Warden wrestling hosts mixed dual event
Warden High School senior Alexia Hernandez wrapped up her final home dual on Saturday afternoon with a win against Royal High School's Jaden Hill.
Casey McCarthy/Columbia Basin Herald
Warden High School senior Brenton Cole is honored with his parents before his first and only home dual this season on Saturday afternoon in Warden.
Royal High School's Yahir Morales looks to overpower his opponent, Cason Cox of Warden High School, on Saturday afternoon in Warden.
Warden High School senior Zeke Guerra is honored alongside his parents before the mix 'n' match dual event in Warden on Saturday afternoon.
Warden's Cael Cox looks to flip his opponent, Royal High School's Vidal Abundiz, to his back for the pin on Saturday afternoon at Warden High School.
Warden High School senior Rolando Martinez takes his opponent, Justin Kaufman of Oroville High School, to the mat with a slam in the final match of the afternoon at Warden High School on Saturday.
WARDEN — Warden High School boys and girls wrestling teams took full advantage of their sole home meet Saturday, crafting a class dual event with two mixed-wrestler teams.
The two teams consisted of wrestlers from Warden, Royal, Ephrata, Wahluke, Oroville and Cashmere high schools.
Senior Rolando Martinez defeated Oroville’s Justin Kaufman in the final match of the afternoon and described the moment as simply “unreal.”
“You walk out here as a freshman and you see all these upperclassmen that you look up to and you just want to be like them,” Martinez said. “And to come out here and finish it on the mat and set an example for the future, it’s unreal, man.”
Martinez said it’s easy to put a show on for the crowd, but that the real hard work comes behind the scenes in the wrestling room. Martinez said he learned to push himself physically and mentally.
Senior Brenton Cole said it was a little strange wrestling Saturday after graduating Friday evening. As far as wrestling went, he said nothing really changed for him in a “bittersweet” final home dual.
“I was excited, this is the first time I’ve gotten to wrestle at home this year,” Cole said. “But it’s also the last time, so it was exciting, but sad at the same time.”
Senior Alexia Hernandez is the lone upperclassman for the Warden girls wrestling team this year. She said it was disappointing not getting another shot at the Mat Classic this year, having fallen just short of placing as a junior.
Warden girls head coach Valerie Hernandez said Alexia Hernandez has been key to the program, leading the underclassmen this spring.
“She’s done a great job leaving behind leadership,” Valerie Hernandez said. “I know all these seniors got robbed of that state championship, but her job this year was to leave behind leadership.”
Warden boys head coach Brent Cox said his team changed up its practice approaches a bit too this season and have seen positive results on the mat.
“We’ve been drilling a lot more in practice than we normally would,” Cox said. “And we’re seeing the results from it, so it’s a good deal.”
Cox tipped his hat to the seniors who have created a great atmosphere that makes coming to practice a pleasure. He said he’s never had a team with quite the dedication of this year’s group.
“This is just a young team with a weird dynamic, because they’ve got each other’s backs,” Cox said. “They’re young and they’re absorbing everything we’re throwing at them, and it’s created a pretty solid unit. It’s amazing to watch them work together.”
The Cougars and other regional teams will wrap up the season this week with a two-day dual event on Tuesday and Thursday.
Complete results
Marysol Flores (EPH) d. Angie Ozuna (WAR)
William Flynn (EPH) d. Manny Canales (WAR)
Walker Fulk (EPH) d. Jose Arriaga (WAR)
Jada Hernandez (WAR) d. Cynthia Valdez (WAH)
Vidal Abundiz (ROY) d. Cael Cox (WAR)
Haley Felker (WAH) d. Mckell Johns (EPH)
Angel Cruz (WAR) d. Salvador Avaros (WAH)
Wyatt Sherrer (ORO) d. Kevin Lopez (WAH)
Angelica Santiago (WAH) d. Ralene Wheatly (CASH)
Yahir Morales (ROY) d. Cason Cox (WAR)
Rashan Olsen (EPH) d. Megan Tapia (WAH)
Dominic Martinez (ROY) d. Sergio Tapia (WAH)
Kade Hamilton (ORO) d. Alexander Cruz (WAH)
Kadie McMullen (EPH) d. Mileah Lambert (CASH)
Israel Hernandez (WAR) d. Jared Lee (ROY)
Kelvin Sager (EPH) d. Erick Myrick (ROY)
Rufino Gonzalez (WAR) d. Aram Garnick (ROY)
Genaro Reyna (CASH) d. Mark Martinez (ROY)
Royce Eilers (ROY) d. River Porter (EPH)
Nathan Mendez (WAR) d. Noel Alatorre (ROY)
Oscar Cervantes (ORO) d. Omar Pruneda (WAR)
Baz Lloyd Jr. (CASH) d. Dillon Raine (EPH)
Dawson Spies (CASH) d. Anthony Zebrano (WAH)
Benji Bustos (ROY) d. Ellis Anderson (EPH)
Kevin Dominguez (ROY) d. Lucas Tucker (EPH)
Marysol Flores (EPH) d. Alyssa Martinez (WAR)
William Flynn (EPH) d. Gio Castro (WAR)
Alona Castro (WAR) d. Cynthia Valdez (WAH)
Wyatt Sherrer (ORO) d. Jose Arriaga (WAR)
Yahir Morales (ROY) d. Trenton Mason (CASH)
Jada Hernandez (WAR) d. Mckell Johns (EPH)
Brian Hernandez (ROY) d. River Porter (EPH)
Haley Felker (WAH) d. Ralene Wheatly (CASH)
Clinton Garnick (ROY) d. Baz Lloyd Jr. (CASH)
Emma Villa (ROY) d. Rashann Olsen (EPH)
Omar Pruneda (WAR) d. Noel Alatorre (ROY)
Megan Tapia (WAH) d. Kadie McMullen (EPH)
Angelica Santiago (WAH) d. Mileah Lambert (CASH)
Benji Bustos (ROY) d. Bo Fox (ORO)
Marysol Flores (EPH) d. Ruby Trinidad (WAR)
Kevin Dominguez (ROY) d. Everardo Lopes (CASH)
Jared Lee (ROY) d. Kade Hamilton (ORO)
Oscar Cervantes (ORO) d. Clinton Garnick (ROY)
Bo Fox (ORO) d. Zeke Guerra (WAR)
Brenton Cole (WAR) d. Hugh Wheeler (CASH)
Alexia Hernandez (WAR) d. Jaden Hill (ROY)
Rolando Martinez (WAR) d. Justin Kaufman (ORO)
