Cougar wrestling enters 2024-25 season

Warden senior Michael Gonzalez, right, wrestles at the 2024 Mat Classic in Tacoma. Gonzalez is one of two Cougars returning this season with state experience.
IAN BIVONA/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD

Warden junior Ashley Cruz, background, wrestles at the 2024 Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome. The Cougars had five wrestlers qualify for the 2A/1A/2B/1B Girls state tournament last year, with Cruz being the lone returner this season.

by IAN BIVONA
Ian Bivona serves as the Columbia Basin Herald’s sports reporter and is a graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes stories that lead up to the wins and losses of the various sports teams in the Basin. Football is his favorite sport, though he likes them all, and his favorite team is the Jets. He lives in Soap Lake with his cat, Honey. | November 26, 2024 11:45 AM

WARDEN – Last year’s Warden boys wrestling team fielded a young roster, and the Cougars enter the 2024-25 season more experienced.

The Cougars had four wrestlers qualify for the Mat Classic last season, but only two will return this season – senior Michael Gonzalez and sophomore Jaden Hernandez. Fellow qualifiers Omar Pruneda and Anthony Contreras both graduated last year.

Warden did not have any wrestlers place in the 2B/1B state tournament in 2024, but had numerous wrestlers receive all-league honors, including several returners; Gonzalez was a first-team recipient; senior Junior Santiago, Hernandez, junior Gabriel Serna and sophomore Jesus Arias were all second-team talents; sophomore Samuel Aguilar, sophomore Raylen Heredia, senior Kolby Klueber and sophomore Daniel Martinez were all honorable mentions.

The Warden girls wrestling team saw plenty of success at the 2024 Mat Classic, but saw several talented wrestlers graduate in June; Alona Castro, Brianalee Martinez and Maira Yanet Zaragoza all reached the podium at the state tournament, along with 120-pound champion Jada Hernandez, but all graduated last season.

Warden finished in fifth place of the 2A/1A/2B/1B Girls state tournament last season. The Cougars will return one state qualifier in junior Ashley Cruz, who also received second-team all-league honors last fall.