Chiefs win Dream Dual crown
The Moses Lake Chiefs celebrate after defeating Rogers of Puyallup in the finals of the Dream Duals Saturday in Spokane. Photo courtesy of Sadie Nielsen
SPOKANE — Moses Lake proved to be a nightmare for wrestling teams as the captured the 4A title at the Dream Dual tournament at East Valley High School in Spokane.
Moses Lake head coach Jamie Wise was proud of his team’s win Saturday.
“It was a great day to say the least,” he said. “Everyone felt like it was an awesome team effort. They actually competed just like I would expect.”
The Chiefs knocked off Issaquah 58-15 in the first round. Moses Lake won 11 matches, eight coming by either pin or forfeit to pace Moses Lake. The first Chiefs victory came at 103 pounds when freshman Hayden Wise pinned Max Tickerman in 3:46.
Moses Lake fell at 112 pounds when Dalton Baungard earned a 10-6 decision over Robert Leyva. The Chiefs went on to win the next seven matches and 10 of 12 to dispose of Issaquah. Moses Lake received two forfeits from Issaquah. Issaquah forfeited matches to Sammy Villegas at 152 pounds and to Spencer Fackrell at 215 pounds.
The Chiefs were coming off of a 34-18 win over Columbia Basin Big Nine conference rival Wenatchee Thursday night and Wise was satisfied to see his team didn’t let down Saturday.
“I am happy we are able to back up one good performance with another,” he said.
After the Chiefs knocked off Issaquah, they held on for a 36-23 victory over Mead.
The Chiefs won five consecutive matches from 112 to 135 pounds to take a commanding 17-3 lead after six matches. Mead cut the Moses Lake lead to 17-13 after wins at 140 and 145 pounds.
After Mead cut the Chiefs’ lead to only four points, Moses Lake senior Sammy Villegas extended it to 23-13 when he pinned his opponent in the third round.
Mead hung around at 160 and 171 to pull within 23-20 with three matches to wrestle.
With the match in the balance, sophomore Brian Chamberlain earned a first round pin to give Moses Lake a 29-20 lead with two matches to wrestle. The Chiefs lost a 9-4 decision at 215 pounds before Kabe Fluaitt earned a second period pin to clinch the 35-23 victory.
After knocking off Issaquah and Mead, the Chiefs wrestled Rogers in the sixth round for the Dream Dual championship.
The Chiefs fell behind 5-0 after Bryce Evans of Rogers earned a technical fall victory over Hayden Wise. Moses Lake responded to the deficit with nine straight wins, four by pin. The nine straight victories gave the Chiefs a 42-5 lead, a lead they would not relinquish on their way to the 4A Dream Dual championship.
The Chiefs went undefeated in six weight classes at the Dreams Duals, including at 152 pounds with senior Sammy Villegas.
Wise said his senior wrestled well Saturday.
“Sammy is starting to get in his flow again,” he said. “He looked really sharp.”
Moses Lake begins tournament play next weekend and Wise said his team is ready.
“The guys are ready for tournament time,” he said. “They guys are excited, I can tell.”