Wrestling off to good start

Raider wrestlers started their season Dec. 5 at the Okanogan Jamboree.

They wrestled against many area schools, with all nine Raiders wrestling in three matches apiece. Most came away with two wins, but James Monaghan swept the field, winning all three of his matches.

The Raiders took the same nine wrestlers to Davenport for the 23rd Annual Davenport Invitational Dec. 7. LR tied with Freeman for seventh overall in the tournament at 77 points. Kittitas took first with 123 team points.

LR had three entered at 126 pounds: Coltin Williams, James Monaghan, and Zack Erickson. Erickson wrestled Ayden Heo of Northwest Christian first, losing by a 8-1 decision. Erickson then had to Wrestle teammate Williams as he lost his first match to Steven McNeilly of Freeman 4-2.

Williams defeated Erickson in a first-round pin, then defeated Joe Peterson of Wilbur-Creston/Keller 9-4. Williams' next opponent was another teammate - Monaghan.

Monaghan won his first match against Anthony Scotto of Riverside by a first round pin. Then Monaghan lost to the tourney champ Kain Feltwell of Liberty-Spangle by a third round pin. Monaghan was tied with Feltwell 4-all when Feltwell took advantage of a small hole to get the pin. Monaghan defeated Williams 13-3 to set up a third/fourth match against McNeilly of Freeman. Monaghan won by the score of 6-3 to take home third place.

At 132 LR had two entered, Oscar Pakootas and Scott Abrahamson. Pakootas defeated Liam Doloughan of Freeman 7-1, and Kaleb Hafner of Liberty-Spangle 6-2. In the championship match, Pakootas faced Jose Marin of Kittitas who took fourth at state last year after losing to Pakootas. This time Marin had the upper hand as he defeated Pakootas 4-0. Pakootas finished second.

Abrahamson took on Isiaha Crane in his first high school wrestling match. Crane was a sub at state 1A last season. Abrahamson wrestled tough but Crane came away with the win 5-3. Next for Abrahamson was Charlie Ericson of Riverside. Abrahamson picked up his first win of the season defeating Ericson 8-2, then lost to Kaleb Hafner a State B participant from Liberty-Spangle.

At 145, Raider Josh Jim took on Stephon Robinson of Oroville in his first match. Robinson won by first-round pin. Jim then had to take on Brandon Hartill of Riverside. Hartill won by first-round pin.

Kodie Horn opened the 2013-14 season, taking first overall at 152. Head Coach Steve Hood said, "Kodie Horn had a great first tourney of the season, he was in control the entire time." Horn defeated both Brandon Campbell of Freeman and Johan Hernadez of Pateros by first-round pins. In the championship match Horn took on Michael Sims of Reardan who was a state alternate last season. Coach Hood spoke on this match saying, "Horn beat a tough guy to score on period." Horn defeat Sims 6-2 for the championship.

Teddy Sharr returns to Raider wrestling after a two-year absence to take up the 195-pound spot. At Davenport, Sharr lost a close match to Carney of Kittitas 9-7, then picked up an injury default from Oroville and defeated Kameron Danforth of Davenport in the third/fourth match 5-4. Hood was impressed by the fighting spirit Sharr displayed to take third place in a tough match.

Tristan Goss rounded out the day for the Raiders by taking fourth at 285. Goss lost his first match to Hieko Birko of Reardan by first-round pin. Joe Luback of Newport defearted Goss in the third/fourth match.

"We gained good experience to build on in practice for the next tournament," Hood said of the tournament.

Coaches Hood and Largent look to get more wrestlers eligible and have strong practices to prep for the tough schedule coming up.

Last night the Raiders wrestled perennial state contender Warden. Tomorrow the Raiders host a mixer match with Chelan, Brewster, Pateros, Oroville, and Wilbur-Creston in attendance. The matches start at 6 p.m. at Gailord Nelson Gym.

On Saturday, the Raiders will travel south for the Connell Tournamentto face tough competition from the 1A South Central Athletic Conference, Caribou Trail League, and Central Washington 2A schools. Matches start at 10 a.m. at Connell High School.