Photo by Terry Mills
EPHRATA – Despite wrestling without seniors Jared Stedtfeld and Ryker Marchand, the Tonasket wrestling team earned a runner-up finish at the Ephrata wrestling tournament on Saturday, Dec. 10.
With Stedtfeld and Marchand, Tonasket’s only two seniors, fulfilling a National Guard commitment, the Tigers had eight wrestlers earn top four medals.
Collin Aitcheson, Christian Diaz and Austin Booker each won their weight class. John Rawley placed second, while Tim Frazier, Jeff Stedtfeld and Dalton Wahl took third place and Frank Holfelz was fourth.
Joel Cosino, Tanner Good and Dyllan Walton didn’t place but won matches to score team points.
“Austin Knowlton and Quinn Mirick each helped our cause by wrestling up a weight class so we didn’t have to forfeit two weight classes,” said Tonasket coach Dave Mitchell.
The Tigers also had a number of wrestlers compete in the JV mixer at Ephrata, as well as at another mixer at Oroville on Friday night.
Levan Sabakhtorashavik, an exchange student from the Democratic Republic of Georgia, won all of his matches Friday and Saturday, as did Caleb Lofthus. Marwin Baron, another exchange student (Germany) went 4-1 while Travis Deggeller, Esgar Mendez, Morgan O’Brien and Ethan Knowlton also competed.
The Tigers had a dual meet Wednesday, Dec. 13, at Liberty Bell, then travel to Couer d’Alene, Idaho, for the 40th annual Tri-State Wrestling Invitational.
Oroville places third of 10 at Okanogan invite
OKANOGAN – The Oroville wrestling team is gradually building to full strength, and as more of its squad becomes healthy and eligible, so have the Hornets’ fortunes.
Oroville traveled to Okanogan on Saturday, Dec. 10, and placed third at the Bulldogs’ Invitational tournament. Other teams at the tourney included WCK, Almira-Coulee/Hartline, Omak’s JV, Brewster, Pateros, Kittitas, Liberty Bell and Republic.
“Losing two kids to bus calls really hurt our team’s chances of winning the tournament,” said Oroville coach Chuck Ricevuto. “Nevertheless the remaining wrestlers performed well.”
Alex Kelly (138), Eddie Ocampo (145), Alex Alvarez (152) and Eric Herrera (285) all advanced to the finals of their weight classes, while Duke Sykes (170) had a 5-2 lead get away in a 6-5 semifinal loss.
Kaylee Harris (155), one of three girls on the Hornets’ roster, pinned her opponent in her first ever match before losing to a more experienced opponent in her second bout.
Angel Camacho (145) wrestled a pair of exhibitions as his weight class was filled, but pinned both his opponents. Freshman Leo Curiel and first-year junior Cory Childers (138) wrestled well, Ricevuto said.
The Hornets were at Okanogan on Tuesday for a mixer with the Bulldogs and Lake Roosevelt and travel to the Springdale Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 17.
Hornets solid in non-league mixer
OROVILLE – The Hornets hosted a non-league mix-and-match night Friday, Dec. 9, with Pateros and JV squads from Tonasket and Ephrata.
Michael Ripley (120) recorded two pins and Alvarez (152) rung up a pair of technical falls. Ocampo (145), Camacho (145), Sykes (170) and Herrera (285) all had pins and Alex Kelly won by major decision.
Ricevuto added that juniors Childers (138), Alex Lopez-Smith (220) and Curiel (132) wrestled tough for the Hornets.
Tonasket 60, Oroville 21
TONASKET – Tonasket handed Oroville a 60-21 defeat in a dual on Wednesday, Dec. 8, in no small part due to 36 points given away by the shorthanded Hornets in forfeits.
On the mat, the Tigers got wins from Frank Holfelz (220), Collin Aitcheson (120), Ryker Marchand (132) and Austin Booker (170).
Oroville’s wins were by Herrera (285), Kelly (138), Ocampo (145) and Alvarez (152).
Tonasket’s forfeit wins were awarded to Tim Frazier (106), Jared Stedtfeld (113), Jeff Stedtfeld (126), Travis Degeller (160), Quinn Mirick (182) and John Rawley (195).
