Ashley, Chiefs have success pinned down early

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake junior Everett Ashley walked off the mat under the light with his 11th pin of the season after a win against Eastmont’s Luke Harrison in the final bout of the night on Tuesday.

Ashley’s success coincides with the rest of his team, which finished eleven consecutive bouts against the Wildcats with pins in the win. Moses Lake also led all teams in pins at the El Cajon Invitational last weekend.

Ashley credits the early success to the intensity the team brings in practice.

“Our coaches get us going in practice and our teammates, we’ve got great captains that really intensify the practice,” Ashley said. “It’s a great atmosphere in the wrestling room.”

Coming into the season, the Moses Lake junior said he wanted to improve his aggression on the mat, which Ashley said he believes he’s done a better job of so far.

“Last year, I noticed when I was aggressive, I would be closer with the better guys,” Ashley said. “So I want to focus on my aggressiveness because I think it will take me a long way because my technique is there. I just need to work on my aggressiveness.”

Competing in the 195-pound weight class this season, Ashley said he started wrestling when he was around four years old.

“At the time, it’s probably my parents introducing it to me, but I’ve loved it ever since,” Ashley said. “And it’s great. It’s a tough sport, but you find passion in it. And it’s really fun sometimes when you win.”

Chiefs head coach Jaime Garza credited Everett’s experience with the success he’s found on the mat at Moses Lake. The improvement the junior has made since coming into the lineup as a freshman is becoming increasingly evident, Garza said.

“Now that he’s the upperclassman, you can start to see he’s able to really analyze his opponents and start to use the skills he’s developed, and really use them, which has allowed him to be successful,” Garza said.

Garza said Ashley is making the most of his chances to shoot this season, not just attacking to attack. If an opponent makes a mistake, the Moses Lake head coach said Ashley will make them pay.

“Everett’s one guy that if he catches a guy on his back, he’s gonna pin him,” Garza said. “It doesn’t matter who it is, the best guy in the state or the worst guy. He’s got the opportunity to do that.”

The way he’s firing early on this season, Garza believes the junior is someone to watch out for as the schedule moves forward.

“Right now, he’s under the radar,” Garza said. “But anybody who’s really followed him and watched where his stats are, he has 12 matches and 11 pins. It’s pretty impressive and something I haven’t seen so far.”

After failing to place last season at State, Ashley said his goal this season is a top-three finish. Once his time on the mat for the Chiefs is finished, Ashley said he’d love to play football in college if given the opportunity. If not football, the Moses Lake junior said wrestling would give him another opportunity to get a good education somewhere.

For Ashley, the main thing he’s built from his time with wrestling is work ethic.

“Even on the simple stuff, like getting a job I want later on in life, it’s really gonna push me to get that job,” Ashley said. “I’m not gonna quit unless I get it because that’s what I’ve learned in wrestling.”

Next up for Ashley and the Chiefs this season is a trip to the Tri-State Invite in Post Falls, Idaho, starting today.