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Eagles fly away with tourney title
-- Feb. 6, 2000
By Rick Anderson
Daily World sports editor
ELMA - Montesano had the edge in family matters, but Elma nevertheless ruled the mat in the Subdistrict 2A wrestling tournament Saturday at Elma.
Winning three individual titles and advancing a staggering 14 to district, the Eagles waltzed away with team honors in the Evergreen League tourney.
With Nathan Skuza, Danny Ireland and Jamie Rakevich winning their classifications, Elma finished with 3091Ú2 points for a surprisingly lopsided 631Ú2 point margin over runner-up Hoquiam.
The Grizzlies received titles from Adam Calica and Justin Larsson and qualified 10 for the district meet next Saturday at Castle Rock.
Montesano produced a tourney-best four champions and easily the event's biggest milestones.
Monte's Arielle and Jordan Bradbury became the first sister-brother duo to win subdistrict titles in the same tournament and Arielle - who became the first girl to qualify for a state high school tourney in 1998 - is believed to be the first female in state history to win a postseason event.
And Bulldog twin brothers Steve and Scott Schmitz advanced to the 189-pound final where Steve, the higher seed, collected a forfeit from his brother.
Heavyweight Shaun Straka was the fourth Monte champion. The Bulldogs, fourth behind Rochester in the team standings, qualified seven for district.
Even Elma coach Rick Rakevich, whose team has struggled with injuries and illness all season and is still short of 100 percent physically, was surprised with the Eagles' margin of victory.
"Our younger kids really came through," said Rakevich. "The ones who finished third and fourth and even fifth. We took 25 (wrestlers) coming in and advanced 14. I feel real good about that."
Skuza, who needed barely a collective two minutes to pin his first two foes, nearly polished off Tenino's Miagi Nelson as well in the 119-pound final. Scoring a takedown in the opening 10 seconds, the Elma junior cruised to an 8-0 victory.
Ireland, who has come on strong near the end of the season also took control early and pinned Montesano's B.J. Pitts, something of a surprise finalist, in the first round of their 171-pound title bout.
Jamie Rakevich was the aggressor throughout in a 6-1 win over Hoquiam's Ross Norton at 215 pounds.
Arielle Bradbury's title, at 103 pounds, not only had historic value but came in the most exciting match of the tournament.
Countering her opponent's moves brilliantly, Bradbury was on the verge of no worse than a technical fall when she led Tenino freshman Tim Borden 12-0 midway through the second round.
But Borden rallied back into contention with a five-point reversal-near fall combination late in the second round and closed the margin to two with a three-point near fall early in the final stanza.
The two exchanged reversals in the final minute. Borden was on the attack in the closing seconds but unable to score as Bradbury hung on for a 14-12 decision.
Arielle was visibly upset afterward with the way the match ended but Clayton Bradbury, her father and coach, thought she wrestled well until making what he termed a couple of mental mistakes.
"What we give up in muscle against the guys, we more than make up for in technique," the elder Bradbury noted.
Unbeaten Jordan Bradbury jumped out to a 7-0 lead after one round and went on to a routine 9-3 triumph over Elma's Nathanael Arnold in the 112-pound title match.
Straka scored the quickest pin of the title round, needing only 49 seconds to flatten Ilwaco's Chris Becken in the heavyweight final.
Hoquiam's Calica, who had narrowly beaten Rochester's Allan Jensen during the regular season, was a much more convincing winner in Saturday's 130-pound title bout. Taking command with a takedown-near fall combo late in the second round, the HHS senior prevailed, 9-3.
The 152-pound Larsson trailed Rochester's Kyle Hawes before a takedown a split second before the second round buzzer put him in front, 5-4. He then reversed Hawes early in the third round and completed the pin with 1:30 remaining.
Sophomore Trent Hill nearly produced a fourth Elma title. But Tenino's John Jorgensen, who had upset top-seeded Larry Lytle of Hoquiam in an overtime semifinal, came up with an escape with 17 seconds left to nip Hill, 3-2, in the 125-pound final.
