Moses Lake ready to return to state title contention

MOSES LAKE — Hunter Cruz worked to escape from the bottom position against Dylan Morris.

Cruz wiggled free almost instantly and ribbed his former teammate.

“You’re washed up. This is my room.”

Morris, a little miffed, gave it one more shot and upped the intensity, however, Cruz broke free again just before the buzzer.

“It’s slick,” Morris said to the onlookers.

A third match-up was quashed by conditioning, but it’s the type of competition rare in most wrestling rooms. Two state champions going head-to-head.

Iron sharpens iron.

“For wrestlers, it’s getting in shape, getting your legs in shape, getting your hands in shape, being able to bend and level change and not bend at the hips — we have to be able establish that,” head coach Jaime Garza said. “If we can start that off in the beginning and the kids start getting a little bit of success — what that feels like and tastes like and they enjoy that. So, that’s the one thing that we have to be looking for.”

Moses Lake tied with cross-state rival Lake Stevens for seventh at Mat Classic XXIX. Although many programs would be happy with a top 10 finish, state championships are what matter to the Chiefs and that goal was verbalized in the huddle at the end of practice.

Many of the message board prognosticators do not have Moses Lake as a contender for the Class 4A team title. Garza can’t control what people think, only what goes on in his room.

And his room is a talented, hard-working one.

“In order for us to be able to accomplish that goal it’s going to take a whole team,” Garza said. “It’s not just going to take the seniors because we have the seniors ... We have potentially anywhere from eight to 10 guys that can make it to the state tournament and I feel like that can place, but it all starts in here and it starts with an attitude of I’m willing to give it my all to ensure that I’m able to accomplish my goal.”

Moses Lake’s group of seniors includes 2017 state champion Cruz, state placers Payton Castro and Daiman Vasquez, and state participant Christien Knopp. Other wrestlers looking to break through into the state tournament include Beau Mauseth, Riley Burgess, Bailey Sanchez, BJ Mullin and Pablo Mejia. For the girls, junior Melanie Flores returns after placing fourth at state in the 100-pound weight class.

Cruz lost only once as a junior on his way to the 152-pound title, outlasting Battle Ground’s Izaiah Duran in overtime 2-1 in the championship match.

Now, like his old teammates Trey Long and Hudson Mauseth, Cruz will look to add another at Mat Classic XXX. Long was able to become a two-time champion; Mauseth ran into all-timer Michael Soler of Lake Stevens in the 170-pound finals.

“I was there,” Garza said. “I know how it felt to be that guy. I know what I could have done different and just trying to educate those kids — Trey, Hudson and Hunter now — of what you should be doing and you have to work that much harder.

“If you thought you worked hard last year, you’ve got to bring it because someone’s after you and there’s no time to let down your guard whatsoever.”

Next: Moses Lake Jamboree, Nov. 28, 5 p.m.

Key home duals: Lake Stevens, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.; Othello, Jan. 10, 5:30 p.m.; Sunnyside, Jan. 23, 7 p.m.