UPDATED: Royal hosts Christmas Tournament

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City Knights hosted their Christmas Tournament on Saturday with teams from around the state, including Othello, Ephrata, Quincy, Moses Lake, Almira-Coulee/Hartline, Wahluke and Warden coming in to compete.  

“It was a good tournament for (my wrestlers); they all got a lot of matches in,” said Othello Huskies head coach Reuben Lopez. “We ended up coming home with one guy who placed, and it was a lot of good wrestling.” 

Lopez said the Huskies’ number one wrestlers got to rest after a tough competition in Toppenish the Tuesday prior, so the team that went to Royal consisted of 15 wrestlers who are battling for postseason spots at similar weight classes. Othello ended up going 15th overall in the 30-team tournament. 

Othello High had about nine wrestlers make it to the final round before placing, but ultimately only Jose Gallardo Ruiz Jr would place for the Huskies taking fourth in the 132-lb weight class after going 4-2 at the tournament. This was Gallardo Ruiz’s first tournament back after being out sick. He had made it to state last season. 

Gallardo Ruiz’s first match would be against Mike Ramirez, a state qualifier from Ephrata. This close matchup would end 4-1 in favor of Gallardo Ruiz, who went on to fall to Cashmere’s Marshall Pell, but won the next three matches before taking fourth after falling to Cass Rothrock from Tonasket. 

“It was a tough tournament. There was some good competition,” said Lopez. 

The Othello coach said this was one of those tough tournaments that get the wrestlers ready for when it comes time to make their final push as they head into the postseason. 

“Some of them might fall short in the room and not make it to postseason, but seeing them compete and seeing how they wrestle and they’re proving themselves, it just shows that these guys all care and they’re all doing what they can to win,” he said.  

The Ephrata Tigers wrestling team found success at the Royal tournament, where they ended up taking fourth overall with a total of 130 points, behind Royal who took third with 175 points. Tigers Head Coach Joe Knox said the team wrestled hard during the tournament, and he is looking forward to seeing how they move forward this season. 

“I can definitely see that we’re improving in all positions,” said Knox. “Of course, we still have a lot of work to do. There’s six or seven weeks left in the season, but the kids wrestled hard. They brought a lot of energy, and I felt overall I was pleased with their performance.” 

Ephrata didn’t have any of their wrestlers to make the finals, so the coach said the team had to make all of their points up in the backside of the bracket. In that effort, the Tigers had three placers at the tournament with Louden Leenhouts in the 106-lb bracket, Nathan Sandoval in the 120-lb bracket and Peyton Woods in the 215-lb bracket, each taking third. 

Leenhouts went 1-1 to start the tournament, winning his first match against Samual Knight from White Swan but falling afterward to Jack Bolich from Tonasket. Leenhouts went undefeated after that to take third over Adam Beedle from Cle Elum. 

Sandoval had an overall 4-1 record after winning his first two matches against Brewster and Tonasket, then falling to Royal’s Dennis Hernandez before winning his next two. His fifth match of the day against Fabian Lopez from Selah would end in a victory that earned Sandoval third. 

The final placer, Woods, had a very similar journey to Sandoval’s, earning wins against Moses Lake’s Ky Robles and Kittitas’s Bert Willard before falling to Quincy’s Alejandro Barajas. Woods came back in the following rounds, beating Royal’s Daniel Valdez and Mario De La Rosa to take third. 

Knox said Woods’ matchup against Barajas was particularly exciting, despite the Huskie taking the los,s because the two wrestlers will face off a few more times this season and increase each other’s levels of competition. 

“It just showed us the things we’ve been working on are important and that if we continue to get better at those things, it will help guys win more wrestling matches,” he said. 

The Huskies varsity team will be heading to the upcoming competition hosted at University High School in Spokane this weekend, with matches beginning at 1:30 p.m. and will face the Ephrata Tigers on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The wrestling schedules for the rest of the basin teams can be found at their athletic websites or will be posted on columbiabasinherald.com. 

• • •

The results of the wrestlers’ overall scores and final matches are below. Full results, except those for Quincy, are available on flowrestling.org. 

