Wrestling: Wolves take ninth at White River Classic

By Sequim Gazette Staff • December 7, 2016 1:30 am

After a preseason jamboree got the season started, Sequim grapplers posted some strong efforts against big schools Saturday in Buckley.

Led by runner-up finishes by Adrian Klarich and Grant Pierson, the Wolves got four top-six placings as they took ninth place out of 17 teams at the White River Classic on Dec. 3.

Klarich romped through the 182-pound weight class with three pins in as many matches, taking down Krys Dupree of Everett in 5:44, Dalton Trujillo of White River in 1:48 and Moises Morales of Sunnyside in 42 seconds before falling in the championship match to Tyler Losch of Yelm by pin in the second period. (Yosch placed seventh at the state 4A tourney in 2015-2016.)

Pierson also went 3-1, opening with a first round pin of Graham-Kapowsin’s Bandon Cain (1:10) in the 160-pound weight class. Pierson followed that with an 11-5 decision over Ahmad Jumper of Steilacoom and a 5-1 win over Auston Spader of Orting in the semifinal. In the championship match Sunnyside’s J.J. Rodriguez, a state 4A competitor in 2015-2016, prevailed by a 4-0 count.

At 285 pounds, Mackenzie Stockdale went 3-2 and took fifth/sixth place. Stockdale tallied two pins and a forfeit victory, pinning Fife’s Spencer Thompson and White River’s Jaysen Jorgensen.

Austin Budd had two pins and went 3-2 overall to take fifth/sixth place in the 170-pound weight class. Budd pinned Centralia’s Cole Adams in 3:20 and Duncan Somera of Enumclaw in 9 seconds. He also earned a 4-1 decision over Steilacoom’s Tobias Brown before falling 1-0 in the consolation semifinal to Brett Allred of Everett.

After a first-round loss, Dylan Perriera rebounded to score a pair of wins and finished 2-2 in the 195-pound weight class. Perriera pinned Grandview’s Vincent Ruiz and earned a 1-0 win over Cameron Dubose of Yelm.

Ben Newell earned two wins in his 138-pound weight class, opening with a second round pin of Grandview’s Luis Ramos. After a defeat, Newell earned a 5-0 decision over Centralia’s Justin Lake to go 2-2 overall.

Glenn Uy picked up a win at 182 pounds, knocking off Alex Schell of Olympic 10-3 and going 1-2 overall. Teammate Hayden Gresli did as well, earning a 6-5 decision at 152 pounds and going 1-2. Chris Puksta earned a pin at 145 pounds, downing David Lopez of Grandview in 1:22; he also went 1-2.

Jaimi Schroepfer also competed for Sequim, going 0-2 at 126 pounds.

Orting took the overall team title with 219.5 points, with host White River second (173 team points) and Yelm third (146). Sequim tallied 81 points, a half-point better than league rival Olympic.

Looking ahead

The Wolves have a busy week ahead, with their first Olympic League match of the season at Klahowya set for Dec. 8.

Sequim’s boys then travel north for the Battle of the Border in Blaine, set for Dec. 9-10, while the girls and JV boys compete at the Judy Emry Invite in Fife on Dec. 10.

The Wolves host Olympic and North Kitsap on Dec. 14 and Sequim plays host to the Olympic League Girls Dual tourney on Dec. 15.

White River Classic results (team)

1. Orting 219.5

2. White River 173

3. Yelm 146

4. Sunnyside 144

5. Puyallup 126.5

6. Selah 113

7. Enumclaw 90

7. Everett 90

9. Sequim 81

10. Olympic 80.5