Chiefs down No. 1 Vikings

LAKE STEVENS - For over 20 years the Lake Steven wrestling team always left its home gym winners.

Moses Lake changed that Friday night after a 36-29 win.

The match swung in the Chiefs' favor when junior Chase Clasen outlasted Lake Stevens' Jake Douglas 5-3 in overtime.

"I think some people at some point were kind of doubting whether we were in the top one, two, three teams," head coach Jaime Garza said. "I think this definitely solidifies us as one of the toughest teams in the state."

The Chiefs were strong in the lighter weights receiving a pin from sophomore Cooper McCullough (106 lbs.). Senior Fernando Leyva was able to score a 6-3 decision at 130 pounds and Clasen provded a spark with his overtime win against Douglas.

Garza was proud of his team and pleased that his team didn't shrink under the spotlight of wrestling the defending state champions in a venue they haven't lost in for over two decades.

"After this dual I think in their eyes they saw that, 'wow we are capable of doing this,'" he said. "I hope that their views change in regards to how they feel about themselves as a team and what they're capable of doing."

Senior Brendon Sanchez scored a 14-12 decision in the 152 weight class and sophomore Hudson Mauseth (160 lbs.) was able to record a second round pin.

Heavyweights sophomore Dylan Morris (220 lbs.) and junior Justin Sainsbury (285 lbs.) both recorded pins.

Junior Easton Castro (182 lbs.) rounded out Moses Lake's winners with a 3-2 decision.

"We'll see (Lake Stevens again at another tournament in three weeks and we'll measure ourselves then," Garza said.

The team returns home for the Moses Lake Hall of Fame Duals Jan. 4 at 10:30 a.m.

Central Valley, Mead, Puyallup, Rogers (Puyallup and Tahoma will all be competing.