Warden takes regional title
Warden senior wrestler Tony Martinez gets his hand raised after pinning Trevor Schell of Zillah in the first round of the regional tournament Saturday in Connell, Wash. Photo by Derrick Pacheco/Columbia Basin Herald
CONNELL, Wash. — The Warden Cougars wrestling team started Saturday’s regional tournament the same way they ended last weekend’s district tournament — by dominating the competition.
The Cougars grabbed four individual tournament titles to push themselves to 261.5 team points and past second-place Zillah (164 team points).
Warden grabbed their first individual title at 135 pounds when Robert Pruneda earned a 12-4 major decision over Scott Sullivan of River View.
After Pruneda grabbed his title at 135 pounds, Lupe Landeros stepped on the mat for Warden in the 140-pound championship.
Landeros left no doubt in his victory over Connell’s Harris Garcia when he earned a 17-6 major decision.
Although Landeros went on to win the regional championship, the road to Mat Classic XXI was not an easy one.
Landros beat Brenden Loyer of Cle Elum in overtime in his first match of the tournament.
Warden’s next champion came at 171 pounds when Dakota Scott earned a 6-5 decision over Angelo Salinas of Mabton.
With the regional championship under his belt, Scott will head to Mat Classic XXI for an opportunity to improve on last season’s eighth-place finish at 171 pounds.
Warden’s final regional champion came in the last title match of the night when Tony Martinez grabbed the 285-pound title. Martinez won the championship when he pinned Zillah’s John Myers in the second period.
The Cougars weren’t the only South Central Athletic Conference - East Division team to bring champions home to the Columbia Basin. The Royal Knights snagged a pair of champions in freshman Danny Barajas and senior Angel Ledezma.
Royal’s first champion came when Barajas pinned Austin Hudson of Wahluke in 3:38.
Although Barajas is a freshman, Royal head coach Bruce Jensen said he expected solid performances from both Barajas and Ledezma.
“We expected Danny and Angel to be where they are,” he said.
Ledezma grabbed his regional title at 160 pounds when he earned an 8-3 decision over Chris Strawn of River View.
Ledezma’s performance Saturday earned him a spot at his fourth Mat Classic state tournament.
While Ledezma has seen action at the state tournament in each of the past three years, he hasn’t returned to the Columbia Basin with a state championship.
Ledezma is a three-time state runner-up.
Royal Qualifiers and Regional Placers
- 112) Danny Barajas - First
- 130) Chencho Lopez - Fifth
- 160) Angel Ledezma - First
- 189) Jake Thomas - Third
- 285) Jake Bartlett - Third
Warden Qualifiers and Regional Placers
- 103) J.P. Martinez - Third
- 103) Javier Tapia - Fifth
- 112) Carlos Gomez - Fourth
- 119) Franky Jiminez - Third
- 125) Jesse Guerra - Second
- 130) Chris Kalous - Second
- 130) Scott Henderson - Third
- 135) Robert Pruneda - First
- 135) Sam Suarez - Fourth
- 140) Lupe Landeros - First
- 145) Kenny Sullivan - Fourth
- 160) Jose Gonzalez - Fourth
- 171) Dakota Scott - First
- 189) Isaac DeLeon - Second
- 285) Tony Martinez - First