Royal Knights 13th at state 1A prep wrestling tough tourney for Sun Tribune teams

TACOMA — The state 1A high school wrestling tournament at the Tacoma Dome last weekend was a tough proposition for teams and individuals from the Sun Tribune coverage area.

The Royal High boys did best, finishing 13th. But they were shooting for the top 10 after sweeping the district and regional titles. Three teams they had vanquished at those meets finished ahead of the Knights at state.

“That was our goal,” coach Patrick Mitchell said. “We’ll have to think about what we could have done better.”

It was a good weekend for the SCAC. Granger won the title with 190 points. Warden finished ninth, Kiona-Benton 10th, Connell 11th and Zillah 12th. Royal scored 44 points.

Royal was led by the usual suspects, Abraham Medina and Eduardo Rodriguez. Medina took second place at 126 pounds, and Rodriguez finished fourth at 120.

Regan Callahan added eighth place at 138, and C.J. Quintero finished eighth at 182. Addin Felker scored team points at 145, winning one match.

The other five state entries, Kevin Pastor at 138, Daniel Bonilla at 145, Lorenzo Myrick at 152, Jose Jimenez at 195 and Ryder Eilers at 220 were shut out, 0-2.

Felix Rangel, a 120-pounder, gave the Wahluke boys 2.5 points with a technical fall over Logan Patrick of Naches. But he did not place.

In the girls meet, Wahluke senior Abby Yorgensen competed at 145 pounds but fell in both of her matches. Freshman Marisa De La Rosa of Royal, won one match and lost two.

The junior Rodriguez, who placed third last year, started the tournament with a 13-1 conquest of Colton French from Elma. Then he was upset, 5-3.

Rodriguez rallied to defeat Nate Allen of Newport, 6-1, and Jacob Ellefson of Montesano, 6-5. Those wins got him into the third-place match.

The battle for third was close all of the way, but Logan Holt of Freeman was able to hold Rodriguez off for a 3-0 win, leaving Rodriguez in fourth.

The senior Medina won three straight matches to make it to the title bout. He pinned Nico Nuxall in 51 seconds, pinned Andrew Smith in 3:00 and shut out Like Larson 5-0.

Then Medina squared off with Granger’s Chuco Cisneros for the title. He battled, but Cisneros took the crown with a 5-2 victory.

There is good news for Royal. Five state tourney entries – Rodriguez, Pastor, Bonilla Myrick and Quintero – will return next year. So will three Knights who went to state as alternates.

Myrick was only a freshman. He will probably drop a weight next year. He had to wrestle at 152 this year because of the presence of the senior Felker at 145. Bonilla was a sophomore.

“I’m looking forward to next year,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the off-season program will start in a couple of months for the Royal Wrestling Club. There will be camps and tournaments at which the boys will be able to hone their skills. The will to succeed is certainly there.

“The coach and kids worked really hard,” Mitchell said.