Two of the Warriors heavyweights stood on top of the podium on Saturday in Hoquiam. Chris Tartios and Josh Long were their lone two champions at the 1A Evergreen League Championships and clinched spots at Mat Classic in two weeks.
Tartios picked up two tech fall wins, then clipped Elma’s Donavyn Kalakosky 13-7 in the finals at 190-pounds. The two met in the third place match at the Kalama Rubber Chicken tournament and Tartios won 5-2 on Jan. 24. The Rochester senior notched four takedowns in Saturday’s win.
At 215, Long reeled off three straight pins, including a small dish of revenge against Elma’s Alex Dryden. At the Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial tourney, Dryden pinned Long in the semifinals. Long returned the favor, already up 14-4 before the pin.
Elsewhere for Rochester, Maddox King (144) and Maddox Rodgers (165) each made the finals, but were pinned to place second. Those two will be wrestling in Tacoma. The Warriors will send three others to a crossover tourney with the Trico next week.
For Tenino, its lone champ was Gavin Maurer at 175. He wrestled just twice, but had an eventful day that started with a wild 15-13 semifinal win over Elma’s Lucky Douvier. Maurer was down 11-7 entering the third and turned Douvier twice for eight back points that was just enough to win. In the finals, he upended Elma’s Levi Russell by a 16-8 major decision.
Gavin Derrick placed second at 106, joining Maurer as automatic Mat Classic qualifiers. The Beavers could get up to five more at the crossover tourney.
