The Cashmere Bulldogs wrestling teams made a strong opening statement Friday at the first day of the State Tournament at Mat Classic XXXVII inside the Tacoma Dome.
After the first two rounds of the championship bracket, 11 Bulldogs have advanced to the state quarterfinals — eight from the boys team and three from the girls squad. All 22 Cashmere wrestlers will return to the mats Saturday as the tournament concludes.
The Cashmere boys sit in sixth place heading into the final day and are positioned to climb in the team standings. The girls currently stand in 10th place and also remain in striking distance entering Saturday’s action.
Boys Lead the Charge
The Bulldogs’ boys team turned in an impressive opening day, with several wrestlers capitalizing on first-round byes and dominant performances.
Juniors Mack Pell (126) and Marshall Pell (132) each received a first-round bye and then rolled to technical fall victories in their opening matches to advance to the quarterfinals.
Returning state champion Jance Novak (165) also opened with a bye before earning a first-round pin to move on to the quarters.
Junior Zennon Cortes followed a similar path, earning a bye before grinding out a hard-fought 5-4 decision over Jobany Macias of Wapato to secure his quarterfinal berth.
At 190 pounds, sophomore Jacoby Tait and junior Grey Jacobson both advanced. Tait won by technical fall after his bye, while Jacobson pinned Jordy Macias of Wapato to punch his ticket to the quarters.
Junior Ulysses Betancourt (285) added to the Bulldogs’ momentum, recording a first-round pin after his bye to advance.
Freshman Kolton Weeks (144) was the only Bulldog to win two matches Friday. Weeks delivered a thrilling 10-7 sudden victory overtime win over Zane Trask of Klahowya with a takedown to seal the match. He followed that up with a narrow 3-2 decision over Eithan Patterson of Wapato to reach the quarterfinals.
Tony Rodriguez (106), Zavien Eaves (126), Kaiden Huber (138), Logan Lindsay (144), and Andrew Ratliff (157) dropped their opening matches and will battle back through the consolation rounds beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Girls Making Moves
The Cashmere girls also had a productive first day, sending three wrestlers into the quarterfinals.
Junior Tori Black (120) received a first-round bye and then won by fall to advance. Junior Haile James (135) and freshman Abril Alvarado followed the same formula, each earning a bye and then securing first-round pins to reach the quarterfinals.
Senior Rylee Snodgrass started her tournament with a first-round pin before falling in a competitive 13-7 decision in her second match. Freshman Taylor Van Winkle also opened with a first-round pin before dropping her second match. Both will continue in the consolation bracket Saturday.
Vansee Wheeler (115), Ruby Edwards (130), Sara Andrade (140), and Sydney Mazur (170) each lost their opening matches but remain alive in the tournament and will return to action Saturday.
With 11 wrestlers still alive in the championship bracket and every Bulldog set to compete again, Cashmere heads into the final day poised to make a strong push up the team standings.
