Issaquah, Skyline wrestlers each advance eight to Region II meet

Issaquah claimed one individual league championship and three runner up spots Saturday, finishing fourth overall at the KingCo 4A wrestling tournament.

The Eagles earned 165 team points, behind Woodinville (193), Lake Washington (191) and Inglemoor (172).

Jordan Tanner grabbed Issaquah's lone championship at 135 pounds. The senior defeated Woodinville's Brady Olsen with a close 9-7 decision to take the title. Tanner pinned two opponents in the first two rounds of the tournament before earning a 6-2 decision over Inglemoor's Anthony Bratcher in the semifinals.

The Eagles also received second-place finishes from three wrestlers.

Sophomore Max Tickman (103) was undefeated through three matches before getting pinned by Bothell's Chris Ungerecht in 3 minutes, 20 seconds.

Senior Ty Morton (112) also went undefeated through the first three rounds, before falling in a 12-1 decision to Woodinville's Joah Fennell.

Senior Brandon Pearson cruised through his first three matches before falling in 50 seconds to Lake Washington's Dylan Ullery.

The Eagles had four more top-five finishers — all who locked up spots in this weekend's Region II championship's at Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way.

Junior Almen Thorpe (125) placed third at the league meet, junior David White (140) also finished third, as did senior Tyler Volk (171). Junior Sean Novak (135) placed fourth. The Eagles also had two sixth-place finishers who earned alternate spots at the Region II tournament. Taylor Evans (152) and Alex Stevens (189) will get a chance to wrestle if there are any injuries in their weight classes.

The Region II tournament pits the top five placers from KingCo against the top four finishers from South Puget Sound League. The top four wrestlers in each Region II weight class qualify for the state tournament.

Skyline places sixth

Skyline finished sixth overall Saturday with 148.5 team points — just five points behind fifth-place Roosevelt (153.5).

The Spartans received one league championship from senior Anthony DeMatteo. The 215-pounder plowed his way to the championship match with three first-round pins. He followed that up with a 7-1 decision over Redmond's Tyler Black to take the title.

Skyline also earned two runner-up finishes. Junior Collin Ehret (125) and senior Danny Christian (152). Ehret, who earned a bye and won two straight matches, fell in a 8-5 decision to Roosevelt's Bang Zheng for the title. Christianson earned two pins and a technical fall before dropping a 7-2 decision to Newport's Kevin McCant in the title match.

The Spartans advanced five other wrestlers and one alternate on to the Region II tournament.

Sophomore Jerred Kiss (119) and junior Ben Reh (140) both finished in fourth place, while freshman Justin Manipis (103), junior Jordan McCaslin (145) and senior Ryan Adamson (171) all grabbed fifth-place finishes. Freshman Damen Moffitt (285) earned an alternate spot.

Eastlake advances four

Eastlake placed 10th out of 12 teams Saturday with 78 team points.

Senior Trevor McKinnon battled his way to the 160-pound championship match before getting pinned in the second round by Woodinville's Zach Lipana.

Junior Max Benjamin (119) finished third overall and junior Chris Dallas (103) placed fourth overall. Junior Max Boucher (125) finished in sixth place, earning an alternate position in this weekend's Region II tournament.

Eastside Catholic sixth in Metro tourney

Eastside Catholic finished in sixth place at Saturday's Metro Championships with 128 team points.

O'Dea ran away with the title with 279.5 points, while Chief Sealth (174.5), Blachet (173), Ingraham (162) and Bainbridge (159) rounded out the top five spots.

The Crusaders had one individual league champion in 140-pound senior Jake Cowin. He earned two major decisions and a technical fall on his way to a 10-0 decision over Ingraham's David Kahn.

Sophomore Anthony Roy (152) battled all the way to the championship match before falling in a close 9-7 decision to Blachet's Spencer Sherman.

EC advanced four other wrestlers, along with one alternate on to the Regional tournament this weekend at Liberty High School.

Sophomore Drew Beggs (135) finished in third place, senior Connor Summers (275) finished in fourth, junior Mario Salazar (189) finished in fourth and sophomore Denton Garrett (145) placed fifth. Sophomore Tristan Carney (125) earned an alternate spot with a sixth place finish.

Contact Sammamish Reporter Sports Editor Kevin Endejan at kendejan@issaquah-reporter.com or 425-391-0363, ext. 5054.

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