Three Jacks on the mat score big for Quincy
TACOMA — If the Quincy Jacks’ wrestling program can return three grapplers to Tacoma in 2011 similar to seniors Breck Webley and Baldo Valdovinos and junior Manny Ybarra plus a few others, things could get quite scary for opponents.
Despite only three Jacks wrestlers attending the Mat Classic XXII in Tacoma this weekend, Quincy finished tied for 13th place - with Steilacoom - at 49.5 points.
That’s because all three made their respective semifinal rounds, with Ybarra making the 130-pound final.
“This is a good building block and showed what we can do as a program,” Quincy coach Greg Martinez said. “We had three guys get here and all of them got into the semifinals I was on cloud nine. Yes, the semifinals caught up with us but we still bounced back and Baldo and Breck each won one of their next two matches and kept their heads up and battled.”
Martinez saw Ybarra battle Quinn-Tate Gannon of West Valley (Cheyney) and drop a tough 8-4 decision in the 130-pound final.
Gannon maintained control of the match’s tempo after the midway point of the first-period and led 6-2 before Ybarra made a strong move in the third.
Ybarra got Gannon into position for a surprise pin and the largest medal possible, before the West Valley grappler slipped through the Jacks’ hands literally.
“At that point it’s late and they’re sweaty and so there’s not enough friction in that case,” Martinez said. “That’s Manny’s second loss in the finals (fell in 2009 125-pound final) so he’s a good wrestler. He just couldn’t get the shots he needed.”
Ybarra is fortunate to be able to return for one more shot at a trip to Tacoma and the coveted title ring.
“I’m going to work extra hard,” Ybarra said. “You always get pumped up at the state finals. It just didn’t go the way you want sometimes. How I did the whole season doesn’t matter because my goal is to win a state championship.”
At 189-pounds, Valdovinos was involved in a lot of shoot-outs - beating Shaffer Hicks of Blaine in the first round, 22-6, and Travis Shriner of Kingston 16-13.
In the semifinals, he was involved in a tussle with Othello’s Joey Gomez and had some shots at a win before falling 13-8.
He would win his next match before dropping a tight 11-10 decision to Deer Park’s Ammon Collins to wrap up a fourth place medal.
Webley took fifth place at 160-pounds, making the semifinals with two strong wins before falling to Joseph Zadrozny of Ridgefield in the semifinals.
He dropped his next contest before beating Ellensburg’s Tyler Coats with a first-round pin to capture fifth.
Overall the three Quincy wrestlers went a combined 12-5.
“We had some of our other wrestlers here watching and some junior-high kids made the trip to watch wrestling at the next level,” Martinez said. “They saw what to expect and I think this could all be a part of a solid building year.”