Mavs win fourth straight dual, defeat Richland
The Moses Lake Mavericks won their fourth straight dual Tuesday, defeating Richland 35-30 on their home mat. Since Jan. 1, the Mavs have beaten West Valley (Yakima), Eisenhower and Wenatchee.
Ian Bivona/Columbia Basin Herald
Moses Lake junior Drayden Gaither, top, won by decision in Tuesday’s 126-pound bout against Richland.
MOSES LAKE — Seven Maverick wrestlers picked up wins on the mat in Tuesday’s home dual against Richland, defeating the Bombers 35-30 to win their fourth-straight dual.
“We knew Richland was tough when we were preparing for the dual,” Moses Lake Head Coach Jose Tanguma said. “We knew that they had a strong heavyweight lineup, and I’m glad that we pulled out some wins in the upper weight classes.”
After a Richland forfeit in the 106-pound match and a double-forfeit in the 113-pound bout, Maverick juniors Cruz Hernandez and Drayden Gaither picked up major decisions in the 120- and 126-pound matches, with junior Trenton Vasquez following with a decision in the 132-pound match.
The Mavericks and Bombers traded wins in the 138-, 144-, 150- and 157-pound matches, with Moses Lake sophomore Ian Anderson and senior Dayton Regan both winning by decision in the 144- and 150-pound bouts.
After a Richland pin in the 157-pound match, Maverick sophomore Jesus Garcia responded with a pin of his own.
“We were going back and forth on wins,” Tanguma said. “Between the middleweights and the upper weights, they ended up getting a lot of pins; we got a couple of decisions, but at the end, our 165-pounder, Jesus Garcia, pulled out a big pin for us. He was losing the match and came back and pinned a kid. That really helped out and got the team motivated.”
Following back-to-back pins by the Bombers, Moses Lake freshman Eli Anderson’s pin in the 215-pound match rounded off the Mavs’ 35-point night.
“He was in a good battle, losing by one point and came back to pin the kid,” Tanguma said. “That was another match that really fired us up.”
Since Jan. 3, Moses Lake has defeated West Valley (Yakima) 43-33, Eisenhower 54-44, Wenatchee 49-24 and Richland. Tanguma credited the dual win streak to the wrestlers spending time and working in the wrestling room.
“Putting in that work in the room and building that confidence level for all the wrestlers,” Tanguma said. “They’ve been putting in the work in the room, pushing each other and coming together as a team. They see that they’re improving, so that’s what’s motivating them to put in more work.”After Thursday’s dual against Davis, Moses Lake’s final dual of the year, the Mavericks head to Prosser for the Rumble in the Valley tournament Friday and Saturday for their final regular season tournament this winter.
Once the regular season concludes, Tanguma said, time spent in the wrestling room is focused on technique.
“Really correcting our movements, condition, keeping everything tighter,” Tanguma said. “Mostly just focusing on technique.”
The Rumble in the Valley tournament begins at 4 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
“They see that they’re improving, and everything’s coming together right now,” Tanguma said. “We’re peaking at the right moment.”
Ian Bivona may be reached via email at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.
Moses Lake junior Drayden Gaither, top, won by decision in Tuesday’s 126-pound bout against Richland.