Raider wrestlers trying to find their groove

LR Wrestling returned from winter break with a mix-and-match at Chelan last Thursday against the Goats, Brewster and Pateros.

The Raiders wrestled tough and competitive against all the teams present, Head Coach Steve Hood said, but Chelan provided an exceptional challenge.

But that challenge was, Hood said, “the kind of competition needed right now.” Freshman Daniel Loch, wrestling at 132 pounds, won his first match of the season against Giovoni Reyes of Chelan in a 4-2 decision.

Kodie Horn came back from a disappointing third round to win a 9-7 decision in overtime at 132 against Julio Vera of Chelan.

Skye Gooler posted a pin for the Raiders against Victor Flores of Chelan in the second round after racking up a 10-3 lead.

Oscar Pakootas posted a solid 9-4 win over Jamie Mendez of Pateros.

On Saturday, the Raiders travelled to Warden for the Jeremiah Schmunk Invitational where LR finished sixth in a field of 10 teams.

The Raiders earned a second place, a third, three fourths, and three sixths in the tourney.

Orrin Gross was the second-place finisher at 145. Gross won his first two matches by pin before losing to Robert Orozco of Connell by a 13-9 decision.

Third-place winner Sean Waters wrestled at 170 pounds, pulling himself up to win his next two matches by pins after an early loss to Justin King of Colfax by pin. Levi Seylor began to regain his wrestling poise at Warden, Hood noted, where Seylor finished fourth at 195.

Oscar Pakootas showed strong gains in form and intensity as he won some tough matches against Tim Frazier of Tonasket and Oscar Oritiz of Connell to finish fourth at 106. Nick Gleason won over Quinn Mirick of Tonasket 20-9 and pinned Dalton McNeilly of Colfax to finish fourth at 160.

Horn had a difficult day, ending up sixth at 126, but posted a win over league competitor Justin McMillian of Liberty Bell, 5-3. Freshmen Coltin Williams and Daniel Loch finished sixth at 120 and 132 respectively.

The girls did not have enough competitors for a true bracket, so they wrestled round robins at their respective weight classes. Alexa Hanway wrestled at 100 pounds and won all three of her matches for the day by pin. Rachel Dick went 2-1 on the day at 124. Hood was impressed with the girls’ performance and the drive the girls showed in their matches.

The Raiders are looking to find the mid-season groove where the skills and techniques are refined and the competition remains tough to temper them for the run at the Tacoma Dome in February.

This Saturday, the boys travel across the Cascades to Rainier for the Rainier Tournament, with matches starting at 9:30 a.m. The tournament is a large one with true 16-man brackets and is a majority 1A, 2A competition.

The girls will travel down to Royal City for the Royal Rumble, which starts at 10 a.m.