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News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area
Raider team finished sixth
Octavio Alejandre dominates his opponent in the finals to take the 2B state championship at 285 pounds Saturday in Tacoma. - Sandy Hood photos
Oscar Pakootas handles an opponent Friday night on his way to taking third at state in the 132-pound bracket.
Jacob Smith breaks down his Ocosta opponent 12-8 Friday morning before advancing to take fourth at state at 113.
Raider Wrestling made a great showing at the state tournament with all three wrestlers placing. Octavio Alejandre took the state championship at 285 pounds. Oscar Pakootas took third at 132, and Jacob Smith fourth at 113. Lake Roosevelt as a team finished sixth in the B leaderboard with 43 points.
Alejandre started his tournament on Friday with a win, Alejandre pinning his nemesis, Mark Dituri of May Walker-Springdale, to set up a match with Mikey Hernandez of Warden.
Alejandre's 4-2 win over Hernandez pitted him in a finals match against Chad Edwards of Tonasket. Edwards could not score, and Alejandre won 3-0, earning his place among a select group of Raider state champions.
Oscar Pakootas also started his day on Friday with a win. Pakootas pinned Riki Thompson of Ilwaco to set up a match against two-time state champ Kain Feltwell of Liberty-Spangle. Feltwell was able to score just enough to defeat Pakootas, 8-6. Pakootas went on a roll after the defeat, pinning Shane Kennamer of Darrington to set up a 3rd-4th match with his first round opponent, Thompson. Pakootas again defeated Thompson, 5-0, to come home with the bronze at 132, finishing his successful Raider wrestling career.
Jacob Smith, at 113 pounds, defeated his first opponent, Kobe Christian of Ocosta, 12-8, to advance. Justin Chantry of Selkirk was Smith's next opponent. Chantry and Smith were close, but Smith could not score and Chantry came away with the win 4-0. Chantry would go on to win the State B 113.
Smith needed to come back and win to have a chance at placing. He did just that, pinning Sam Quinby of Ocosta. That set him against a familiar opponent, Adrian Tapia of Warden, to wrestle for third or fourth. Smith was able to score the one extra point to defeat Smith, 2-1. Smith came home with a fourth-place finish and a hunger to go back to the Mat Classic and take home a gold.
Next year, Smith and the team's returners, along with the newcomers, will strive to again send more wrestlers to state. The Raiders also hope to have enough turnout to be able to duel league opponents.
Top 8 teams for State B
Warden 118.5
Reardan 72
Liberty Bell 65.5
Tonasket 65.5
Republic 46
LR 43
Selkirk 42
Ilwaco 37
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