Almira-Coulee/Hartline 12th, 67.5 points 

120: Edward Jennings overall 1-2 (ACHW) falls to Victor Cortez (CONN) in bout 250, 1-19 

126: Ayden Bresee overall 0-2 (ACHW) falls to Lincoln Hoff (DAVN) in bout 259, 0-3 

138: Quinton Walsh overall 0-2 (ACHW) falls to Zxander Williams (EPHT) in bout 195, 0-3 

144: Zane Johnson overall 1-2 (ACHW) falls to Liam Fox (QNCY) in bout 202, 0-7 

150: Porter Wood overall 4-2 (ACHW) falls to Jacob Johnson (CLMB) to take fourth, 4-7 

157: Ryan Hernandez overall 1-2 (ACHW) falls to Jose Medina (CASH) in bout 364, 2-19 

175: Jacob Hubbard overall 2-2 (ACHW) falls to Lionel Mora Llerenas in bout 316, 0-6 

190: Ian McWalter overall 3-2 (ACHW) falls to Matthew Garcia (CLMB) in bout 464, 3-1 

190: Evan Tipps overall 3-2 (ACHW) falls to Ian McWalter (ACHW) in bout 375, 8-10 

Ephrata 4th, 126 points 

106: Louden Leenhouts overall 5-1 (EPHT) over Adam Beedle (CELM) to take third, 10-0 

113: Caleb Schooler overall 0-2 (EPHT) falls to Keagan Jarvis (CELM) in bout 177, 5-6 

120: Nathan Sandoval overall 4-1 (EPHT) over Fabian Lopez (SELA) to take third, 10-0 

132: Mike Ramirez overall 2-2 (EPHT) falls to Maverick Carroll (TONA) in bout 404, pin at 3:25 

138: Zxander Williams overall 2-2 (EPHT) falls to Daman Gale (DAVN) in bout 273, 6-13 

144: Riley Richards overall 3-2 (EPHT) falls to Cristian Cardenas (CONN) in bout 354, 4-10 

150: Noah Castillo overall 2-2 (EPHT) falls to Scout Stevenson (ROYL) in bout 416, forfeit 

157: Carter Garcia overall 3-2 (EPHT) falls to Aiden Conley (KITT) in bout 457, 0-3 

165: Colt Staples overall 3-2 (EPHT) falls to Cael Orth (ROYL) in bout 459, 0-17 

175: Austin Smith overall 3-2 (EPHT) falls to Alejandro Bustillos (ROYL) in bout 371, 7-8 

190: Danny Wurl overall 0-2 (EPHT) falls to Davin Irvin Salas in bout 324, forfeit 

215: Peyton Woods overall 4-1 (EPHT) over Mario De La Rosa (ROYL) to take third, 8-0 

285: Daron Hernandez overall 2-2 (EPHT) falls to Ryder Janke (MLHS) in bout 467, 0-5 

Moses Lake (JV) 5th, 124 points 

106: Ariah Torrez overall 4-0 (MLHS) over Jake Bolich (TONA) to take first, 10-9 

113: Jose Villafana overall 3-1 (MLHS) falls to D’anthony Garcia Reyes (SELA) to take second, 3-16 

120: Vincent Hunt overall 4-0 (MLHS) over Dennis Hernandez (ROYL) to take first, 10-9 

126: Owen Martel overall 3-2 (MLHS) falls to Lucas Martinez (QNCY) in bout 344, 6-10 

132: Josue Romero overall 1-2 (MLHS) falls to Dylan Farrar (MNSN) in bout 267, pin at 2:44 

132: Samuel Janke overall 4-2 (MLHS) falls to Jose Gallardo Ruiz Jr (OTHL) in bout 403, 2-18 

138: Ryan Martinez overall 0-2 (MLHS) falls to Carlos Barajas (ROYL) in bout 196, 0-3 

144: Gabe White overall 0-2 (MLHS) falls to Angel DeLeon III (OTHL) in bout 207, 1-12 

157: Ayden Romero overall 0-2 (MLHS) falls to Mason Simons (RPLC) in bout 214, 2-9 

175: Emmanual Zepeda Lopez overall 0-2 (MLHS) falls to Landon Girton (CELM) in bout 224, 0-3 

190: Jeremiah Acevedo overall 3-2 (MLHS) falls to Uziel Torrez (KBTN) in bout 374, 0-7 

285: Ryder Janke overall 6-1 (MLHS) over Ulysses Betancourt (CASH) to take third, forfeit 

Othello 15th, 64.5 points 

106: Daiven Olascon overall 0-2 (OTHL) falls to Collin Cox (WRDN) in bout 169, 0-3 

120: Conner Gilbert overall 3-2 (OTHL) falls to Fabian Lopez (SELA) in bout 446, 3-14 

126: Jeremiah Vargas overall 2-2 (OTHL) falls to Lucas Martinez (QNCY) in bout 400, 7-12 

