Three of six LR placers take first at wrestling district

The Raider wrestlers came home satisfied from Saturday’s district tournaments in Liberty Bell and Warden, where all six competing wrestlers placed, three as the district champions. From there, all six move on to the regional tournament.

The boys’ district tournament was held in Liberty Bell, and the girls’ in Warden.

Champion of the 113-pound weight class, Raider Kaleb Horn defeated Austin Brock of Tonasket by pin, then defeated Dawson Bretz, also of Tonasket, 9-6, to secure the first-place spot. Bretz had defeated Horn just last week in the league mix & match.

Raider Tony Nichols took the championship at 138, defeating Austin Rimestad of Tonasket 8-3 then Vance Fraizer, also of Tonasket, 6-2. Fraizer had defeated Nichols just last week.

In Warden, Raider Ida Sue became champion of the 145 weight class after defeating Mariah Deleon of Othello 13-10 and pinning Wahluke’s Abby Yorgesen late in the third period. Sue came from behind for both victories. Yorgesen had defeated Sue earlier in the season, which means that all three Raider champions got there by defeating opponents who had previously defeated them.

Wrestling at 195, Steven Flowers came back in the third period to defeat Brandon Baugher of Tonasket, 6-5. Flowers then lost 18-5 to Tonasket’s Isaac Gomez, to take the second-place spot.

Raiders Jon Shelly and Taylor Circle both wrestled in at 120. Shelly lost 13-11 to Reilan Bretz of Tonasket, then pinned Mike Lewis of Oroville. Circle also defeated Lewis 12-1 before losing 16-1 to Devin Walton of Tonasket, who would go on to take first. Then Shelly and Circle wrestled each other, and Shelly got the pin, the win, and the third-place spot. Circle took fourth.

“We had a very successful weekend,” said Raider Head Coach Steve Hood. “Every one of them wrestled up to their potential. We’re still on the journey. There aren’t any easy matches from here on out, not that those were.”

For this Saturday’s regional tournaments, the boys will compete in Tonasket Feb. 11, at 10 a.m., while Sue will compete in the girl’s tournament in Wahluke.