Wahluke wrestlers make starting goal

MATTAWA - Before last week's wrestling opener at the Davis Invitational, Wahluke High School coach Russell Kovalenko gave his boys a goal of fourth place.

They accomplished that and outpointed 10 other programs, including 4A Davis. South Central A Conference West power Granger won with 237.5 points. The Warriors had 159.

"We finished sixth the first year and fifth the second year. So I told them we needed to improve by one spot," Kovalenko said. "They listened as the team scores were called off. When they heard our name in fourth, they whooped and hollered."

The Warriors were led by junior 182-pounder Jack Yorgesen. He pinned Nicolas Nanez of White Swan in 1:37 to take first place.

Kovalenko has 62 boys turning out this year, the biggest turnout ever at Wahluke. All of the weights are covered, and there are two heavyweights.

Two Warriors took second place, Chris Morales at 113 and Jaime Jimenez at 220. Heavyweight Gilberto Mejia took third place.

Other placers for the Warriors were:

106 - Sebastian Barajas, 5th

126 - Antonio Gomez, 4th

138 - Adrian Toscano, 5th

152 - Misael Sanchez, 6th