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Othello sent five, four placed, including Flores taking the top spot

TACOMA — Freddie Flores left the Tacoma Dome with something to smile about.

The junior out of Othello High School took home the top spot at 140 pounds, defeating Torrin Bradbury of Montesano 7-1 in the finals. It was "… like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders," said Flores, describing his first-place finish.

Flores went offensive on Bradbury, building a 7-0 lead quickly in the first period. Bradbury scored an escape at the end, but was limited in his offensive attempts the last two periods after Flores finished the match on the defensive for a 7-1 win.

"All the Othello people got me really pumped and it was my last match of the year and I wanted to win," Flores said.

While Flores took care of business early in the championship finals, his semifinal match against David Snyder of Medical Lake tested his endurance.

Snyder caught Flores on a takedown in the first, but the Othello wrestler responded with an escape and takedown at the buzzer. Both wrestlers swapped spots on the mat during the second, then Snyder built a two-point lead late in the third before Flores scored a reversal to end the period tied 11-11.

In overtime, Flores scored a takedown and a spot in the championship match. Ruben Martinez, head coach for the Othello wrestling team, said that match took the pressure off Flores in the finals.

"After that, there was so much pressure relieved for the finals, and Freddie was so relaxed, he was able to wrestle and got a good outcome from it," Martinez said.

Martinez said that despite not bringing home a trophy from the tournament, the Huskies still have something to smile about.

Othello brought five wrestlers to the tournament and left with four state placers, none finishing lower than fourth.

"I am really pleased with how we finished," Martinez said. "My kids and our program can walk out of here with our heads held high."

There was one disappointment, Martinez said. He felt Conrad Garza, who finished third at Mat Classic XVII, should have wrestled in the finals. Garza was called for stalling in overtime and his opponent, Travis Draper of Ridgefield High School, was awarded a point to win the match.

Garza rebounded from the questionable call to finish third with a 4-3 win over Robert Spackman of Riverside.

Othello brought five wrestlers to the state tournament and finished with four placers.

"We brought four quality kids who we have been relying on all year and they stepped it up and all of them placed," Martinez said. "We brought a freshman heavyweight and he got some valuable experience."

Also placing for the Huskies was Don Cantu, who finished fourth at 119 pounds and Phillip Ontiveros, who finished fourth at 135 pounds.