Wrestling roundup: Basin standouts Laird, Perez win 2A regional championships

CHENEY — State berths were at a premium during the 2A Region IV tournament at Cheney High School.

The region itself was comprised of, according to Washington Wrestling Report, six of the 10 best teams in the entire state. Not to mention the wide gap Toppenish has put between itself and the field, regardless of classification.

Despite the breadth of talent in the gym, the Basin was represented well throughout the tournament with a solid group of 2A wrestlers headed to Tacoma. Toppenish ran away with the team championship, scoring 292 points; Selah was a distant second at 128.

Mac Laird (195) of Ephrata and Isaiah Perez (285) of Othello were regional champions. Laird was one of few to best a Toppenish wrestler, defeating Rocco Clark III by major decision in the final round 17-3. Laird, the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class and state runner-up from a year ago, dispatched Othello’s Eric Gomez in the quarterfinals with a second-round fall before beating teammate Kevin Pelayo in the semifinals 7-1.

Perez never left the first round, pinning Shane Fletcher of Selah and Terrell Underwood of Toppenish before receiving a forfeit in the championship round. Perez headlined an Othello squad that will take five wrestlers to Tacoma.

The Othello coaches lamented near-misses, such as Forrest Roylance at 126 pounds and Jonathan Gomez at 152 pounds. Both wrestlers placed fifth and will be state alternates. Jaxon Rocha (138), Arturo Solario (145), Josue Solorio (195) and Elijah Roylance (220) all qualified for the state tournament.

Laird and two other Tigers will have the opportunity to compete at the final tournament of the season. Carter Mills (182) finished fourth and Pelayo was able to edge Solorio for third place in the 195-pound consolation finals.

Quincy pushed one wrestler into the regional finals and will bring four to Tacoma. Ruben Vargas reached the 220-pound finals before losing to top-ranked Amadeo Flores-Pimentel of Selah. Flores-Pimentel will try for a third consecutive state championship at this year’s Mat Classic. Israel Perez (126), Oswaldo Perez (152) and Mykenzi Realme (170) will join Vargas in Tacoma.

Team scores: 1. Toppenish 292, 2. Selah 128, 4. Othello 107, 8. Quincy 55.5, 9. Ephrata 53.

Top four to state

Ephrata placers: 126, Hudson Sager, 6th; 182, Carter Mills, 4th; 195, Kevin Pelayo, 3rd; 195, Mac Laird, 1st.

Othello placers: 126, Forrest Roylance, 5th; 132, Kyler Freeman, 6th; 138, Jaxon Rocha, 3rd; 145, Arturo Solario, 4th; 152, Jonathan Gomez, 5th; 160, Nathan Garza Jr., 6th; 182, Alexis Espindola, 6th; 195, Josue Solorio, 4th; 220, Elijah Roylance, 3rd; 285, Isaiah Perez, 1st.

Quincy placers: 126, Israel Perez, 4th; 152, Oswaldo Perez, 3rd; 170, Mykenzi Realme, 4th; 220, Ruben Vargas, 2nd.

Moses Lake 2nd at regionals

ISSAQUAH — Moses Lake closed the gap but finished second to Sunnyside at the 4A Region II tournament.

The two teams went back and forth throughout the day with a third contender never appearing. In the end, the Grizzlies scored 238.5 points to win the regional championship; Moses Lake was second with 222.5 points and Issaquah was a distant third at 93 points.

Team standings aside, Moses Lake should be pleased with qualifying 13 for Mat Classic. Wrestlers like Everett Ashley (182) and Andrew Kile (220) showed improvement by reaching the regional finals. Max Zamora (145) and Cruz Vasquez (160) were regional champions. Zamora pinned Simon Swan of Woodinville and Vasquez pinned Jaeden Durham of Mt. Si.

Jonathan Tanguma (113) and Hunter White (132) joined Ashley, Kile and Villa as regional runners-up. Tanguma was defeated by Davis’ Jaden Sanchez 6-3 and Hunter White lost by major decision to Sunnyside’s Andrew Macias 11-0.

Team scores: 1. Sunnyside 238.5, 2. Moses lake 222.5, 3. Issaquah 93.

Top four to state

Moses Lake placers: 106, Saul Salinas, 3rd; 106, Jeremiah Martinez, 4th; 113, Jonathan Tanguma, 2nd; 126, Ryan Grubb, 3rd; 132, Hunter White, 2nd; 132, Camron Regan, 4th; 138, Lerenz Thomas, 3rd; 145, Max Zamora, 1st; 152, Jayden Adame, 4th; 160, Cruz Vasquez, 1st; 182, Everett Ashley, 2nd; 220, Andrew Kile, 2nd; 285, Saul Villa, 2nd.

Royal sending seven to Mat Classic

GRANGER — Royal had one regional champion, three regional finalists and qualified seven for Mat Classic at the 1A Region III tournament.

Benji Bustos (170) edged Jekoby Tuttle of Connell 5-2 in the championship round. Dominic Martinez (132) fell 6-4 in sudden victory to Dawson Husted of Zillah. Lorenzo Myrick (160) and Kevin Dominguez (220) were both pinned in their final matches.

Royal was the top Basin team at regionals, finishing fourth overall with 124 points. Granger held off Zillah by three points, 254.5-251.5, for the regional crown.

Warden had a pair of regional champs and will send four to Tacoma. Cael Cox pinned Jorge Espinoza of Zillah for the 113-pound title and Holden Haworth also beat a Leopard, Jared Garcia, 6-3 for the 152-pound championship. Wahluke’s Pedro Castaneda (285) finished second to reach Tacoma.

Team scores: 1. Granger 254.5, 2. Zillah 251.5, 4. Royal 124, 5. Warden 90.5, 8. Wahluke 30.

Top four to state

Royal placers: 106, Isaac Toro, 6th; 126, Yahir Morales, 4th; 126, Vidal Abundiz, 6th; 132, Dominic Martinez, 2nd; 145, Kaleb Hernandez, 4th; 152, Mark Martinez, 3rd; 160, Lorenzo Myrick, 2nd; 170, Clinton Garnick, 6th; 170, Benji Bustos, 1st; 220, Kevin Dominguez, 2nd.

Wahluke placers: 120, Salvador Avalos, 6th; 220, Seth Yorgesen, 6th; 285, Pedro Castaneda, 2nd.

Warden placers: 113, Cason Cox, 5th; 113, Cael Cox, 1st; 132, Brenton Cole, 4th; 138, Dahani Trupp, 5th; 152, Holden Haworth, 1st; 195, Eduardo Suarez, 4th.

ACH qualifies five for state

REARDAN — Almira/Coulee-Hartline had a pair of regional runners-up and qualified five for Mat Classic at the 1B/2B Region III tournament.

Everett Wood (106) and Iree Goodman (113) placed second for the Warriors. Goodman was pinned by Lind-Ritzville’s Johnny Ryan in the championship bout. The Broncos had one regional champion in Ryan and sent four to Mat Classic.

Liberty of Spangle won the regional championship with 210 points.

Team scores: 1. Liberty 210, 6. ACH 87, 7. LRS 79.

Top four to state

ACH placers: 106, Everett Wood, 2nd; 113, Iree Goodman, 2nd; 132, Tristen Wood, 3rd; 195, Patrick Rueff, 4th; 285, Will Hahn, 3rd.

LRS placers: 106, Brandon Davis, 3rd; 106, Wesley Tracy, 6th; 113, Johnny Ryan, 1st; 120, Tyson Ramsey, 3rd; 195, Douglas Morris, 3rd; 285, Thomas Rosen, 6th.