Royal flushes Goldendale, Mabton
Knights trying to maintain form of two-time defending state champions
ROYAL CITY - Fresh off a team victory at last Saturday's Connell Invitational, the Royal Knights wrestling team returned to the mats on Thursday determined to keep their hot streak going.
The Knights stayed plenty warm against a pair of South Central Athletic Conference West Division opponents, drilling Goldendale 60-12 and Mabton 61-12 in their final dual meets before East Division play starts on Dec. 18.
Royal, the two-time defending 1A state champions, feels good about where it's at two weeks into this season. But ninth-year head coach Ben Orth isn't about to concede his team a lock for any kind of championship.
"There's talk about a three-peat, but we need to make a lot of improvements," Orth said. "In order for us to do it, it's going to take every kid.
"There's some very strong teams out there," he added. "It's gut check time for us."
The Knights aren't yet at full strength because of the numerous wrestlers still shaking off bumps and bruises from their football title march. That's something they can overcome quickly, however, because their maturity and leadership.
"This is the most leader-filled team I can remember," Orth said. "That's because we're so senior-heavy."
The Knights have 10 seniors who will see varsity time this winter, including 189-pounder Hector Ledezma, a seventh-place medalist in the same weight at state last year.
Royal has three other returning medalists from Mat Classic XIX in sophomore Juan Esquivel and juniors Sam Villegas and Angel Ledezma. All three are moving up a weight class this season.
Hector Ledezma had no problems in his only match on Thursday, pinning his Goldendale opponent in 54 seconds. Jacob Christensen filled the 189-pound slot against Mabton and won by pin at 2 minutes, 46 seconds.
Esquivel also split time at 125 pounds, winning his match against Mabton by pin at 3:32. Travis Villegas got the nod against Goldendale, winning by forfeit.
Villegas (152) used a takedown and two near falls in the second period to beat his Goldendale foe 9-1. Angel Ledezma, after winning his 160-pound match with Goldendale by a 3-2 score, dropped down to 152 and beat Mabton's man with a 36-second pin.
Royal was the beneficiary of a small Goldendale squad, which forfeited seven matches. The Timberwolves' only true victory came in the 171-pound match as Royal's Zach Lewis fell behind early and was pinned at 3:40.
Orth appreciated the effort of 130-pounder Chencho Lopez, who won a pair of bouts on Thursday. He built a 15-6 and eventually pinned his Goldendale foe at 5:00, then took a 12-4 major decision over Mabton.
"The thing with Chencho, we've been working on having that kid moving," the coach said. "He did that tonight and wrestled to his potential."
Royal's other non-forfeit win against the Timberwolves came from 140-pounder Luke Tonnemaker, a winner by pin at 1:20.
Against the Vikings, Tonnemaker opened things by with a forfeit win. Lewis (171) and T.J. Hunt (215) both had quick-pin victories, Lewis in 38 seconds and Hunt in 16 seconds. Heavyweight Edgar Montoya lost by pin.
At 119, Royal's Pedro Lopez earned a 12-9 victory. Leo Acevedo (135) won by pin at 3:51.
The Knights travel to the renowned Tri-State Tournament at North Idaho College today and tomorrow. SCAC East action kicks off next Tuesday at Kiona-Benton.
Orth is hoping his wrestlers have the proper mental approach to the season. He thinks the toughest competition within the league will come from Connell and Warden, and Royal has already talked about what it will take to knock them off.
"We kind of had a team talk (Wednesday) about that, as far as setting goals," Orth said. "We'll see how they respond with work ethic in the room."