‘It’s the best feeling ever’

LRS’ Smith wins state title at Mat Classic

TACOMA – A year after taking third place in the 195-pound weight class in the Mat Classic, Lind-Ritzville/Sprague senior Gabe Smith came into his senior season on a mission; to finish on top of the podium in Tacoma. His mission was a success, having been crowned the 215-pound champion of the 1B/2B Boys classification at last week’s state wrestling tournament. “I went up a weight class so it was different people all around, but knowing I could compete with those guys last year – that was a big confidence booster, considering that I consider them the best wrestlers out of 1B/2B,” Smith said. “I knew if I could compete with them, I could compete with anybody.” Smith, who wrestled in the 215-pound class this season and earned a first-round bye, went 3-0 at the Tacoma Dome last week, defeating Coupeville’s Jaje Drake with a first-round pin in the quarterfinals, Liberty Bell’s Damien Spears in the semifinals and Almira/Coulee-Hartline’s Noah Butler in the championship round.