Warden crowns two individual champions, wins team title

TACOMA — His head coach, Brent Cox, and teammates teased Tyson Yamane throughout the season about his penchant for close wins despite being the top-ranked wrestler in Class B at 126 pounds.

So of course Yamane put together a string of three dominant matches to win his second state championship.

After receiving a bye into the quarterfinals, Yamane pinned Republic’s Gunnar Hilderbrandt in the second round, won a 14-4 major decision over South Bend’s Joseph Lewis in the semifinals and pinned Mabton’s Gabriel Mireles in the second round to capture his second title.

“I’m just trying to leave a legacy,” Yamane said. “It’s something about this sport that you can’t get anywhere else; it’s so personal and it’ll be remembered for a long time. If you place in state at Warden you get your name etched on that board and I wanted to get my name on there twice and I did it.”

Warden bolstered its wrestling legacy at Mat Classic XXVIII with two individual state champions — Yamane and Mikey Hernandez (285) — and its second consecutive B team championship. Despite placing second to Tonasket at regionals by seven points, Warden ran away from the field with nine placers and five finalists at state.

“I just said if we wrestled well it shouldn’t be an issue and we did,” Cox said. “My team’s amazing. They’re just an amazing group of boys and they love the competition and they wrestled well this weekend.”

The Cougars amassed 176 points over the two-day tournament, 41.5 more than the second place Tigers.

“I hate to say this, but we won matches that we had no business winning,” Yamane said. “That just says a lot about our team and the heart we have. It don’t matter about the name, it don’t matter about the number, all that matters is us. We’re a team, we’re family, we’re brothers.”

Although Yamane and Hernandez won championships, the three other finalists suffered agonizing defeats.

Tied 2-2 in the third round, Anthony Martinez (106) gave up a reversal with six seconds left and lost 4-2.

Josiah Guerra (132) also lost a 4-2 decision. Down by two points in the third round, Guerra was unable to get up from the bottom position to have a chance at scoring again.

Scoreless after two rounds, Peter Manville (145) gave up one escape point in the third round to Merrit Fink of Liberty Bell. That lone point proved to be the difference as Manville was unable to score a take-down, losing 1-0.

However, Warden capped its tournament with a harrowing victory by Hernandez. After building an 9-0 lead, Hernandez found himself nearly pinned with 30 seconds to go in the match. Using brute strength to keep his left shoulder off of the mat, Hernandez held off Ocosta’s Daniel Helman 11-8.

“It all comes down to heart and it’s all about who has the most heart,” Hernandez said. “Every day in the room these coaches push me. I’d do anything for them. If they told me to keep my shoulder up I keep my shoulder up.”

More, Raul Martinez (152) finished third, Rodrigo Ozuna (120) placed fourth, Bryce Martinez (113) took fifth and Johnny Martinez (120) was sixth.

“My kids fight and I’m proud of them,” Cox said. “Just a great group of boys.”

Alejandro Cardenas wins title, Othello fourth in 2A

Othello had six placers and finished fourth overall with 93 points.

Alejandro Cardenas (126) won a close 3-1 match over Toppenish’s Andres Aguilera to win a state championship. Reese Jones (160) and Anthony Ruiz (195) were state runner-ups.

Collin Freeman (152) finished fifth, Abel Gomez (170) took sixth and Jeremy Mendez (113) placed eighth.

Quincy’s Iche Ramirez (182) advanced to the semifinals but lost 3-2 to eventual champion Diego Gallegos of Lindbergh. Ramirez split consolation matches to finish fifth.

Toppenish held off Orting to win the 2A team championship.

Royal’s Kiki Chabolla a state champion

Kiki Chabolla (120) held on 2-1 against Colville’s T.J. Baun to win a state title.

Royal had four other placers: Eduardo Rodriguez (113) and Abraham Medina (126) finished third, Darrin Miller (170) took fourth and Addin Felker (138) placed eighth.

Royal finished 11th in the 1A team standings. Deer Park won a back and forth team race, edging Colville by 4.5 points.

Other B placers

Almira/Coulee-Hartline freshman Wyatt Zielinski (106) finished fifth and Lind-Ritzville Sprague’s Karl Hawks (285) took sixth.

Six Basin girls place

Warden had three placers on the girls’ side at Mat Classic XXVIII. Vanessa Morales (100) and Alyssa Edson (110) both finished sixth; Tania Dominguez (115) took fifth.

For Othello, Kaylee Martinez (140) finished fifth and Nikki Velazquez (130) was sixth.

Quincy’s Kateri Rowell (110 was knocked out in the semifinals by Davis’ Cameron Guerin. Rowell bounced back to finish fifth.

Grandview’s Desiree Zavala won her fourth state championship and the Greyhounds repeated as team champions.