BASIN WRESTLING REPORT: Local teams open 2024-25 season

MOSES LAKE — The 2024-25 wrestling season kicked off last week, with several local teams traveling across the region to different tournaments.

Bob Mars Invite – Kennewick  

Moses Lake Boys

The Mavericks finished in fourth place as a team at Saturday’s Bob Mars Invite in Kennewick, with 12 wrestlers scoring 142 points. Moses Lake finished behind Toppenish, Zillah and Kennewick. 

Among the placers for Moses Lake were junior Ian Garza (113 pounds, fourth), sophomore Bryan Naranjo (120, fourth), sophomore Duane Zamora (132, first), senior Drayden Gaither (138, fourth), sophomore Trenton Vasquez (144, third), junior Ian Anderson (150, third) and sophomore Eli Anderson (215, fourth). 

Royal Boys 

Royal tied with College Place for 14th at the Bob Mars Invite, as its eight wrestlers scored 40 points at the tournament. 

The Knights had three wrestlers reach the podium; junior Dennis Hernandez took sixth in the 126-pound class, junior Thomas Antonio placed sixth in the 132-pound class and sophomore Cael Orth finished fourth in the 165-pound class. 

Davis Wrestling Invite – Yakima 

Ephrata Boys 

Ephrata’s boys wrestling team traveled to Yakima for the Davis Invite on Saturday, placing 10th as a team with 65.5 total points. 

The Tigers had two wrestlers place at the tournament; sophomore Michael Ramirez, who took fourth in the 120-pound class, and junior Payton Woods, who placed fourth in the 215-pound division. 

Sunnyside won the tournament with 214 points, with Wapato and Ellensburg taking second and third, respectively. 

Deer Park Invitational – Deer Park 

Othello Boys 

Othello’s 170 points were enough for the Huskies to take second as a team at Saturday’s Deer Park Invitational, finishing second only to Mead at the first tournament of the season. 

Nine Huskies reached the podium, led by first-place finishes by junior Mason Russell (138) and senior Mason Perez (285). Among the placers were freshman Xavier Mendez (106, fifth), junior Daniel Gonzalez (120, fifth), senior Jeremiah Flores (144, second), junior Camilo Mendez III (157, second), sophomore Armoni Zuniga-Mendez (157, sixth), senior Parker Freeman (175, fifth) and senior Anthony Solorio (215, sixth).

Ladycat Kickoff Classic – East Wenatchee 

Six local teams were present at Saturday’s Ladycat Kickoff Classic at Eastmont High School, and five of those teams finished in the top 10 of the 30-team tournament.  

Ephrata Girls 

Ephrata tied with Granger for fourth place at the tournament, putting up 142.5 points with 14 wrestlers at the tournament.  

Four Tigers reached the podium, with junior Alexandra Estrada Rangel (135, third), junior Kallee Rayn Castillo (145, tied-sixth), junior Adylene Sanchez (155, fourth) and junior Carolina Monico (235, first) all placing. 

Moses Lake Girls 

The Mavericks took sixth at the tournament, scoring 133 points to finish ahead of Davis. 

Five Moses Lake wrestlers placed at the tournament; freshman Kaya Gonzalez (100) took fourth, freshman Trinity Town (105) placed fourth, senior Grace Martinez tied for sixth, Sophomore Kamilah Martinez (115) finished in fourth, junior Hayden Morris (120) tied for sixth and sophomore Emma Thompson (190) placed third. 

Othello Girls 

Othello finished just behind Zillah to take second place at Saturday’s tournament, scoring 162.5 points to Zillah’s 168.5 points. 

There were plenty of placers for the Huskies, including junior Janissa Barrera (100, tied-sixth), senior Bella Garza (105, second), sophomore Grayce Mendez (115, second), sophomore Brooklyn Hilman (115, tied-sixth), senior Grace Rocha (120, third), junior Briseida Galvez (125, fourth), senior Diamond Van Cleve (135, tied-sixth), junior Victoria DeLeon (140, tied-sixth) and sophomore Lucy Gilbert (170, tied-sixth) 

Royal Girls 

Royal’s 116 points allowed the Knights to finish in eighth place in the Ladycat Kickoff Classic, just one point shy of Davis for seventh place. 

Two Knights finished on top of their weight classes, with junior Sharon Arroyo (105) and senior Lauren Jenks (140) both winning their brackets. Along with Arroyo and Jenks as placers were freshman Ruby Hernandez (120, tied-sixth) and junior Analy Castillo (235, third). 

Quincy Girls 

Quincy was the fifth local team that finished in the top 10 of team points at Saturday’s tournament, taking ninth with 112 points at the tournament.  

Reaching the podium for the Jacks were sophomore Emiko Kondo (100, third), senior Maritza Gil (110, second), sophomore Crystal Perez (115, tied-sixth), senior Crystal Vargas (130, tied-sixth), junior Thalia Castro (135, tied-sixth), junior Jourdan Ferguson (140, tied-sixth) and freshman Abigail Garcia (235, tied-sixth). 

Warden Girls 

The Cougars finished in 23rd place in Saturday’s tournament, scoring 48 points as a team. 

Warden’s lone placer was senior Dannika Escamilla, who placed fourth in the 120-pound weight class. 

Omak Invitational – Omak

Warden Boys 

Warden’s boys wrestling team took sixth at Saturday’s Omak Invitational, scoring 126 points as a team at the tournament. 

Eight Cougars reached the podium; sophomore Samuel Aquilar (106, second), sophomore Raylen Heredia (113, third), sophomore Bryan Zaragoza (144, sixth), sophomore Jesus Arias (285, second) and junior Gabriel Serna (285, third) joined champions in junior Erick Camacho (126) and senior Michael Gonzalez (138). 

Omak won the tournament with 186 points, followed by Okanogan in second (162 points) and Liberty Bell (158 points). 

    Royal junior Sharon Arroyo, top, wrestles at last year’s state finals in Tacoma. Arroyo won the 105-pound class at Saturday’s Ladycat Kickoff Classic at Eastmont.
  

    Warden senior Michael Gonzalez, right, was among eight Cougars that placed at Saturday’s Omak Invitational.