126: Dallin Hammond overall 1-2 (OTHL) falls to Valentino Recio (SELA) in bout 342, 1-9 

132: Jose Gallardo Ruiz Jr overall 4-2 (OTHL) falls to Cass Rothrock (TONA) to take fourth, 2-4 

132: Jovani Mendoza overall 1-2 (OTHL) falls to Mike Ramirez (EPHT) in bout 268, 1-12 

138: Emmanuel Ayala Jr. overall 3-2 (OTHL) falls to Kaiden Huber (CASH) in bout 352, 3-6 

144: Angel DeLeon IIII overall 2-2 (OTHL) falls to Ty Cockrum (CASH) in bout 283, 4-7 

150: Rafael Delgado overall 0-2 (OTHL) falls to Lonzell Iness (WTSW) in bout 212, 6-7 

165: Edgar Pineda overall 2-2 (OTHL) falls to Ernesto Cholico-Ruiz (WHLK) in bout 306, 0-6 

175: Anthony Perez overall 0-2 (OTHL) falls to Brandon Galindo (ROYL) in bout 225, 0-3 

285: Ozais Martinez Villegas overall 3-2 (OTHL) falls to Ryder Janke (MLHS) in bout 439, 0-3 

Quincy 8th, 92.5 points 

106: Jacinto Camacho overall 3-2 (QNCY) falls to Adam Beedle (CELM) in bout 441, 5-6 

120: Johnny Blancas overall 1-2 (QNCY) falls to Connor Gilbert (OTHL) in bout 252, 3-4 

126: Lucas Martinez overall 3-2 (QNCY) falls to Beaudi Shaeffer (CONN) in bout 448, 0-16 

138: Jace Reyes overall 3-2 (QNCY) falls to Wayland Holmberg (DAVN) to take fourth, 12-16 

144: Liam Fox overall 1-2 (QNCY) falls to Owen Elmendorf (CELM) in bout 281, 0-3 

150: Jody Gardner overall 2-2 (QNCY) falls to Aiden Lopez (KBTN) in bout 358, 3-7 

157: Diego Diaz overall 2-2 (QNCY) falls to Carter Garcia (EPHT) in bout 419, 1-10 

165: Enrique Rebollo overall 4-2 (QNCY) falls to Joshua Forsyth (CONN) in bout 424, 1-4 

175: Anthony Averill overall 2-2 (QNCY) falls to Austin Smith (EPHT) in bout 315, 1-10 

215: Alejandro Barajas overall 3-1 (QNCY) falls to Noah Butler (ACHW) to take second, 0-15 

285: Gael Rebollo overall 2-2 (QNCY) falls to Ulysses Betancourt (CASH) in bout 440, 0-3 

Royal 2nd, 165 points 

113: Andy Calderon overall 2-2 (ROYL) falls to Omar Gonzalez (KBTN) in bout 391, 3-7 

113: Stratton Yorgenson overall 4-2 (ROYL) falls to Omar Gonzalez (KBTN) to take fourth, 3-6 

132: Thomas Antonio overall 3-1 (ROYL) falls to Marshall Pell (CASH) to take second, 1-7 

138: Julian Garcia overall 2-2 (ROYL) falls to Daman Gale (DAVN) in bout 407, 3-10 

138: Carlos Barajas overall 1-2 (ROYL) falls to Isaac Chavez (CONN) in bout 274, 1-3 

144: Alan Pastor overall 2-2 (ROYL) falls to Riley Richards (EPHT) in bout 282, 0-1 

150: Ricardo Garcia overall 3-2 (ROYL) falls to Scout Stevenson (ROYL) in bout 360, 0-12 

150: Scout Stevenson overall 3-2 (ROYL) falls to Jacob Johnson (CLMB) in bout 456, 0-5 

165: Benjamin Viggiano overall 1-2 (ROYL) falls to Aldebaran Juarez-Ventura (WHLK) in bout 222, 6-10 

165: Clayton Garnick overall 2-2 (ROYL) falls to Matthew Galloway (SELA) in bout 307, 0-12 

175: Alan Garcia overall 3-1 (ROYL) falls to Zennon Cortez (CASH) to take second, 5-9 

175: Brandon Galindo overall 2-2 (ROYL) falls to Landon Girton (CELM) in bout 314, 0-3 

175: Alejandro Bustillos overall 3-2 (ROYL) falls to Gabe Ray (TONA) in bout 462, 0-9 