Tenino 145-pounder Brett Fleskes spotted Elma's Jeremy Russell an early takedown before dominating the remainder of the bout en route to a third round pin.
Rochester's Ben Hawes scored a technical fall over Elma's Neil Bickford, 17-2, in the 160-pound title bout.
Hoquiam's Pat Farmer defaulted the 140-pound title to Forks' Luke Larson due to injury.
In addition to the finalists, other district qualifiers included Elma's Donnie Melton (third at heavyweight), Aaron Sample (third at 119), Justin Smith (fourth at 103), Mike Horn (fourth at 135), Randell Luellen (fourth at 171), Cody Sample (fourth at 130) and Josh Stoney (fourth at 215).
Other Hoquiam qualifiers were Lytle (third at 125), Roy Calica (third at 135), Lucas Gonzalez (third at 145), Josh Wenrich (third at 160) and Michael Dhooghe (fourth at 125). Hoquiam's Ricky Sauer, assured of a place in district, will wrestle for third and fourth at 189 Monday. His opponent, Rochester's Bob Starkey, had reached his limit in matches for one day.
Tyler Fischback, fourth at 140, was the lone Montesano non-finalist who advanced. The top four at each weight earned district tickets.
Hoquiam coach Mike Cummings was pleased with the way his charges rebounded from a shaky second round of the tourney.
"We'll move on this week and move on next week and then we'll worry about state," said Cummings.
Team scores: Elma 3091Ú2, Hoquiam 243, Rochester 1851Ú2, Montesano 1791Ú2, Tenino 162, Forks 1391Ú2, Ilwaco 1171Ú2.
(Top four to district. Fifth place is district alternate).
103: Championship - Arielle Bradbury (Monte) dec. Tim Borden (Ten), 14-12. Third - Justice Barnes (F) pinned Justin Smith (E), 0:54. Fifth - Chris Smith (Hoq). 112: Championship - Jordan Bradbury (Monte) dec. Nathanel Arnold (E), 9-3. Third - Mike Hirsch (F) dec. Michael Kimbrough (I), 4-2. 119: Championship - Nathan Skuza (E) dec. Miagi Nelson (I), 8-0. Third - Aaron Sample (E) pinned Kris Smith (Roch), 4:23. Fifth - Pat Miller (Monte). 125: Championship - John Jorgensen (Ten) dec. Trent Hill (E), 3-2. Third - Larry Lytle (Hoq) pinned Michael Dhooghe (Hoq), 1:49. 130: Championship - Adam Calica (Hoq) dec. Allan Jensen (Roch), 9-3. Third - Ryan Duffy (I) dec. Cody Sample (E), 8-1. Fifth - Nick Miles (E). 135: Championship - Kelly Banner (F) pinned Dan Penn (Ten), 1:51. Third - Roy Calica (Hoq) dec. Mike Horn (E), 3-2.
140: Championship - Luke Larson (F) won inj. default over Pat Farmer (Hoq). Third - William Marsh (I) dec. Tyler Fischback (Monte), 15-10, OT. Fifth - Jesse Haggard (Hoq). 145 - Brett Fleskes (Ten) pinned Jeremy Russell (E), 4:34. Third - Lucas Gonzalez (Hoq) pinned Javan Haley (I), 2:05. Fifth - Kyle Arnold (Hoq). 152: Championship - Justin Larsson (Hoq) pinned Kyle Hawes (Roch), 4:30. Fifth - Ryan Covall (Hoq). 160: Championship - Ben Hawes (Roch) tech. fall over Neil Bickford (E), 17-2. Third - Josh Wenrich (Hoq) dec. Matt Mullins (Roch), 5-2. 171: Championship - Danny Ireland (E) pinned B.J. Pitts (Monte), 1:47. Third - Vince Somers (Roch) dec. Randell Luellen, 10-5.
