Montesano earns spot as top dogs at Monte Invite

Montesano owned the mats literally and figuratively as the Bulldogs captured five individual titles and won the team title at the Montesano Invitational at Bo Griffith Gym on Thursday, Dec. 22.

The Bulldogs had seven wrestlers earn a spot in the finals with Andy Fry (106), Jacob Ellefson (126), Austin Cain (160), Kai Olson (170) and Taylor Rupe (285) all winning an individual title. Montesano finished with 223 points as a team to take the top spot. Aberdeen finished second with 151 points, while Hoquiam finished fourth with 130 points. Ocosta placed fifth as a team with 104 points, just edging out Elma, which had 94.5 points.

“We got all of our kids into wrestle and that is what we wanted,” Montesano coach Jeff Klinger said. “I think almost every kid on our team who wrestled today got a win today. I was pretty happy with our overall performance and I feel good about where all of our guys are.”

Aberdeen had six wrestlers earn a place in a final match, but the Bobcats settled for two wins with Angel Cisneros (120) and Tyler Souphommanichanh (132).

Ocosta was perfect in final matches as Sam Quinby earned a quick pin at 138 pounds and Matthew Hart eked out a 3-2 win at 152 pounds.

Elma’s only title came with a win from Justin Sample at 145 pounds, while Hoquiam’s lone title was won in just 24 seconds by Artimus Johnson.

Fry set a good example for his teammates to start the finals with a first-round pin to beat Aberdeen’s Caleb Lock. Fry shot in for a quick takedown and was able to flip Lock for a pin in just under a minute. Cain would also get a first-round pin, earning near fall points three times before sticking Eatonville’s Tanner Haugen to the mat.

Olson came from behind in his match against Aydan Costin of Napavine. Olson earned a reversal early in the second round and settled in to get the pin at 1:47.

Not all of the Bulldogs would have early pins. Ellefson and Rupe would both go the distance in their matches. Ellefson was in control for the majority of the 126-pound final against Elma’s Andrew Persell, but Persell showed plenty of fight. Ellefson earned near fall points in all three rounds, yet couldn’t get the pin in a 13-2 win.

Rupe squared off with Aberdeen’s Skyler Murray in what may have been the match of the night. With all other matches finished, the entire crowd circled around to watch the two heavyweights battle and the match did not disappoint. Both wrestlers took their time looking for just the right opportunity to shoot in the first round and in turn both took a stalling penalty, but the match stayed tied after one round.

Murray started on bottom in the second round and managed to squirm away from Rupe just as the buzzer sounded to end the round. Rupe started down in the third and also earned an escape to tie the match up and force overtime. Neither wrestler was able to make a move in sudden death and Murray couldn’t escape Rupe’s grasp in the first half of the extra round. However, the majority of the action would come with just seconds to go as Rupe was able to slide out and earn a reversal before sticking Murray to the mat at 7:57.

“That is the kind of match that you want,” Klinger said. “I want to see both of our guys go to their breaking point, go three rounds and be in a tight match because that is where you get better. If you go out and get pinned or pin in 30 seconds, that doesn’t help anything. Sure it’s fun, but it doesn’t make you better and that is what we are pushing for.”

Ocosta was the highest scoring team of the four 2B squads in attendance, led by the titles of Quinby and Hart. Quinby needed little time to earn a pin in the final. The senior caught the arm of Aberdeen’s Bodie Wharton, rolled and stuck him in 25 seconds.

Hart would need a little more time to get a 3-2 decision over Matt Hitchner of Elma. Hitchner earned a takedown in the first period and led 2-0 going into the final period. Hart started on bottom and worked to get an escape with less than a minute left. He shot back and got control of Hitchner’s legs at the edge of the mat for a takedown and was able to ride out the final 30 seconds for the win.

Elma’s Liam Baxter was leading his final before being flipped and pinned by Eatonville’s Zach Trujillo in the 220-pound final.

The biggest excitement for the Eagles came from Sample, who was able to get a reversal in the second round and pin Eatonville’s Dominic Johnson at 3:52.

“We came in here with eight guys and I think they all wrestled really well,” Elma coach Adam Catterlin said. “They are showing great improvement. Sample was just doing what he does. He just goes out there and punishes kids. He intimidates kids just on how aggressive he is and how sound of a wrestler he is. He is showing that hard work pays off.”

The quickest pin of the finals went to Johnson in the 182-pound match against Montesano’s Jesse Wojcik. Johnson fired in right off the whistle and got control of both of Wojciks’ arms to stick him in just 24 seconds.

Montesano 223, Aberdeen 151, Eatonville 147, Hoquiam 130, Ocosta 104, Elma 94.5, Clover Park 66, North Beach 49, Onalaska/Napavine 48, Life Christian 46.

106: Championship — Andy Fry (Monte) pinned Caleb Lock (Aberdeen), :49. 3. Dusty Thayer (Onalaska/Napavine). 4. Benny Basilan (Clover Park). 113: Championship — Wyatt Schrader (Eatonville) pinned Alex Houbregs (Hoquiam), 1:03. 3. Malaki Eaton (Hoquiam). 4. Aaron Lano (Monte). 120: Championship — Angel Cisneros (Aberdeen) def. Zach Smith (Eatonville), 9-0. 3. Marcus Hamel (LaCenter). 126: Championship — Jacob Ellefson (Monte) def. Andrew Persell (Elma), 13-2. 3. Colton French (Elma). 4. Nicolai Vikkelsoe (Monte). 132: Championship — Tyler Souphommanichanh (Aberdeen) def. Tyler Izatt (Monte), 10-3. T3. Antonio Garcia (Hoquiam) and Daniel Quinby (Ocosta). 138: Championship — Sam Quinby (Ocosta) pinned Bodie Wharton (Aberdeen), :25. 3. Andres Vazquez (Hoquiam). 4. Brent Hollatz (Monte). 145: Championship — Justin Sample (Elma) pinned Dominic Johnson (Eatonville), 3:52. 3. Jordan Zapata (Hoquiam). Jace Forbush (LaCenter).

152: Championship — Matthew Hart (Ocosta) def. Matt Hitchner (Elma), 3-2. 3. Gage Olsen (Eatonville). 4. Lucas Lane (Eatonville). 160: Championship — Austin Cain (Monte) pinned Tanner Haugen (Eatonville), 1:18. 3. Noah Martin (Ocosta). 4. Gianni Lafave (Clover Park). 170: Championship — Kai Olson (Monte) pinned Aydan Costin (Napavine), 1:47. 3. Brenden Chaney (North Beach). 4. Ryan Nelson (Clover Park). 182: Championship — Artimus Johnson (Hoquiam) pinned Jesse Wojcik (Monte), :24. 3. Kenny Cornwell (Monte). 4. Tanner Rossmaier (Monte). 195: Championship — Ezra Miller (Life Christian) pinned Andres Cisneros (Aberdeen), 3:49. 220: Championship — Zach Trujillo (Eatonville) pinned Liam Baxter (Elma), 1:50. 3. Diego Monterroso (Clover Park). 4. Ben Lopez (Monte). 285: Championship — Taylor Rupe (Monte) pinned Skyler Murray (Aberdeen), 7:57. T3. Seth Bridge (North Beach and Favian Rojero (Aberdeen).