Warden wrestling takes title

WARDEN — Warden High School’s wrestling squad has performed like a team trying to add to its dominant tradition over the years.

The Cougars’ strong start to the 2009-2010 campaign continued on Saturday as they played host to the Jeremiah Schmunk Invitational and subsequently went on to take the title with 235.50 points, ahead of runners-up Kittitas (203).

Tonasket finished third with 162.50 points, while Lake Roosevelt finished fourth at 134 points just ahead of Connell who ended up with 126 points.

In order to take the title the Cougars captured four individual titles, grabbed four runners-ups and four third place finishes.

Javier Tapia (103-pounds), JP Martinez (112-pounds), Scott Henderson (135-pounds), and Sam Suarez (140-pounds) took the individual titles for the Cougars.

Tapia captured his crown with a pin of Connell’s Miseal Lopez and recorded another pin in the semifinals to cruise through his bracket.

Martinez recorded two pins through to the finals where he captured the championship at 112-pounds with a 13-3 win over Carson Arnold of Kittitas.

Three falls were all Henderson needed to win at 135-pounds, including a pin of Lake Roosevelt’s Skye Gooler in 37 seconds.

Also Suarez’s season-long excellence continued on Saturday with a 19-4 technical fall in the quarterfinals, a semifinal 11-6 decision and a pin in the final over Peter Williams of Tonasket.

Carlos Gomez finished second at 119-pounds dropping a 7-2 decision to Luis Padilla of Kittitas while at 145-pounds Hector Camacho lost his battle for first to Tanner Wallace of Kittitas, 15-4.

At 171-pounds Dakota Scott lost his final in a 5-1 decision to Keegan McCormick of Tonasket and Adam Hansen dropped the 189-pound championship to Max Thew of Newport in a narrow 5-4 decision.

Warden continues its season tonight at 7 p.m. when they host Kiona-Benton.