Maverick boys, girls wrestling teams hit the mat

MOSES LAKE — Last year’s Moses Lake girls wrestling team left the Tacoma Dome with a 3A/4A state title, while the boys team had five wrestlers hit the mats after having none the year prior. 

Now, this year’s squads look to build off of the successes of last season.

“They seem like they’re really excited, really ready to build upon what we did last year,” Moses Lake girls wrestling coach David Peralez said. “Keeping that in mind, we know that’s last year; we know it’s a brand-new clean slate for everybody, and we’re ready to take on the challenge of regaining that title again.”

The Moses Lake girls finished with 136 points at the 3A/4A Mat Classic, having five of the seven wrestlers who qualified to wrestle finishing on the podium. The Mavs have an even bigger roster this year, with 30 girls signed up to wrestle. 

Moses Lake had eight girls wrestlers in the 2021-22 season and 15 last year. During the off-season, members of the team spoke with middle school wrestlers to have them try out for the team.

“The wrestlers that were on the team last year that talked to the middle schoolers, they really promoted that — even I was motivated to join,” Peralez said. “They did a great job of promoting the sport.”

On the boys side, the Mavs return four state veterans this season; sophomore Ian Garza, junior Drayden Gaither, sophomore Ian Anderson and senior Dayton Regan. That experience will go a long way for the team’s 26 members of a “talented” freshmen class, who make up a significant amount of the team’s 60 wrestlers. 

“Those guys that wrestled at the state tournament, they know what to expect and now they’re passing it along with the underclassmen,” Moses Lake boys wrestling coach Jose Tanguma said. “Pushing them to get at their level too.”

Among the returners for the girls team are sophomore Reese Prescott, sophomore Katelyn Rodriguez and senior Ashley Naranjo, the latter of whom captured her second-straight state championship last season. 

Naranjo, who won the girls 3A/4A 115-pound bracket last season and the same bracket in the 2021-22 season, is gunning for her third-straight title.

“Don’t take your foot off the pedal, and just keep going,” Naranjo said. “I don’t really stop practicing; I’m ready for what’s coming. I know I’ve got a big target on my back.”

Peralez said a strength demonstrated by this year’s team has been their athleticism and their willingness to learn.

“A lot of them did not get too hard on themself or too frustrated with the practices, we really emphasize learning and learning slowly; something that really stood out was them individually seeking out the information, looking for what they can do to get better at a particular move or something for them to work on.”

For the boys, Tanguma said they’ve come together well as a team.

“They’re coming together as a team, and they understand what it takes to get to that high level,” Tanguma said. “A lot of them we hope to see place in the top 10 this year.”

In order to make another run at a title, Peralez said it’ll take a combined effort from the entire team.

“We need all hands on deck,” Peralez said. “I told the team last year, ‘It’s going to come down to three or four wrestlers — we need every single person there.’ We had 14 wrestlers last year seven of them made it (to state), all of them won at least one match. That was huge, we only won by 16 points.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

Moses Lake Boys Wrestling Schedule

Dec. 7 — @ Sunnyside — 7 p.m.

Dec. 13 — @ Eastmont — 7 p.m.

Dec. 15-16 — @ Tri-State Wrestling Tournament — 9 a.m.

Dec. 21-22 — @ Pasco tournament — 9 a.m.

Dec. 28 — @ Gut Check Tournament — 9 a.m.

Dec. 29 — @ Boy’s Varsity Winter Cup — TBD

Jan. 3 — @ West Valley (Yakima) — 7 p.m.

Jan. 6 — @ Warden tournament — 10 a.m.

Jan. 9 — vs. Eisenhower — 7 p.m.

Jan. 11 — @ Wenatchee — 7 p.m.

Jan. 18 — vs. Davis — 7 p.m.

Jan. 19-20 — @ Prosser tournament — 4 p.m., 8:30 a.m.

Feb. 3 — @ Wenatchee — TBD

Moses Lake Girls Wrestling Schedule

Dec. 7 — @ Sunnyside — 6 p.m.

Dec. 9 — @ Royal Girls Wrestling Tournament — 10 a.m.

Dec. 13 — @ Eastmont — 6 p.m.

Dec. 15-16 — home tournament — 8 a.m.

Dec. 22 — @ Pasco tournament — 10 a.m.

Dec. 28-29 — @ Gut Check  Tournament — 8 a.m.

Jan. 3 — @ West Valley (Yakima) — 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 5-6 — @ Kelso tournament — TBD

Jan. 9 — vs. Eisenhower — 6 p.m.

Jan. 11 — @ Wenatchee — 6 p.m.

Jan. 18 — vs. Davis — 6 p.m.

Jan. 20 — @ Othello Lady Huskie Invite — 10 a.m.

Jan. 25 — vs. Toppenish — 7 p.m.

Jan. 27 — @ Quincy Bring Home Da Beef Tournament — 10 a.m.

    Moses Lake senior Ashley Naranjo, left, won her second-straight state championship at the Girls 3A/4A Mat Classic in Tacoma. Naranjo is seeking her third-straight title this year.
  

    Moses Lake sophomore Ian Garza, top, is one of four Mavs returning with state experience.
  

    Moses Lake sophomore Reese Prescott, left, placed second at last year’s Mat Classic.