Othello sending six to state

| February 12, 2007 8:00 PM

ELLENSBURG — The Huskies, led by 215-pound champion Jacob Johnston, finished sixth at the 2A Regional Wrestling Tournament Saturday.

Johnston came back from a tough loss in the district finals to dominate at regionals, winning his championship bout with a 12-3 major decision of Toppenish's Ruben Rios.

Also claiming regional titles from the Columbia Basin were Ephrata's Jake Horn and Dallas Hintz. The pair were the only two Ephrata wrestlers to advance to the state tournament.

Hintz battled through a leg injury to defeat Clarkston's DJ Darnall 4-3 in the 152-pounds finals. Horn, wrestling at 125 pounds, had an easier time in his finals match, downing Selah's Carlos Torres 5-0.

For Quincy, Jared Reyes and Nick Melburn both made the championship finals, but came up short in their bids for regional titles. Quincy will take a contingent of five wrestlers to Tacoma for next weekend's Mat Classic.

2A Regional Wrestling Team Scores:

1. Deer Park, 172.5 points; 2. Riverside (Chattaroy), 150; 3. Toppenish, 138; 4. Wapato, 99; 5. Ellensburg, 97; 6. Othello, 96; 7. Clarkston, 94; 8. Quincy, 92; 9. Selah, 91; 10. Cheney, 69; 11. Ephrata, 63; 12. Prosser, 61.

Local Place Winners (Top 5 to state)

103 - 5, Jake Smith (O); 112 - 4, Reuben Lopez (O); 119 - 2, Jared Reyes (Q); 125 - 1, Jake Horn (E); 5, Henry Hernandez (Q); 130 - 4, Gabe Lindquist (Q); 140 — 4, Kevin Smith (O); 145 - 3, Jack Calvert (O); 6, Colby Melburn (Q); 152 - 1, Dallas Hintz (E); 171 - 2, Nick Melburn (Q); 189 - 4, Kelly Schwint (Q); 215 - 1, Jacob Johnston (O); 285 - 5, Michael Carmona (O).

— Staff report