7 defending WA champs lead contingent of 164 Tri-Cities area wrestlers to state

Last Saturday at the Class 3A-4A regional wrestling tournament at Hanford High School, Chiawana senior Alanna Haney paced patiently back and forth before her championship match, earbuds playing the Christian rock band Skillet.

Then she calmly went out and pinned her opponent, Richland’s Kyndra Casias, in 2 minutes and 18 seconds.

The win gave Haney the following: a 43-1 record at 140 pounds this year, another Class 4A regional title, and another mention as an overwhelming favorite to win a second state championship at this weekend’s Mat Classic on Friday and Saturday in the Tacoma Dome.

Haney is one of 164 Mid-Columbia wrestlers who will compete for a state championship in what is now seven different tournaments. The number of girls is big enough that the WIAA moved to split the girls tournament into two — Class 3A-4A, and Class 2A-1A-2B-1B.

Casias can find solace in that she got into the second round against Haney, who won the girls 135-pound title last year as a junior. Not many of Haney’s opponents have gotten out of the first round with her this season.

“Everyone is telling me about the girls who get past the first round with me,” said Haney. “Not every match is going to be perfect. But I’ve got to keep that in mind. It’s humbling.”

Haney is one of seven area wrestlers who are trying to win another state title.

The others are Southridge’s Jacob Chapa (3A boys 106), Sunnyside’s Alejandro Fernandez (4A boys 132), Hermiston’s Jaxson Gribskov (3A boys 182), Hanford’s Jake Hubby (4A boys 138), Chiawana’s Isaiah Medina (4A boys 113), and Royal’s Alondra Morales (girls 140 pounds).

All of them but Fernandez have moved up at least one weight class this year.

Here’s a look at what happened at last weekend’s regionals and this weekend’s state event outlook:

4A boys

Sunnyside’s boys rolled to victory in the team title last Saturday at Hanford, scoring 280.5 points and ahead of runnerup Chiawana’s 242.5 points.

That means that Sunnyside has to be the favorite this coming week to dethrone Chiawana as state 4A champs. The Riverhawks had won the 4A state team title the past three events in Tacoma.

The Grizzlies are bringing 15 wrestlers to state, and four of them — Mateo Armendariz (285), Fernandez (132), David Gutierrez (182) and Jayden Jasso (106) — won regional titles.

Chiawana’s first-year head coach, Manny Plata, believes that while Sunnyside might be favored to win the team title, the Riverhawks still have a chance for a four-peat.

Chiawana qualified 12 wrestlers for state, including four who won regional titles. Medina won at 113 pounds, Daeton Johnson (who lost to Medina last year in the state finals) won at 126. Jordan Tobias (138) and Lane Hedrick (220) also were champs.

“(As a defending state champion), I have to stay on my toes,” said Medina. “There are no days off during the week. And our practice room really is great. My practice partners are the toughest competitors I have.”

Johnson agrees.

“There is a lot of trust in the room,” said Johnson. “It’s the toughest workout room in Washington. And there is a lot of leadership in there. I think we can repeat as team champions if all of our wrestlers do the best they can to their ability.”

Hanford’s super trio of Hubby (152), Caden Wilson (160) and Eli Perkes (170) all took regional crowns.

Hubby says the three of them have that goal to win individual titles.

“Every single day, we go hard,” said Hubby. “Some days it’s fun. Some days it’s not. We all have our individual goals. But we want to build our culture of Hanford wrestling back up — like the girls program program has had here.”

Other winners were Kamiakin’s Antonio Nicacio at 145 pounds, and Richland’s Saul Salinas — who took the 120-pound title after not wrestling for three years.

“I had grade problems, and there was the COVID year,” said Salinas, who came to Richland from Moses Lake. “I’m just working for that state title.”

“What he’s done with being sidelined for three years,” said Bombers coach John Nicacio, “it’s unheard of.

4A boys state qualifiers

Chiawana (12) — Judah Bishop (170), Landon Bolson (220), Tayten Cissne (152), Zachariah Delgado (145), Lane Hedrick (220), Por Htoo (113), Daeton Johnson (126), Isaiah Medina (113), Anthony Pina (106), Adrian Shima (120), Jordan Tobias (138), Mason Tovar (160).

Hanford (4) — Josh Henning (182), Jake Hubby (152), Eli Perkes (170), Caden Wilson (160).

