ML wrestlers continue district dominance

WENATCHEE, Wash. — The Moses Lake Chiefs captured five individual championships and the Columbia Basin Big Nine district wrestling tournament title by 82.5 points over runner-up Wenatchee last weekend.

Moses Lake dominated the district tournament in much the same way they dominated the regular season — with solid team performances. The Chiefs grabbed 350 team points, distancing themselves from Wenatchee’s 267.5.

The Chiefs sent seven wrestlers into the district finals Saturday afternoon, bringing home five individual champions.

Moses Lake head wrestling coach Jamie Wise said he was proud of the way his team performed in the district tournament.

“The kids wrestled really well,” he said. “I was pleased with the performances (by) all of them. I am proud of the kids. I always wish we had a couple more (advance).”

The Chiefs wrestled a solid tournament, especially during a four weight-class stretch from 135 to 152 pounds, Wise said.

“We had some great performances,” he said.

Moses Lake senior Cameron Chlarson dominated Pasco’s Michael Elizondo 11-3 in their match at 135 pounds to start a string of four consecutive individual champions for Moses Lake.

After Chlarson became Moses Lake’s first individual champion, Tyler Vela won the title at 140 pounds. Vela, who was out for a significant part of the regular season after dislocating his elbow at the Tri-State Tournament in Spokane Dec. 19 to Dec. 20.

Vela squared off with Wenatchee’s Hilario Farias for the 140-pound championship. Vela handled Farias throughout their match before pinning Farias in the second period to earn the victory for the Chiefs.

Wise said he was particularly impressed with Vela’s performance during the tournament.

“Vela pinned his way through,” he said. “He had a great tournament.”

Vela wasn’t the only Chiefs wrestler to overcome a serious mid-season injury to claim a district championship for Moses Lake. Senior Thomas Pfeiffer, who finished in fourth-place at last year’s state tournament, overcame a broken ankle this season to wrestle his way to the 145-pound championship Saturday.

Pfieffer, who had been out of action since the beginning of January with a broken ankle and missed significant time during the middle of the season. Pfieffer’s matches during the district tournament were his first since injuring the ankle last month.

Despite the injury, Pfeiffer returned to the mat for the district tournament and claimed the 145-pound title with a 3-0 victory over Walla Walla’s David Marquez. Pfeiffer’s championship was Moses Lake’s third consecutive title.

While the Chiefs came away with five champions, Wise said he was particularly impressed with Vela and Pfeiffer.

“(They are) what I was excited about,” he said. “You couldn’t tell by looking at them that they missed significant time with injuries. It made me happy. It makes the heart warm.”

With Moses Lake having wrapped up the 135, 140 and 145 pound titles, senior transfer and 2008 1A state champion Sammy Villegas represented the Chiefs in the district finals for the first time.

Villegas continued his wrestling dominance in his first season in the Big Nine with a 10-3 decision over Wenatchee’s Nick Hunt. Villegas’ district championship was the last of four consecutive titles.

The Chiefs didn’t have championship winners at neither 160 pounds nor 171 pounds, but sophomore Brian Chamberlain grabbed Moses Lake’s final individual district championship when he earned an 6-4 decision over Wenatchee’s Jacob Sealby at 189 pounds.

Chamberlain battled a gash on his head throughout the tournament. Chamberlain was injured during practice last week and Wise was impressed to see his sophomore battle through to earn the individual title. 

Moses Lake was dominating in the tournament’s finals, having won five individual titles and finishing with two runners-up with Robert Leyva at 112 pounds and Nico Moreno at 130 pounds.

The top-5 wrestlers in each weight class advanced to the regional tournament this weekend at Central Valley High School in Spokane, In all, the Chiefs will send 15 wrestlers to the regional tournament, including two Chiefs in each of the 112-pound, 135-pound, and 140-pound weight classes.

Moses Lake Regional Qualifiers

• 103) Hayden Wise - third place
• 112) Robert Leyva - second place
• Andrew Valdez - fifth place
• 125) Ricco Moreno - fourth place
• 130) Nico Moreno - second place
• 135) Cameron Chlarson - first place
• Jordan Bishop - fourth place
• 140) Tyler Vela - first place
• Fidel Barajas - fifth place
• 145) Thomas Pfeiffer - first place
• 152) Sammy Villegas - first place
• 160) Logan Phelps - fifth place
• 189) Brian Chamberlain - first place
• 215) Spencer Fackrell - third place
• 285) Kabe Fluaitt - fourth place.