Grays Harbor Wrestling Championships 12-15-07

Aberdeen showed off its new-found strength in the lower weights in front of the entire county during Saturday’s Grays Harbor Wrestling Championships.

The Bobcats, normally known for their upper-weight strength, packed a big punch in the lower weights, gathering four of their five individual championships in the lower weights to earn the team championship at Sam Benn Gym.

Aberdeen finished with 247 points, 37 more than second-place Hoquiam and 44 more than third-place Elma. Ocosta (141) and Montesano (137) rounded out the top five, with two junior varsity/girls combines sixth and seventh and North Beach eighth.

All six of the schools came away with at least one tournament champion, with Aberdeen topping the list with five.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve been relying upon our heavyweights to pull us through, but our lower weights really picked it up today,” AHS assistant coach Jason Dore said. “All of them are young guys, with just (Jake) Grazioli as a senior. We were expecting them to do well this season, but not to come out like they’ve done so far this year.”

In last Wednesday’s dual meet against Hoquiam at the Hoquiam Square Garden, the Bobcats trailed before winning four of the final five matches — all lower weights — in the 36-30 meet win.

On Saturday, the team title was wrapped up quickly by Aberdeen’s lightweights, with Elma’s Brad Watson preventing Aberdeen from sweeping the lower weights.

The Eagle freshman took on Aberdeen’s Kyle Godfrey, a long-time youth opponent, and grabbed his first county title with a pin at 3 minutes, 46 seconds. Then the Bobcats began their roll — Zach Slyter at 112, Patrick Duffy at 119, Trevor McCullough at 125 and Grazioli at 130 — in quick fashion.

Slyter pinned the only female wrestler to qualify for the finals, Ocosta’s Britnee Grosvenor, at 1:16. Hoquiam’s Kelsey Klein, who finished third at 125, earned the girls’ Wrestler of the Tournament honors.

Ocosta’s John Kealoha earned the Wildcats’ lone tournament title at 135 in a hard-fought contest with Elma’s Canaan Stenek. Kealoha took control of the match midway through, with a third-round takedown establishing enough of a cushion for an 8-5 win.

Mylon Emard picked up Aberdeen’s fifth individual title at 140, defeating Hoquiam’s Randy Sturm, 8-1. The pair met on Wednesday, with Emard winning by a technical fall in that contest.

North Beach’s Joe Marzetta picked up the 145 division title and one of two boys Wrestler of the Tournament honors with a 12-9 win over Hoquiam’s Jordan Harrington.

The duo never allowed the other to take a breath in this championship match and the difference came early in the third period. Marzetta reversed Harrington and got a 2-point near-fall in the process for a 12-6 lead and rode out the match for a 12-9 win.

Montesano’s Brent Phillips won the Bulldogs’ lone title at 189, defeating teammate Mark Baca by pin at 1:05.

Elma’s Nick Watson, Brad’s older brother at 160, was the other boys Wrestler of the Tournament winner. The Watsons, along with Justin Whitney at 215, took home individual titles for the Eagles.

“Overall, we brought our young guys again and performed pretty well, getting six in the finals,” Elma assistant coach Jason Dick said. “We’ve got a lot to improve on, because we’re young, but we’re really happy with what we did. Justin had a great match against Law, who will face each other a few more times this season. Brad and (Godfrey) are going to be facing each other for a long time to come and I’m really proud of Nick and how far he’s come from last season.”

Hoquiam’s Joel Veloni, who survived a body slam to the head in his match with Elma’s Daniel Lillie at 152, won tournament titles with teammates Justin Krzmarzick (171) and Jeremy Foulds (heavyweight) for the Grizzlies.

“We’re all getting better,” HHS coach Russ Skolrood said. “This year’s tournament was good, with not as many kids going away (to other tournaments) as they did last year. Everyone was a full strength, so that makes it fun. I’m happy for (Jeremy) Foulds, who came through a very tough bracket. I’m also very impressed with Kelsey Klein coming through to take third.”

Grays Harbor Championships

At Sam Benn Gym

Team: Aberdeen 247, Hoquiam 210, Elma 203, Ocosta 141, Montesano 137, Grays Harbor 1041/2, Grays Harbor 2 69, North Beach 58.

103 — 1. Brad Watson (E) pinned Kyle Godfrey (A), 3:46. 3. Luke Boyer (E). 4. Joe Vessey (GH2). 5 Jesse Brogran (M). 6. Brett Pioretti (H). 112 — 1. Zach Slyter (A) pinned Britnee Grosvenor (O), 1:16. 3. Scott Vessey (H). 4. Nick Berndt (GH). 5. Kelsey Sund (GH2). 119 — 1. Patrick Duffy (A) pinned Jeremey Klahn (E), 4:29. 3. Ricky Rowell (H). 4. Mike Berry (M). 5. Alicia Garcia (GH2). 6. Timmy Ashlock (GH). 125 — 1. Trevor McCullough (A) tech. fall over Travis Vasconcelles (M), 16-0 (4:54). 3. Kelsey Klein (H). 4. Ty Ridout (GH2). 5. Gabe Lamb (O). 6. Lexi Joyce (NB). 130 — 1. Jake Grazioli (A) dec. Dillon Ford (M), 6-0. 3. Paul Mirante (O). 4. Alex White (H). 5. Shane McDougal (E). 6. Buddy Spencer (GH). 135 — 1. John Kealoha (O) dec. Canaan Stenek (E), 8-5. 3. Tanner Martin (A). 4. Christian Mudgett (M). 5. Kolby Holmes (H). 6. Andy Smith (NB). 140 — 1. Mylon Emard (A) dec. Randy Sturm (H), 8-1. 3. Josh Dierick (E). 4. Kevin Acdal (O). 5. Kenneth Kautzman (GH). 6. Brett Boyer (GH).

145 — 1. Joe Marzetta (NB) dec. Jordan Harrington (H), 12-9. 3. Derek Harris (GH). 4. Bobby Channell (O). 5. Kody Bensinger (E). 6. Dylan Taylor (A). 152 — 1. Joel Veloni (H) dec. Daniel Lillie (E), 5-3. 3. Cory Bachmeier (O). 4. Jared Moore (A). 5. Josh Sharp (NB). 6. Jason Franks (M). 160 — 1. Nick Watson (E) dec. Alex Bowley (O), 4-0. 3. Garrett Whitney (E). 4. Alex Bratt (H). 5. Chris Vanderveer (M). 6. Landon Morse (A). 171 — 1. Justin Krzmarzick (H) pinned Brit Coverdale (A), 2:47. 3. Mike Bowe (E). 4. Anthony Elders (GH). 5. Wilson Hiner (M). 6. Matt Simpson (GH2). 189 — 1. Brent Phillips (M) pinned Mark Baca (GH), 1:05. 3. Jaymes Dietz (A). 4. Casey Felder (E). 5. Kylie Wilson (H). 215 — 1. Justin Whitney (E) pinned William Law (H), 5:00. 3. Sawyer Smith (A). 4. Jake Tarrence (GH2). 5. Ira Alefteras (M). 6. Armando Lugo (NB). HWY — 1. Jeremy Foulds (H) dec. Kyle Strode (O), 4-3. 3. Ben Seath (A). 4. Matt Combs (M). 5. Nick Poplin (NB). 6. Sean Gurnard (E).