Kamiakin (2) — Carlos Kisokwa (138), Antonio Nicacio (145).

Pasco (1) — Alexander Barajas (132).

Richland (2) — Melvin Kreitzer (195), Saul Salinas (120).

Sunnyside (15) — Luke Almaguer (285), Mateo Armendariz (285), Kael Campos (170), Alejandro Fernandez (132), Zaiden Gonzalez (106), Emmanuel Gurrola (182), David Gutierrez (182), Jayden Jasso (106), Bryan Madrigal (126), William Madrigal (113), Edwin Puga (170), John Rendon (160), Mesiah Valdez (126), Samuel Valencia (113), Christopher Villanueva (145).

3A boys

Hermiston qualified 12 wrestlers at the Juanita regional to finish second in the team race to Mead.

Among those Bulldogs qualifying are four individual champions — Aiden Favorite (120), Gribskov (182), Ben Larson (170) and Isaac Ramirez Ruiz (126). Favorite is now 30-4.

Southridge’s Chapa improved his record to 40-5 and won the 113-pound title. He’ll be joined by teammate Trevor Hoopes, a 285-pound champion.

Walla Walla’s Mateo Caso won the 152-pound crown, improving to 40-4.

3A boys state qualifiers

Hermiston (12) — Carlos Cervantes (106), Dominic Echeverria (285), Aiden Favorite (120), Daniel Garza (138), Jaxson Gribskov (182), Grayson Hendon (152), Benjamin Larson (170), Isaac Ramirez Ruiz (126), Jacoby Rodriguez (113), Jaysen Rodriguez (132), Jeshiah Tejeda Garza (126), Tama Tuia (170).

Kennewick (3) — Kael Ball (160), Jonathan Jefferson (152), Jaden Lopez (182).

Southridge (4) — Jacob Chapa (113), Quinton Ellison (138), Trevor Hoopes (285), Eli Sepulveda (120).

Walla Walla (3) — Mateo Caso (152), Carter O’Dell (160), Jon Smith (285).

3A-4A girls

Moses Lake won the regional team title at Hanford, scoring 161.5 points. Hermiston was second at 130, while Davis and Sunnyside tied for third at 104.

Moses Lake should be a favorite in the state team race, as the Mavericks grabbed three regional titles.

Sunnyside grabbed two regional crowns, leading with Alexxus Ramos at 110. She’s now 29-1. Her teammate, Adelina Valencia, won at 100 pounds.

Other local regional champs were: Kennewick’s Navaeh Vogtman (135), Richland’s Erin Kremer at 170 (and now 30-5), and Hermiston’s Hadley White at 190, and teammates at 235 Tutaitaga Sepeni and Lindsey Perkins — who have taken turns on consecutive weekends of going 1-2 in the finals.

3A/4A girls state qualifiers

Chiawana (2) — Alanna Haney (140), Alexia Fabian (105).

Hanford (4) — Jessa Duggan (115), Dayna Enderlin (140), Rebecca Grijalva (235), Makenzie Shupe (115).

Hermiston (6) — Elena Flores (135), Desirae Juarez (130), Laura Meyers (155), Lindsey Perkins (235), Tutaitag Sepeni (235), Hadley White (190).

Kamiakin (3) — Helena Jansky (190), Hailey Schroeder (140), Tenaciou Villasenor (155).

Kennewick (4) — Jamie Hoffman (110), Jaylee Lopez (170), Vanessa Robles (130), Nevaeh Vogtman (135).

Pasco (3) — Elisa Sanchez (105), Justice Sanchez (120), Natalia Tovar (100).

Richland (5) — Kyndra Casias (140), Savannah Dufault (115), Portia Harker (145), Erin Kremer (170), Amy Ordaz (235).

Southridge (1) — Lexi Gideon (125).

Sunnyside (5) —Delilah Chavez (135), Jeanette Cortes (190), Viviana Daniel (130), Alexxus Ramos (110), Adelina Valencia (100).

Walla Walla (1) — Kylie Whitaker (120).

2A boys

Othello dominated the CWAC regional, scoring 240.5 team points, and the Huskies will send 11 wrestlers to Tacoma.

They will include 120-pound regional champ Mason Russell, and four other guys who went 1-2 in the weight classes: Isaac Campos and Daniel Gonzalez at 113 pounds, and Terrill Freeman and Josue Solorio at 195.

