Chiefs battle to top of Classic standings on day one
RENO — The official numbers hadn’t been posted but one thing was clear after the first day of the Sierra Nevada Wrestling Classic on Tuesday night:
Moses Lake High School was in first place.
With 97 teams competing at the Reno Livestock Events Center, Chiefs’ coach Jamie Wise looked back on a day full of promise realized.
“You never know how things are going to go, I mean they’re high school kids,” Wise said. “Some of them just decided to keep wrestling and today it seemed like more of them battled and came back from behind in a lot of situations. We also had a lot of pins which means a lot of bonus points there.
“It might be tough to be hold on to first place,” Wise added. “We need a lot of people to hold on in the back door since some teams have more going through the front door. It was nice to see the guys really fight back after that second round.”
Wise noted that the second round of matches started off poorly but things slowly started to pick up.
Moses Lake has three quarterfinalists still alive including Beau Gleed (103-pounds), Brian Chamberlain (215-pounds), and Kabe Fluaitt (285-pounds).
All won three matches on Tuesday to get to the point where each stood going into today’s action.
Chamberlain pinned all three opponents while Fluaitt recorded pins along with a forfeit win.
“All three wrestled very consistent,” Wise said. “They got out and got things going right away and never let the other guys going in the match.”
Six Chiefs wrestlers, Robert Leyva (112-pounds), David Perales (125-pounds), Jordan Bishop (135-pounds), Nico Moreno (140-pounds), Chris Lacelle (160-pounds), and Logan Phelps (171-pounds) are still alive in the consolation brackets.
In order to win out and place third each wrestler would have to win five matches today.
Wise believes his team may be showing signs of turning the corner this season.
“I’m hoping they are finally getting things to click for them,” Wise said. “What’s nice is that they’re starting to wrestle like they’re capable.”
Quincy takes fifth at Vashon
VASHON ISLAND — Being short handed didn’t amount to much for the Quincy Jacks’ wrestling team as they completed a fifth place finish at the Vashon Invitational on Monday.
The Jacks ended up with 150 points, behind champions Todd Beamer (193.5), and second-placed teams, Everett, Montesano, and Kamiak who all ended up with 154.5 points.
“The team wrestled well,” Quincy coach Greg Martinez said. “We got compliments from refs and other coaches. When you are missing three weight classes and tied for second going into the finals you’ve had a pretty good day. I do like the progress of this team and what direction we are headed.”