12 Basin wrestlers reach 2A bracket

TACOMA — This season, Region IV in Class 2A was absolutely brutal.

Four out of the top six teams, including reigning state champion and No. 1 Toppenish, reside in that region. Expanding even farther, six of the top 10 teams in the state belong to Region IV.

So, to say state tournament berths were at a premium last weekend in Cheney would be an understatement.

Othello was able to push five wrestlers through to the state tournament, although head coach Rudy Ochoa II said it could have easily been seven to 10 wrestlers had a few close calls gone the Huskies’ way.

“We just lost some close matches in the elimination rounds,” he said.

The Huskies do boast experience in their Tacoma contingent. Only freshman Josue Solorio has no state tournament experience. The group is buoyed by two-time state champion Isaiah Perez. The heavyweight won twice after placing seventh as a freshman in the 220-pound weight class.

The 2A 285-pound field doesn’t have much experience outside of Perez. Tate Elliott of Black Hills, ranked second, placed fourth last year and No. 5 Terrell Underwood of Toppenish placed seventh.

“He’s (Perez) always really dialed in and he just kind of goes out there and takes care of business,” Ochoa said.

Arturo Solorio and Elijah Roylance return as state placers from a season ago.

“I think we’ll just try our best and give our best effort,” Ochoa said.

Ephrata is sending a trio of Tigers to Tacoma.

Mac Laird will look to return to the state finals and capture a state championship his senior season. Laird is ranked first in the 195-pound weight class and was a state runner-up last season.

Teammate Kevin Pelayo is ranked No. 8 in the same weight class; Carter Mills also reached Tacoma in the 182-pound weight class.

Quincy pushed four through regionals.

Ruben Vargas reached the 220-pound regional final before losing to Selah’s Amadeo Flores-Pimentel.

Israel Perez, Oswaldo Perez and Mykenzi Realme also made it for the Jacks. Realme was a state participant last season. Both Perezs are making their first trip to the Tacoma Dome.

Ephrata first round matches

182: Carter Mills vs. Elliot Carlsson (Steilacoom)

195: Mac Laird vs. Kirk Tyson (Blaine)

195: Kevin Pelayo vs. Morgan Cavalier (Bellingham)

Othello first round matches

138: Jaxon Rocha vs. Darren Gray (Chehalis)

145: Arturo Solorio vs. Riley Cohron (Rochester)

195: Josue Solorio vs. Colton Pedersen (Blaine)

220: Elijah Roylance vs. John Judy (Tumwater)

285: Isaiah Perez vs. Justin Nguyen (Highline)

Quincy first round matches

126: Israel Perez vs. Conor Goucher (Orting)

152: Oswaldo Perez vs. Jayden Lancaster (Rochester)

170: Mykenzi Realme vs. Jared Rodarte (White River)

220: Ruben Vargas vs. Bryce Williams (Washougal)