Grandview’s Evan Benitez raised his season record to 32-0 after he beat Othello’s Anthony Abundiz at 126 pounds. Greyhounds teammate Anthony Ramos won a title at 220, while Grandview’s Julian Sanchez was second at 138.

Prosser’s Neo Medrano won a regional title at 182, and he has a good chance at winning a state title.

2A boys state qualifiers

Grandview (3) — Evan Benitez (126), Anthony Ramos (220), Julian Sanchez (138).

Othello (11) — Anthony Abundiz (126), Isaac Campos (113), Terrill Freeman (195), Christopher Garcia (106), Brandon Garza (182), Daniel Gonzalez (113), Alexander Mendez (132), Camilo Mendez III (145), Forrest Roylance (138), Mason Russell (120), Josue Solorio (195).

Prosser (4) — Abel Acosta (120), Alex Anderson (160), Jacob Thom Marks (285), Nehemiah Medrano (182).

1A boys

Toppenish is expected to dominate as a team again this year. Last weekend, they compiled 429.5 points in the regional tournament.

But there are some gentlemen from our area who could do well at state, starting with Connell’s Jordan Mendez, who won the 120-pound regional title.

Four others placed second and have great chances of a podium finish: Connell’s Jackson Forsyth (220) and Adrian Magana (182); Kiona-Benton’s Keeven Gifford (145); and Royal’s Dennis Hernandez (113).

1A boys state qualifiers

College Place (3) — Parker Hodgen (182), Ethan Parker (160), Andrei Smith (195).

Connell (4) — Jackson Forsyth (220), Adrian Magana (182), Jordan Mendez (120), Eliuth Serra (113).

Kiona-Benton (1) — Keeven Gifford (145).

Royal (2) — Aram Garnick (170), Dennis Hernandez (113).

Wahluke (2) — Josue Mendoza (126), Anthony Zebrano (220).

1B/2B boys

With Tonasket, Granger and Warden in this region, anyone who makes it through to state has a legitimate shot at a title.

Only Warden’s Angel Cruz brought home a regional title, at 132 pounds.

But seven other area wrestlers placed second in their weight class: Warden’s Gio Castro (106), Anthony Contreras (285), and Valentin Juarez (195); Columbia-Burbank’s Devin Boone (126) and Carter Katz (113); Mabton’s Isaac Rodriguez (120); and River View’s Birch Verdino (182).

1B/2B state qualifiers

Columbia-Burbank (4) — Devin Boone (126), Jon Brooks (106), Carter Katz (113), Travis Sloan (220).

Lind-Ritzville (2) — Gabe Smith (195), Brock Tracy (285).

Mabton (2) — Isaac Rodriguez (120), Austin Tzib (170).

River View (2) — Hans Miles (220), Birch Verdino (182).

Wahluke (1) — Malachi Taylor (132).

Warden (7) — Manny Canales (120), Gio Castro (106), Anthony Contreras (285), Angel Cruz (132), Michael Gonzalez (120), Israel Hernandez (145), Valentin Juarez (195).

2A-1A-2B-1B girls

The Mid-Columbia had teams in two regionals — 3 and 4.

Toppenish rolled to the team title in Region 3, and Warden’s Jada Hernandez took the 115-pound title. She now has a 41-4 record.

Meanwhile, Royal won the Region 4 team title.

Three local wrestlers — Lind-Ritzville’s Myra Miller (190), Royal’s Morales (145), and Wahluke’s Jocelyn Perez (110) — took regional crowns. Morales enters the state tournament with a 31-1 record.

2A-1A-2B-1B state qualifiers

Connell (2) — MiKaydi Hokanson (190), Leah Steele (145).

Grandview (2) — Ashley Cruz-Bustamante (135), Ihanna Perez (190).

Lind-Ritzville (2) — Emilia Klewin (155), Myra Miller (190).

Othello (6) — Alejandria Espindola (235), Thalia Gallegos (170), Lucy Giles (135), Kiara Haertling (145), Nayeli Leal (140), Elia Velazquez (190).

Prosser (2) — Leslie Gutierrez (235), Selena Martinez (155).

Royal (5) — Sharon Arroyo (100), Lauren Jenks (130), Alondra Morales (145), Brianna Quintero (130), Emma Villa (170).

Wahluke (3) — Mariangela Gonzalez (145), Lilian Hale (155), Jocelyn Perez (110).

Warden (2) — Jada Hernandez (115), Brianalee Martinez (110).

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.