190: David Irvin Salas overall 2-2 (ROYL) falls to Connor Bouge (RPLC) in bout 376, 0-3 

215: Daniel Valdez overall 3-2 (ROYL) falls to Peyton Woods (EPHT) in bout 465, 10-11 

215: Mario De La Rosa overall 4-2 (ROYL) falls to Peyton Woods (EPHT) to take fourth, 0-8 

215: Krew Jenks overall 3-2 (ROYL) falls to Daniel Valdez (ROYL) in bout 378, 1-7 

285: Willians Mendoza 4-0 (ROYL) over RL Hudson (WTSW) to take first, 3-1 

Wahluke 18th, 35 points 

132: Angel Antunez overall 1-2 (WHLK) falls to Neptaly Ramirez (WHLK) in bout 192, 3-12 

132: Neptaly Ramirez overall 1-2 (WHLK) falls to Brandon Hernandez (KBTN) in bout 266, 9-12 

132: Jesus Cruz overall 0-2 (WHLK) falls to Dylan Farrar (MNSN) in bout 193, 0-9 

144: Jaden Perez-Long overall 1-2 (WHLK) falls to Owen Elmendorf (CELM) in bout 203, 4-16 

150: Ismael Saldivar-Tlatenchi overall 0-2 (WHLK) falls to Ricardo Garcia (ROYL) in bout 213, 1-7 

165: Ernesto Cholico-Ruiz overall 3-2 (WHLK) falls to Colt Staples (EPHT) in bout 366, 0-15 

165: Aldebaran Juarez-Ventura overall 1-2 (WHLK) falls to Enrique Rebollo (QNCY) in bout 308, 1-6 

165: Ariel Martinez overall 0-2 (WHLK) falls to Adam Mora (KBTN) in bout 215, 0-7 

175: Leonardo Tapia-Miramontes overall 0-2 (WHLK) falls to Elijah Anthis (CLMB) in bout 223, pin at 1:52 

215: Emmanuel Alonso overall 0-2 (WHLK) falls to Roy Sam (WTSW) in bout 236 in bout 236 

285: Ruben Anguiano overall 1-2 (WHLK) falls to Ryder Janke (MLHS) in bout 382, 0-3 

Warden 17th, 47 points 

106: Collin Cox overall 1-2 (WRDN) falls to Chance Reece (LBTY) in bout 241, 1-5 

120: Luis Cisneros overall 1-2 (WRDN) falls to Leonel Gomez (CONN) in bout 249, forfeit 

126: Samuel Aquilar overall 0-2 (WRDN) falls to Ethan Reyes (ORVL) in bout 257, 3-10 

132: Justice Cafferty overall 0-2 (WRDN) falls to Samuel Janke (MLHS) in bout 265, 2-11 

138: Erik Camacho overall 3-1 (WRDN) falls to Javier Lopez-Velasco (LBTY) to take second, 0-16 

144: Bryan Zaragoza overall 1-2 (WRDN) falls to Ty Cockrum (CASH) in bout 355, 5-16 

157: Manny Guillen overall 0-2 (WRDN) falls to Mason Simons (RPLC) in bout 297, 0-7 

165: Bernabe De Leon overall 0-2 (WRDN) falls to Clayton Garnick (ROYL) in bout 219, 0-15 

175: Chris Mora overall 0-2 (WRDN) falls to Anthony Averill (QNCY) in bout 226, 0-3 

215: Jesus Arias overall 2-2 (WRDN) falls to Daniel Valdez (ROYL) in bout 435, 4-11 

285: Valentine Juarez overall 1-2 (WRDN) falls to Ulysses Betancourt (CASH) in bout 384, forfeit 

    Cougars eighth grade wrestler Collin Cox pins his opponent Marcos Leyva from Kiona Benton during Saturday’s tournament at Royal.
  

    Ariah Torres from Moses Lake locks his opponent Juandiego Gomez from Connell down in the 106-pound weight class. Torres would go on to take first.
  

    Huskies wrestler Leonardo Corrales Orozco, left, and Nespelem wrestler Ryzen Marchand, right, both work to outpower the other as neither wrestler will go down to the mat.
  

    Jacinto Camacho from the Jacks works to take down a tough opponent from Mansfield, Ethan Camacho.
  

    Ephrata’s Nathan Sandoval takes down Louis Brotherton from Brewster and wins 7-0 during the Royal tournament. Sandoval would go on to take third in the 120-pound weight class.
  

    Knights wrestler Andy Calderon pins his opponent Lincoln Spencer from Devenport during Saturday’s tournament.