189: Championship - Steve Schmitz (Monte) won default Scott Schmitz (Monte). Third - Ricky Sauer (Hoq) vs. Bob Starkey (Roch), Monday. 215: Championship - Jamie Rakevich (E) dec. Ross Norton (Hoq), 6-1. Third - Travis Bell (Roch) pinned Josh Stoney (E), 4:37. Hwt: Championship - Shaun Straka (Monte) pinned Chris Becken (I), 0:49. Third - Donnie Melton (E) dec. Grant Warren (Roch), 3-1. Fifth - Carter Richards (E).
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Wrestlers continue progress
By JESS REED
Lebanon Express Writer
Wednesday February 09, 2000
Six pins and 10 victories had the Lebanon wrestling team feeling good heading into this Friday's Lebanon Tournament, which will be a good tuneup before Districts next week.
The Warriors will host Sweet Home, Barlow and Philomath this Friday in the Bud Page Activity Center at Lebanon High School. Wrestling will begin at 4 p.m. Districts will begin in Salem on Friday, Feb. 18. Lebanon's final dual meet will be tomorrow at McKay starting at 6 p.m.
Lebanon has continued to improve this season, and nowhere was that more evident than against North Salem last Wednesday. The Warriors routed the Vikings, 60-8, leading coach Jim Vandehey to admit this was the best performance of the season for his squad.
"They were better than at Corvallis," he said.
Lebanon started off the meet the way it has most of this season, with Alan Plagmann taking an opening pin at 103 pounds. Shoni Plagmann, who apparently was not feeling well, then took the most dramatic win of the night with a great move in overtime, getting the pin at 112 pounds.
Blaine Suing, at 135, scored a pin in 41 seconds off a nice reversal. Justin McFetridge, who was toying with his opponent, Adam Clark at 140 pounds, for three rounds, earned a pin after taking a 20-6 lead. Matt Mustoe used a two-point reversal before scoring his pin at 160.
Chris Ensley, wrestling at 171, took a 7-6 lead with 17 seconds remaining in the third. His opponent, Jeff Jensen, tried hard to earn one more point off an escape, but it didn't work as Ensley held him for the one-point victory.
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Tigers upset Tribe matmen
Clay Center nipped Manhattan High 32-30 Tuesday night in a dual meet at Manhattan.
"It was the same as its been all year, the guys we expected to be leaders this year haven't stepped up in the big matches," said MHS coach Lee Woodford. "It's not getting done."
Manhattan held a 30-29 lead heading into the final match. In the heavyweight clash, Clay Center's Jason Patenavde scored a 5-2 decision over Romar Clark.
Manhattan's Kara Pemberton opened the match with a 13-1 win over Sheldon Burch in the 103 weight class. That was followed by Ranjan Muthukrishnan getting a 17-2 technical fall over Trevor Charboneau in 112.
Clay Center's Jordan Close pinned Waide Scott in 119, but then Mnahattan's Richard Gardner won a 3-1 decision over Jessie Trumble in 125.
Clay Center then won two straight matches, with Kyle Cott pinning Derek Bunker (130), and Brian Rankan beating Ryan Moody 6-2 (135).
Manhattan's Aaron Kaus (140) pinned Jake Richter, but then the Tigers' Jaylon Rush posted a decision over Manhattan's Jonathan Walker (145), followed Clay Center's Sheldon Pfizenmaier posting a 6-2 decision over James McCorkle.
"That was a good match," Woodford said.
Manhattan's Ben Coleman blitzed Derek Corral 15-0, but Alex Otto lost in a 4-2 overtime decision to Clay Center's Kyle Burch.
Manhattan's Wes Proctor pinned Russ Golden, and then Manhattan's Josh Connet scored a fall over David Browning to give the Tribe the lead and set up the finale.
Manhattan finishes the regular season with a 6-3 dual mark. Next up is the I-70 League meet Saturday in Junction City.
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