Chiefs take second at wrestling classic

by Derrick Pacheco<br>Herald Sports Editor
| January 5, 2009 8:00 PM

SPOKANE — The Moses Lake Chiefs began 2009 with a solid performance at the Pacific Northwest Classic wrestling tournament last weekend at University High School in Spokane.

Moses Lake capitalized on two champions and three more finalists to vault the Chiefs past Central Valley for second place. Moses Lake finished the tournament with 171.5 team points, 64.5 points behind tournament champion University.

Moses Lake head coach Jamie Wise was satisfied with his team’s performance.

“The kids did pretty well considering we had so many out,” he said. “Overall, it was a pretty good week.”

Moses Lake was not the only Columbia Basin school to showcase their wrestling talent at the competitive tournament, Othello sent one wrestler to the finals to help the Huskies claim a fifth place finish.

Othello’s lone finalist came at 135 pounds when Reuben Lopez faced Scotty Bacon of Republic in the finals. Bacon pinned Lopez in 3:12.

Othello finished the tournament with five total placers, including Lopez at 135 pounds. The Huskies had two third place finishers with Amando Deleon (152 pounds) and Matt Jordan (125 pounds). Othello’s Jake Smith earned a fourth place finish at 119 pounds and Anthony Melo capped the Huskies placers with a fifth place finish at 130 pounds.

The Huskies and the Chiefs represented the proud wrestling tradition of the Columbia Basin at the two-day tournament.

Moses Lake sent five wrestlers to the finals in five different weight classes. The Chiefs finalists included Ricco Moreno (125 pounds), Nicco Moreno (130 pounds), Sammy Villegas (152 pounds), Brian Chamberlain (189 pounds) and Spencer Fackrell (215 pounds).

Villegas, a state champion for Royal last season, did not wrestle in the finals Saturday because he is battling an illness.

The Chiefs brought home champions at two weight classes — 130 pounds and 215 pounds. Moses Lake’s first champion came when Nicco Moreno earned a 13-11 decision over Josh Lauderdale of Lakeside.

“Nicco was the outstanding wrestler once again,” Wise said. “That’s twice in one week.”

The Chiefs won the Bronco Round-Up tournament in Pendelton, Ore. on Monday and Tuesday.

Moses Lake’s second champion came at 215 pounds when Fackrell earned a 1-0 decision over Jake Laden of University.

Moses Lake finished the tournament with nine placers, including freshman Hayden Wise (third at 103 pounds), Andrew Valdez (fifth at 112 pounds), Cameron Chlarson (fourth at 135 pounds) and Kabe Fluaitt (fifth at 285 pounds). Valdez’s fifth place finish at 112 pounds did not add to Moses Lake’s tournament total. Valdez was the Chiefs’ second competitor at 112 pounds.

Hayden Wise turned some heads at 103 pounds on his way to a third place finish. Hayden Wise lost a 4-2 decision to Conner Rosane of Southridge in his first match of the tournament before rattling off five consecutive victories to claim third place.

“Hayden wrestled well,” coach Wise said. “It is really nice to see he is coming around.”

Perhaps the biggest blow to Moses Lake’s season was the potential season-ending injury to senior Thomas Pfeiffer.

Pfieffer, who finished third at Mat Classic XX, broke his ankle during his first round victory over Ben Ulrich of Stanwood.

Tournament Results

Team Scores

1) University - 236
2) Moses Lake - 171.5
3) Central Valley - 155
4) Lakeside - 135
5) Othello - 102.5
6) Ferris - 98.5
7) Wenatchee - 95
8) Republic - 88
9) Stanwood - 87
10) Kentlake - 83.5
11) Southridge - 82.5
12) Lewis and Clark - 64
13) Mt. Spokane - 55
14) Shadle Park - 39
15) Lake City - 27.5
16) Gonzaga Prep - 18

Championship Matches

103) Brandon Matlock (University) pinned Logan Ames (Central Valley) 2:36
112) Mike Baumgardner (Lakeside) def. Tyler Clark (University) 3-1
119) Bryan Baumgardner (Lakeside) pinned Brandon Byers (Univerity) 4:26
125) Jacob Lauderdale (Lakeside) pinned Ricco Moreno (Moses Lake) :46
130) Nicco Moreno (Moses Lake) def. Josh Lauderdale (Lakeside) 13-11
135) Scotty Bacon (Republic) pinned Reuben Martinez (Othello) 3:12
140) J.J. Gubler (Republic) def. Scott Davis (Ferris) 3-1
145) Tamrich Perez (Southridge) pinned Austin Carrillo (Kentlake) 3:52
152) Ryan Zumwalt (University) def. Sammy Villegas (Moses Lake) injury default
160) Jacob Mason (University) def. Andy Wickstrom (Central Valley) 9-2
171) Dustin Johnson (University) def. Cody Stratton (Central Valley) 2-1
189) Brad Gee (Stanwood) def. Brian Chamberlain (Moses Lake) 5-4
215) Spencer Fackrell (Moses Lake) def. Jake Laden (University) 1-0
285) Colby Davis (Central Valley) def. Ben Fuson (Lakeside) 3-1