Wrestlers gear up for postseason

In two matches last week, Raider wrestlers used wins to warm up for a a mixer they'll host this weekend in Coulee Dam to settle scores, break ties and meet new opponents.

At Okanogan Jan. 19, and in the Coyote Classic in Kittitas Jan. 23, Raiders wrestled in the final tuneups for the Central Washington South mixer on Saturday, which is where the coaches will decide the district tournament seeding.

At Okanogan, the Raiders wrestled 10 matches, all against the Bulldogs. Five Raiders wrestled two matches each.

Jacob Smith and Tony Nichols both won each of their matches. Each had a technical fall win, which is when one wrestler has a lead of 15 or more points and the match is stopped, as if the victor had just pinned the other wrestler. Trevor Circle also won both of his matches by pin and showed a great improvement in his match skills, Raider Head Coach Steve Hood said.

At Kittitas, four Raiders placed in their weight brackets.

Smith swept the field at 120 pounds for his seventh first-place finish of the season.

At the 106-pound weight class, Kaleb Horn took third place by defeating McCormick of Cle Elum-Roslyn and Zielinski of Almira/Coulee-Hartline.

Tony Nichols moved down to 126 and finished third at Kittitas. He defeated Mellergaard of Ellensburg, Townsend of Ellensburg, and Macgruder of Kittitas, en route to his third-place finish.

Renford Sanchez finished 4th at 220, defeating Coriell of Davenport and Brandon Cate of Omak.

The Raiders will host the Central Washington South League mixer on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Gailord Nelson Gym.

The mixer is for tiebreakers between individuals for seeding purposes and to have teams compete against each other which have not already met this season. Schools scheduled to attend include Warden, Mabton, Kittitas, White Swan, Riverside Christian, and LR.

District wrestling will take place in Warden on Feb. 6.

Matches vs. Okanogan

T.Circle vs. B. Warren, L 11-2maj. dec.

" vs. Gillespie L pin

J. Smith vs. Luther W pin

" vs. B. Warren W 23-4 T-Fall

Nichols vs.Park-Epley W 15-0 T-Fall

" vs. Rumbolz W pin

T. Circle vs. Rumbolz W pin

" vs. Park-Epley W pin

B. Long vs. A. Warren L pin

" vs. Weitman L pin