LR Wrestlers take fifth in state

Raider wrestlers completed another successful Mat Classic by finishing fifth overall in the state tournament in Tacoma last weekend. Of the five Raiders in the B classification competition, three came home with medals.

Kodie Horn joins an elite group of Raider wrestlers as the State B 145-pound champion for 2014.Horn defeated all his opponents by pin to make it nine straight pins in the postseason that included sub-regional and regional 145-pound championships to end his senior season.

"Kodie Horn has been wrestling since he was 5 and put in time at camps and extra practice in the mat room to reach this point," Head Raider Coach Steve Hood said.

James Monaghan won his first two matches at 120 to set himself up with a chance at a state title. In the championship match Monaghan faced Trent Skelton of Liberty Bell.

Hood said Monaghan had worked hard at practice, making a plan on how to wrestle Skelton. In the match Monaghan wrestled to the plan and it was a close match, Hood said, but Skelton came away the victor. Monaghan came home with a silver medal and a new drive to go back and take the gold.

Octavio Alejandre came back from an injury default in his first match to win third place at 285. Alejandre defeated Diturti of Springdale by decision before winning the bronze medal match. Alejandre has placed at two Mat Classics and will be hungry for the gold next year. Hood said he is proud of how Alejandre came back from the loss, restating his goals for the tournament to place.

Coltin Williams and Oscar Pakootas each went 1-2 for the tournament and did not place. Both faced tough wrestlers and even though they wrestled hard the other guy was able to score more points. It was the second state tournament for each of them, and the experience will aid them as they prep for another state run next year.

Hood now looks to the off season issues, such as the changes next season will bring for Raider wrestling. Leagues may change, there might be an extra regional tournament, and the B tournament might be increased from an eight-man bracket to 16 like the other classifications.

Another change that coaches Hood and Lee Largent support is an amendment to do away with the season match count of 33 matches for a 16-outing limit. This would help teams by allowing the wrestlers to take part in all outings and gain more practical experience for the future. More information will be available in the coming months to these questions.

120 James Monaghan def. Ian Bowen of Napavine 9-0; pinned Jordan Smith of Oroville in 4:36; lost to Trent Skelton of Liberty Bell 7-3.

126 Coltin Williams lost to Luke Stacey of Wahkiakum 22-8; def. Shane Kennamer of Darrington 9-5; lost to Jose Kike Marin of Kittitas 5-2.

132 Oscar Pakootas def. David Stone of Tacoma Baptist 15-4; lost to J.D. Gallegos of Kittitas 5-2; lost to Tony Raupp of Winlock 14-8.

145 Kodie Horn pinned Michael Sims of Reardan in 5:33; pinned Jacob McMillan of Liberty Bell in 3:15; pinned Mason Mackey of Wahkiakum in 2:34.

285 Octavio Alejandre lost by injury default to Jacob Klingensmith of Republic; pinned Daniel Helman of Ocosta in 1:52, def. Mark Dituri of Mary Walker-Springdale 5-0; pinned Tristan Newman of Waitsburg-Prescott in 3:16.