Ephrata, Othello, fare well in own tournaments
Courtesy photo<br> Reuben Lopez (top) scores back points on Darren Damon of Clarkston during Saturday's Schutte Invite at Taggares Gym in Othello.
OTHELLO — If the Othello Leonard Schutte Invitational was as tough as advertised then the host Huskies may have made their point on Saturday.
They’re pretty tough too.
Othello finished second with 221 points and were narrowly beaten by Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) rivals, Selah, who finished with 231 points.
Southridge took third at 217.5.
“We knew that the tournament was going to be tough with Southridge, Clarkston, and favorites Selah with their six state veterans and two state placers,” Othello coach Reuben Martinez said. “It came down to the finals for the team title. I thought that we were sitting pretty good. Selah got a surprise pin at 189 pounds that helped them beat us.”
Seven Othello wrestlers made it to the final of their respective weight classes.
Reuben Lopez won the 140-pound weight class via second round pin, en route to being named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler.
Amando DeLeon (160-pounds) and Eduardo Montes (135-pounds) claimed the other two Huskies titles.
Montes won a 26-11 decision and DeLeon won 11-6.
“Eduardo in only his third year of wrestling had the tournament of his life,” Martinez said. “He tech-falled two of his opponents with one being in the finals. Amando and Reuben wrestled how we expected them to as they are fulfilling their own personal goals. Reuben became the second four time winner at our tournament.”
Second-place finishes came via Anthony Barrera (103-pounds, loss by second-round pin), Matthew Melo (145-pounds), Daniel Walker (171-pounds), and Joey Gomez (215-pounds).
“Both Anthony and Joey wrestled state placers in their respective finals match,” Martinez said. “Matthew and Daniel went head to head with Selah and those matches made a difference in the final team outcome.”
Walker — who was nipped 7-6 in his final match — and Melo who fell 8-5 in the final, may be better for their losses in the long run,
“Matthew had a great tournament and ended making a mistake that cost him the match,” Martinez said. “It is mistake that is going to make him better and will help educate our young team on strategies when you are ahead in match. Daniel was tied going into the final minute but made the same mistake Matthew had. These outcomes this early in the season and how they transpired will be teaching tools.”
Overall the competition could only better Othello as they work toward their post-season aspirations.
“We were able to get 32 wrestlers valuable varsity tournament experience,” Martinez said. “That was a plus for us as 19 of them were medalists and with such a young team, and not having wrestlers in particular weights was the difference in the team outcome. The positive for us is that we are going to get better.”
Ehrata Tigers take third
EPHRATA — Noting the importance of early season wrestling tournaments, Ephrata coach PJ Anderson walked into the crowded gym at his high school hoping for a improved performance by his up-and-coming squad.
What Anderson got was a third-place finish out of eight teams and some hope for the near future at the Ephrata Wrestling Invitational.
Ephrata finished third with 132.5 points, behind winners Cashmere (155) and Elma (148.5).
“I like where the team is at right now,” Anderson said. “We are still young in spots, but there is a sense of competition in the practice room that makes us tougher as a team. We have had more challenges so far this year than we’ve had in the past.”
Top Tigers performances came from Anthony Bush who won the 125-pound tournament and Preston Hendrickson who took the 152-pound crown.
“Preston put a great day of wrestling together to win the title,” Anderson said. “We look for Anthony to be tested this week. We dual at Selah on Tuesday and Ellensburg at home on Thursday while Saturday we will be wrestling in the Sundome tournament. All three dates can offer great match ups for him.”
Bush won his final with a pin at :44, while Hendrickson won the top-prize with a 14-9 win over Kody Bensinger of Elma.
Tyler Childs ended up second at 119-pounds after getting pinned by Elma’s Brad Watson in second round and Robert Motzkus took second at 160-pounds after falling 6-0 to Andrew Grillo of Tonasket.
“Robert continues to get tougher every week and dropped a tough finals match,” Anderson said.
Third-place finishers included Kurt Nygard at 145-pounds, Chris Davidson at 171-pounds, and Curtis Treiber at 189-pounds.
Ephrata’s two matches against Selah and Ellensburg both start at 7 p.m. and are each CWAC league matches.
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