Othello handles Ellensburg for fourth CWAC dual win of season
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald Easton Roylance of Othello works out of trouble against Brandon Mellerguard of Ellensburg in the 160-pound match Thursday night.
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldJaxon Rocha of Othello works against Ellensburg's Jesse Holloway during the 132-pound match. Rocha won by pin at 1:35.
OTHELLO — Othello senior Juan Martinez jumped up off the mat after taking down Dustee Burvee of Ellensburg in the final four seconds to win the 152-pound match Thursday night and took off for the far end of PJ Taggares Gym.
He made his way up into the stands where he was congratulated by friends and family who finally got a chance to see him showcase his talents. Martinez, a first-year wrestler suffered a disappointing season-ending injury last year, has worked his way back into the Huskies lineup with hard work and determination.
On Thursday night in front of the home crowd, he made his move to help the Huskies to a 42-19 win over the Bulldogs in Central Washington Athletic Conference action at Taggres Gym.
Martinez and Burvee went tied into the final seconds with what looked like the Othello senior’s second overtime in as many nights. But Martinez caught Burvee for a take-down as the horn sounded and a 4-2 victory that raised the roof with wrestling fan excitement.
“Juan was coming onto things last year as a first-year guy before he broke his rib,” Othello coach Rudy Ochoa II said. “The injury pretty much set him back. His last four matches have come down to the final seconds, so it was nice to get him a win with his family here.”
He’s just a hard-working guy and he proved things go right for those who work for it.
“I like to counter when guys come at me, so in the end I was waiting for him to come to me. When he did, I reacted. It was more instinct than thinking,” Martinez said. “That’s why we work in the room, to be ready when the time comes. It was so awesome to make it happen tonight.”
The Huskies (4-1) were wrestling for the third consecutive night, having gone against Moses Lake the night before and Quincy on Tuesday. They came out a little sluggish, dropping the first three matches before getting back in the groove.
Ellensburg forfeited at 285, 106 and 113, so Othello went from 12-0 down to 18-12 without actually winning on the mat. Jonathan Gomez gave them a 3-2 win at 120. Jaxon Rocha, who is coming off an ankle injury, pinned Jesse Holloway in the first period of the 132-pound match for his third consecutive pin this week to jump-start the Huskies after a sluggish start.
“I was not in shape at all when I came back two weeks ago. I’m still not in shape so that’s why I’ve been pinning everybody, I don’t want to go all three rounds,” the Othello sophomore said with a laugh. “I thought we used a lot of energy wrestling last night (in Moses Lake). So we had to come out tonight and suck it up.”
Jovani Espindola turned Jesse Holloway for back-to-back pins and the Huskies rolled to their fourth dual win of the CWAC season with three to go in the regular season. They wrestle again Jan. 18 at Grandview.
Othello 42, Ellensburg 19
182 - Henry Rinhart, E, p. Nick Alvarez, 1:59
195 - Cade Stevanson, E, d. DJ Guzman, 3-2.
220 - Tyge Taylor, E, d. Elijah Roylance, 4-1.
285 - Othello wins by forfeit
106 - Othello wins by forfeit
113 - Othello wins by forfeit
120 - Jonathan Gomez, O, d. Christian Davis, 3-2
126 - Ryker Freeman, E, md. Arturo Solorio, 10-2
132 - Jaxon Rocha, O, p. Jesse Holloway 1:55
138 - Jovani Espindola, O, p. Wade Weaver, 1:39
145 - Levi Garza, O, d. Dean Child, 10-3
152 - Juan Martinez, O, d. Dustee Bursvee, 4-2
160 - Brandon Mellerguard, E, d. Easton Roylance, 5-0
170 - BJ Garza, O, d. Lorenzo Gonzalez, 4-0