14 Basin wrestlers into state semifinals
TACOMA — The Columbia Basin has 14 wrestlers still in contention for state championships at Mat Classic XXX.
Class 4A
Returning state champion Hunter Cruz of Moses Lake made short work of his first two opponents to advance to the state semifinals.
Cruz pinned Chris Homen of Ferris in the first round and Matthew Dion of Enumclaw in the second round.
Cruz will meet Gideon Malychewski of Camas in the semifinal round.
Jonathan Tanguma (106), Beau Mauseth (182), Payton Castro (195) and Bailey Sanchez (195) are still active in the consolation bracket.
Team scores
1. South Kitsap 65.5
2. Lake Stevens 53
8. Moses Lake 39
Class 3A
Team scores
1. Mt. Spokane 78
2. Kelso 69.5
Class 2A
Ephrata advanced three of its five wrestlers into the state semifinals.
Sammy Flores (106) eked past Reohre Cunningham of W.F. West in the first round 6-4 and then dominated Quincy Young of Olympic 13-0.
Clay Johns (113) and Mac Laird (195) also stayed in the championship hunt with two wins apiece.
Joining Ephrata with three wrestlers in the semifinals is Othello. The Huskies’ Chris Melo (106), DJ Guzman (195) and Isaiah Perez (285) all went 2-0 on the first day of competition.
Perez pinned Kado Dysart of Foss in the first round and then pinned Skyler Murray of Aberdeen in the quarterfinals.
Quincy’s lone wrestler Victor Tafoya (170) won a pair of close matches to reach the semifinals. Tafoya edged Colton Wheeler of Hockinson 4-2 and then got past Gavyn Potteiger of Franklin Pierce 2-1.
Team scores
1. White River 91
2. Orting 69
7. Ephrata 31
7. Othello 31
38. Quincy 7
Class 1A
Warden’s Martin Dominguez pinned his way to the state semifinals.
Dominguez won by fall over Izaiah Schlosser of Medical Lake and Blake Andrews of Naches Valley.
Royal’s Dominic Martinez (113) and Eduardo Rodriguez (132) also made it to the semis.
Team scores
1. Deer Park 82
2. Forks 75
7. Royal 46.5
11. Warden 36
Class 1B/2B
Team scores
1. Tonasket 116.5
2. Reardan 86.5
Girls
Ephrata’s Mya Spencer (125), Wahluke’s Laly Gonzalez-Nunez (145) and Warden’s Aaliyah Escamilla (100) are still in championship contention.
Escamilla leads a Warden group that is fourth in the team race with 33 points. Escamilla returned to the state semifinals for the second consecutive year in convincing fashion, pinning both of her opponents.
Moses Lake’s Melanie Flores (100) was upset in the quarterfinals by Ashlyn Daugherty of Woodland 4-2 in sudden victory. Flores rebounded to win her next match and stay alive in the consolation bracket.
Team scores
1. Union 43
2. Yelm 41
4. Warden 33
26. Ephrata 13
27. Othello 12
32. Wahluke 11
64. Quincy 6
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