Nine Cougars head to Tacoma

WARDEN — All six Warden girls wrestlers that qualified for regionals reached the podium at Saturday’s 2A/1A/B Region 3 tournament in Toppenish, with five Cougars reaching the finals and punching their ticket to the state tournament.

“We talked to our girls and we let them know that there was so much that they have accomplished over the season, that all it took was for them to believe in themselves,” Warden girls wrestling head coach Valerie Hernandez said. “We had girls talking about goals, and they actually accomplished exactly what they stated. Speaking it into existence was key.”

Warden seniors Alona Castro (100), Brianalee Martinez (115), Jada Hernandez (120) and Maira Zaragoza all reached the finals at Saturday’s regional, as well as sophomore Ashley Cruz. Martinez, Zaragoza and Jada Hernandez all won regional titles.

“It was an accomplishment that made them extremely happy,” Valerie Hernandez said. “It was something that all of our seniors, they’ve been dreaming about for a long time. Bringing along our sophomores was really cool; they were ecstatic and happy, and really opened their eyes to what can actually be done this weekend.”

While Warden’s senior class had been wrestling with one another since middle school, three of the four state qualifiers — Jada Hernandez, Martinez and Castro — had been wrestling with one another since they were 6 and 7 years old.

“To have all four of our seniors together throughout their career — grade school all the way to now — and then all four being in the finals together was really special to see,” said Mario Hernandez, an assistant coach with the Cougars.

The Cougars weren’t at full strength throughout many tournaments during the regular season, but with everyone healthy entering the postseason a sense of confidence came about.

“There were some girls that were gone on vacations, out (with) injuries, so we didn’t get together often,” Valerie Hernandez said. “Finally at the end of the season, when we knew everyone was healthy, we’re together, we’re going to move on, it’s going to work — we were pretty darn confident.”

Jada Hernandez and Martinez are both returning state placers, having both placed fourth in the 115-pound and 110-pound classes, respectively, at the 2A/1A/B Girls Mat Classic last year. With that experience under their belt, the Cougars are striving for even higher finishes this year.

“The goals have been set from the beginning of the year, that we’re shooting for the top and we believe that they can both be there in the finals,” Mario Hernandez said.

The Warden boys wrestling team had four wrestlers qualify for this week’s state tournament; junior Michael Gonzalez (126), freshman Jaden Hernandez (190), senior Omar Pruneda (215) and senior Anthony Contreras (285).

“I really feel that all of them can make a (semifinal),” Warden boys wrestling head coach Johnny Hernandez said. “That should put a decent amount of points on the board. It’s pretty tough with four guys to make any noise, but the biggest thing, for me, with these guys is to get individual success.”

Gonzalez rebounded from a semifinal loss at regionals to reach the third/fourth-place match, which locked in his state berth.

“He had a real tough regional bracket, and he pulled through it,” Johnny Hernandez said. 

Pruneda was the runner-up in the 215-pound class at regionals, having pinned his first opponent and won by a 5-3 decision in the semifinals.

“He’s been with us for a long time, so it was a pretty special moment when he got in to state,” Johnny Hernandez said. 

Jaden Hernandez, the son of the Warden head coach, took third at regionals with a third-round pin in the 190-pound third/fourth-place match.

“That makes it that much sweeter for me as a coach,” Johnny Hernandez said. “Really battled through the mental side of it and ended up taking third at regionals.”

Contreras was the runner-up at last year’s 285-pound class at the 1B/2B Mat Classic, with the goal of getting back to the finals on his mind throughout the season.

“He’s had this in his head all year, he wanted to get back to the state finals and get another opportunity at a title,” Johnny Hernandez said. “He put himself in a good position to do that this weekend; that’s been a goal of his all year, he knew where he had to be and pushed through.”

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

    Warden junior Michael Gonzalez, right, qualified for his third straight Mat Classic.
  

    Warden senior Maira Zaragoza, top, is one of five Cougar girls wrestlers heading to Tacoma.
  

    Warden freshman Jaden Hernandez, left, wrestles at the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference (East) tournament in Yakima.