Wrestlers have three good outings

Raider wrestling had a rare three-contest week, travelling to Wilbur, Okanogan, and Royal City.

The first match of the week was at Wilbur Jan. 14 for a mixer against Wilbur-Creston, Republic, Almira-Coulee-Hartline, and Lakeside. The Raiders went 10-6 on the night with many wrestlers picking up wins.

The second match of the week as a dual at Okanogan Jan. 16. James Monaghan, Coltin Williams, Jesse Louie, Kodie Horn, and Octavio Alejandre posted wins over Bulldogs.

Alejandre was pleased with his win and said he looked to build off it for the post season.

Horn’s opponent is the 160 pounder for the Bulldogs, Horn defeated him in a 5-1 decision.

At the Royal Rumble, LR faced stiff competition from Basin schools. The eight wrestlers who made the trip were not frazzled by the big schools as six took home ribbons.

Coaches Steve Hood and Lee Largent agreed that Jesse Louie wrestled his best match of the season thus far in his loss to the eventual 145-pound second-place wrestler.

Horn came home from Royal City as the 152-pound champion.

Looking back on the week as a whole, Hood said it was three good outings that were followed by great practices, which makes the team on the whole better equipped for the post season.

“We went up against different styles that we have not seen yet; this at first gave us troubles,” Hood said. “After discovering what we needed to work on to counter these styles, the team went back to work in the mat room, improving themselves to be ready for the next match or tournament.”

On Saturday the wrestlers travel to East Valley High School for the Dream Duals. LR will start wrestling around 1 p.m. and will take on Selkirk, Mary Walker (Springdale), and Northwest Christian in dual matches.

An Othello boys’ JV-girls’ tournament earlier in the week was cancelled.

vs Okanogan

126 James Monaghan def. Menchaca 12-2

126 Zach Erickson lost to Prescott pin 1:01; loss to Menchaca pin 1:11

126 Coltin Williams def. Super 10-2, def. Prescott 6-4

132 Oscar Pakootas lost to Moses 8-4

138 Gabe Moses lost to Hamilton, pin 3:25; lost to Moses, pin 1:38

145 Jesse Louie lost to Eastridge 9-4; def. Weitman, pin 1:27

145 Dwight Belgarde lost to Weigel 7-2; loss to Hamilton, pin 1:24

152 Kodie Horn def. Ranck 5-1

182 Teddy Sharr lost to Warren, pin 1:27; lost to Mintzer, DQ

285 Octavio Alejandre def. Acord, pin 3:35

at Royal Rumble

120 James Monaghan 4th

126 Coltin Williams 2nd

126 Zach Erickson DNP

132 Oscar Pakootas 2nd

138 Gabe Moses 3rd

138 Dwight Belgarde DNP

145 Jesse Louie 3rd

152 Kodie Horn Champion