Three Harbor wrestlers win titles at Grizzly Invite

Three Grays Harbor wrestlers overcame rugged competition to earn gold medals at Hoquiam’s Grizzly Alumni Association Invitational.

Edgar Salazar and Tyler Souphommanichanh, both of Aberdeen, and Hoquiam’s Lutra Felten were among the champions in the 38th annual Grizzly Alumni Association wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 14, at Hoquiam Square Garden.

Possessing so much depth that its junior varsity placed 10th in a 28-team field, Class 3A Lincoln of Tacoma easily repeated as team champion. The Abes, with 265 points, finished 97 points ahead of runner-up Chelan.

Host Hoquiam took third with 126 points. Aberdeen was fifth, Elma sixth and Willapa Harbor seventh in the team standings. Montesano also competed, but sent most of its top wrestlers to Rainier’s Sergeant Norton Memorial Tournament.

Elma, which has struggled with numbers this season, did well to advance three wrestlers to the finals. But the Eagles were blanked in the title round.

Chelan’s Juan Del Cruz, a returning state placewinner, neatly countered the attacks by Eagle junior Justin Sample en route to a 15-4 victory in the 145-pound championship bout.

Elma senior Liam Baxter, a first-year wrestler, gave a good account of himself against Lincoln’s Xavier Williams in the 220-pound final. Williams broke a scoreless deadlock with a two-point near-fall near the end of the second round. Then Williams turned and pinned him with 15 seconds remaining in the contest.

Baxter had scored a pair of first-round pins to reach the title match.

“We are all going in the right direction,” Eagle coach Adam Catterlin said. “We are still getting in the transition phase to get to championship wrestling.”

106: Championship — Lutra Felten (Hoquiam) pinned Vu Le (Lincoln), 3:21. 3. Aaron Lano (Montesano) and Chien Le (Lincoln JV). 113: Championship — Boira Mokmouen (Lincoln) dec. Joey Moen (Cle Elum-Roslyn), 9-4. 3. Malaki Eaton (Hoquiam JV) and Angel Foley (Foss). 120: Championship — Edgar Salazar (Aberdeen) pinned Angel Cisneros (Aberdeen JV), 1:32. 3. Colten French (Elma) and Jeremiah Duncombe (Lincoln). 126: Championship — Tyler Souphommanichanh (Aberdeen) tech. fall over Andrew Persell (Elma). 3. Johnaven Notti (Lincoln) and Michael Marquez (Mountlake Terrace). 132: Championship — Jeremias Sandavol (Lincoln) dec. Joseph Lewis (Willapa Harbor), 11-3. 3. Nate Say (Cle Elum) and Javier Pastor (Chelan). 138: Championship — Jacob Holm (Liberty-Issaquah) pinned Josh Say (Cle Elum), 2:40. 3. Andre’s Vasquez (Hoquiam) and Elijah Duncombe (Lincoln). 145: Championship — Juan Del Cruz (Chelan) dec. Justin Sample, 15-4. 3. Juan Flores (Liberty) and Cooper Murch (Liberty JV).

152: Championship — Pavel Oliferovskiy (Mountlake Terrace) pinned Erik Alcala (Chelan), 3:32. 3. Jace Duckworth (Willapa Harbor) and Matthew Hitchiner (Elma). 160: Championship — Nick Fordham (Cle Elum) dec. Ben Byington (Willapa Harbor, 8-2. 3. Jacob Lex (Liberty) and Tristian Kwon (Lincoln). 170: Championship — Dominic Martin (Lincoln) pinned Skyler Gordon (Chelan), 3:22. 3. Sage Zinni (Chelan JV) and Gavin Miller (Lincoln JV). 182: Championship — J.J. Dixon (Lincoln) dec. Jack Moen (Cle Elum), 4-1. 3. Artimus Johnson (Hoquiam) and Aundre Seabrook (Mountlake Terrace). 195: Championship — Seth Lindsey (Toledo-Winlock) dec. Reyne Mack (Mountlake Terrace), 5-3. 3. Marco Arteaga (Chelan) and Jonoah Thomas (Lincoln JV). 220: Championship — Xavier Williams (Lincoln) pinned Liam Baxter (Elma), 5:45. 3. Larry Leonard (Hoquiam) and Christian Anderson (Willapa Harbor). 285: Championship — Will Willsey (Lincoln) dec. Jackson Potts (Foss), 3-2 in 2 OT. 3. Skyler Murray (Aberdeen) and Zach Pua (Lincoln JV).