Wolverine wrestlers pin down 1st league crown

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Wolverine wrestlers pin down 1st league crown

updated 02/11/03 posted 02/09/03

Friday Harbor's wrestling squad claimed its first conference title at the Northwest A/B League Meet Saturday, Feb. 8 in Concrete. The Wolverines advance a record 15 grapplers to the Class A/B Regional Meet at Mountlake Terrace High School Saturday, Feb. 15.

"We did something awesome," said senior John Marsh, champion of the 215-pound division. "The team has come a long way from what it was."

Mike Pretz, a 135-pound champ said, "This team deserves that trophy.... Even the kids who didn't do so well in this tournament can be part of something great."

"I think we've had an awesome season, awesome coaches, an awesome team," said senior Tyler Cornell, a league runner-up at 140. "I'm just really proud of everyone."

The Wolverines won four individual championships and six second-places while compiling 249 team points. Darrington finished 50 points behind with 199 and Concrete placed third with 156.

Senior Timmy Aylward, the league's 130 champ, competed on Friday Harbor's league-champion and state third-place baseball team as a freshman. The Wolverine baseball players were the Class A state runner-ups the year before and were loaded with experience for 2000. This year's wrestling squad, fielding only one four-year wrestler, relied on hard work instead of experience to win the league title. "It really makes you feel a lot more proud.... We came together from the bottom and worked our way up. I really feel like we accomplished something," Aylward said.

"It's a great feeling," said senior Chad Cymbalista, who qualified for Regionals at 171.

"I wasn't expecting it but it was pretty sweet."

Senior Taylor Stimpson, a league runner-up, knew the Wolverines were capable of taking home the conference trophy. "It was just a matter of making it happen and we did. We have what it takes to take Regionals too."

The Friday Harbor wrestlers pushed themselves in the three-team tourney, said Friday Harbor coach Gordy Banry. "They did a little bit extra, in some cases a lot of bit extra," Banry said.

"They worked hard this season and they earned it," Banry said of his first conference champs in 11 years of coaching.

Unlike his previous seasons, Banry was able to fill most of the weight classes against Darrington and Concrete. "It's been funny watching them doing the things I've always had to do," Banry said of moving wrestlers up a class to fill a weight class. "It's been kind of nice to have the upper hand on that."

Banry and his wife Deanna, who assists with coaching, even had a more personal victory at league. Their son Britt, a freshman in the 145 division, pinned Concrete's Shaun Crowder, an veteran grappler, in four minutes, nine seconds. "That was exciting. Britt's lost to him four times this year," Gordy Banry said.

Marsh pinned Concrete's Zach Coggins 1:07 into the final. "That kid was really gunning for John. He was making it tough but John pulled through," Gordy Banry said.

Pretz pinned teammate Jim Gossom at the end of the first period of the 135 division finals. Gossom placed second.

Aylward earned a 130-pound championship after teammate Dane Foley lost by injury default. Foley suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the season.

The 189-pound division saw the most competition of the tourney. Friday Harbor's Winslo Cobos trimmed Darrington's Chris Quantrille 9-5 in the opening round. Stimpson, who received a first-round bye, pinned Cobos in 1:44. Concrete's Mark Richmond pinned Stimpson 3:32 into the championship. Darrington's Jake White, who lost to Richmond in the semi-finals, pinned Cobos 5:32 in the third-fourth consolation match.

Cornell pinned Darrington's Joe Clark 39 seconds into the semi-final round of the 140 division.

"Tyler wrestled excellent today," Coach Banry said. Darrington's Tyler Burns beat Cornell 13-2 for the championship.

The Wolverines' James Ausilio pinned Darrington's Scott Brown three and half minutes into a semi-final match. Concrete's Matt Elingson pinned Ausilio 56 seconds into the championship round.

Adam White earned a second-place for the Wolverines in 152 after Darrington's Jonner Forrest pinned him in 1:43.

The Wolverines' John Gossom battled Concrete's Kyle Wilson tough in the 160 championship but lost 12-6.

In the final championship match, Darrington's Rich Loughnan pinned Friday Harbor's Joey Burns in 52 seconds.

The 171-division saw plenty of competition. Cymbalista pinned Darrington's Josh Roberts 3:20 into the opening round. In the semi-final matches, Concrete's Alan Nord pinned Cymbalista in 1:32 and Corey Guillikson edged Friday Harbor's Jason Grone 5-2. Cymbalista notched a fall over Grone, who battled the flu during the tourney.

"It sure was unfortunate for Jason. What a morning to wake up sick," Gordy Banry said of one his best performers in the past two years. "He wrestled hard but just didn't have it in him today."

Friday Harbor's Colby Leed finished third. Darrington's Justin Friddle edged Leed 14-2 in the semi-finals. Josh Friddle pinned his brother Justin 4:38 into the championship.

Concrete's Aspen Crouter pinned Friday Harbor's Andrea Champlin 3:55 into the 103 division semi-final. Crouter lost by injury default to Darrington's Darren Holz in the championship and Champlin finished third.

Regional A/B action features the top wrestlers from Friday Harbor, Concrete, Darrington, Bellevue Christian, Cascade Christian and Tacoma Baptist. It is secheduled to start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. The top two Regional finishers advance to the State Tournament in the Tacoma Dome Feb. 21-22.

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Wolverine wrestlers pin down 1st league crown