matches. He has the mat time in.”

Little, who is 19-6 with 18 pins, has learned to accept what comes his way.

“There nothing you can do about it,” Little said. “I still feel the excitement with the team before and during the match. When it’s your turn, you go out, get your hand raised and get your points, but it’s not fun.”

Southridge, which won the district title last year, has two top seeds in Zayid Al-Ghani at 170 and Cesar Flores at 126.

4A Mid-Columbia Conference

Earning a trip to regionals out of districts will not be easy for Mid-Columbia Conference wrestlers.

Only two will advance from each weight class out of today’s district tournament at Walla Walla High School — the champion and one other.

The loser of the championship match will wrestle the third-place finisher, unless they have already faced each other earlier in the day.

“There is a lot of parity in the league,” said Blue Devils coach Dallas Jones, whose team finished 5-2 during the regular season. “There’s not much room for error.”

The host Blue Devils have three No. 1 seeds in junior Joshua Pettyjohn (120 pounds), junior Bryan Ocampo (132) and senior Andrew Granchukoff (170). Senior heavyweight Kurt Blackman is seeded second behind Richland senior Nic Workman, who was third at state last year.

Regionals will be next weekend at University High School in Spokane, with schools from the CBBN and Greater Spokane League.

2A CWAC

Action started Friday at Ellensburg High school. Matches resume today at 11 a.m. The top six in each weight class advance to regionals next weekend at West Valley (Spokane).

1A SCAC East

Action begins at 11 a.m. today at Royal High School. The top four from each weight class advance to next week’s regional tournament at Highland High School in Cowiche, where they will compete against teams from the SCAC West.

Girls

Today’s Central Washington League tournament begins at 10 a.m. at Sunnyside High School. The top four in each weight class will advance to regionals next weekend at Othello High School, where they will be joined by teams from Districts 5-9.

This story was originally published February 5, 2016 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Kamiakin looking to make run for 3A district wrestling title."