A fifth-place finish at last Saturday's Lower Columbia Middle School Activities Association Varsity Wrestling Tournament in Washougal capped Henkle Middle School's 2007 season.
The Grizzlies finished a half point out of fourth place and 11 out of second in posting their best team finish in a post-season event.
"This was our highest-ever tournament placing and the closest we've ever been to a top-three spot," said Grizzlies Coach Rick Freil.
Eighth-graders Kurt Wilkens and Will Helton led the way for Henkle by winning their weight classes. Moreover, Henkle had nine wrestlers in matches for third place and eight of them finished fourth.
Seventh-grader Zach Irwin won his consolation final, while River Rudhe, Tanner Middleton, Spencer Story, Brier Freil, Leo Torres, Seth Anderson, Juan Mendoza and Clayton Walker all scored fourth-place points for Henkle.
The Grizzlies' lone fifth-place finisher was Mason Swick. Kasey Bond and James Miller each placed sixth.
Freil said his team started slowly in the first round of wrestling but rallied strongly in the second. Midway through the tournament Henkle stood in third place.
By day's end, however, most Grizzlies were beaten back by what Freil called "the weather of wrestling."
"Our finals round often saw us matched up against older, more-experienced competition," he noted. "When we can turn a couple more of our fourths in thirds, and a couple more thirds into championship places, we'll be able to hold onto our position and maybe create some weather of our own to beat back the teams ahead of us."
Junior Varsity Tournament
Hockinson Middle School hosted the post-season tournament for jayvee wrestlers last Wednesday. Henkle made its presence known by winning five individual championships.
"Team scores aren't kept at the JV tournament, so there is no record of team placings," said Coach Freil, "but our individual finishes tell a tale for the reading."
Finishing first for the Grizzlies were Eli Summa, Paige Stevenson, Aric Reetz, Sarah Gibson and Dalton Wake.
Second-place honors went to Tai Moses, Connor Goodwillie, Courtney Montero, James Guthrie, Austin Rabinowitz and Tyler Garwood.
In the consolation bracket, third-place winners were Keaton Rogers and Perry Knowles.
Said Freil: "By every measure we have had a successful season and continue to grow and improve as a program."
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