A Columbia High-record five wrestlers will be among the 224 competing for state Class 1A boys champion-ships this weekend at the WIAA Mat Classic in the Tacoma Dome.
Headlining the group are 2016 Region II runners-up Fletcher Andrews and Alex Medina. Joining them on the trip to Tacoma today are a trio of fourth-place finishers at last Saturday’s regional meet in Castle Rock: Eli Bell, James Bell, and Paul “Bubba” Demchuk.
The program’s previous record for state qualifiers in a single season was three back in 2011.
Demchuk, who wrestles at 195 pounds, is the only one in the group with previous Mat Classic experience. He competed in the 182 weight class last year but did not make it to Saturday’s medal rounds.
“Those five wrestlers represent 50 percent of the team that finished the season,” said Bruins Coach Stoner Bell. “It’s a great opportunity for the younger wrestlers to experience the state tournament this year.”
Bell added, “We knew Alex, James, and Bubba had a great chance of going. Eli and Fletcher were a surprise – this is a testimony to their tenacity and mental toughness.”
Demchuk earned a return engagement with a 2-2 performance at regionals. He won his opening bout with a second-period pin, lost his semifinal to eventual champion Talib Meeks of Castle Rock by second-period fall, stayed alive with a 7-3 decision, then finally fell in the second period of the match for third place to a 1A Trico League rival, Carl Hausserman of La Center.
“Bubba’s finish was a stronger performance than the placing indicates,” Bell said. “All four of the Trico wrestlers advanced to the state tournament.”
Bell said all four wrestlers are ranked in the top eight of 1A state rankings and should do well at state. He said Demchuk’s “potential success will be affected by the strength of his initial opponents.”
Andrews lost to Stevenson junior Cody Miller in the 132 weight class final by second-period fall. The CHS junior opened with a 5-3 decision, then won his semifinal with a third-period pin.
Bell said Andrews’s key bout came in the semifinal against Alex Langdon of Castle Rock. Andrews had lost to Langdon twice during the regular season. This time Andrews dominated from the outset and pinned Lang-don to secure his first state berth.
“Fletcher wrestled the best he has wrestled all season,” Bell said. “He was defeating Miller 10-2 at the start of the second round before getting pinned. To wrestle in the championship when you have come into regionals in the fifth seeding position is quite an accomplishment.”
Medina advanced to the 220 final with a pair of decisions (8-2, then 10-5 in semifinal). In the championship, the sophomore lost to Hoquiam senior Gary Aube by decision, 7-3.
“We fully expected Alex to make it to state. To have him wrestle in the finals last week was a bonus,” Bell said. “If he had had more match experience coming into this tournament, he would have won” his bout against Aube, the No. 3-ranked 220-poun-der in the 1A class.
Eli Bell was the only state qualifier for CHS to lose his opening match. The sophomore 120-pounder lost by technical fall, 19-4, to Elma junior Mario Yanez, but bounced back with 13-10 and 4-2 minor decisions to set up a rematch with Yanez in the match for third place. Yanez again prevailed, 10-6, but Bell had already clinched his first state berth.
James Bell (138) started his quest for state with an upset win by third-period fall of third-ranked Forks junior Garrison Schumack. Bell lost his second match by technical fall (19-4) to fifth-ranked Jeffrey Mayolo of La Center, but won his ensuing elimination bout, 5-3. In the consolation final, the CHS sophomore lost to Schumack, 9-8, and had to settle for the No. 4 seed to state.
Senior Tristen Rosander (160), sophomore Myles Moon (126), and freshman Wyatt Shewey (170) all were eliminated after suffering second-round defeats.
Shewey, an alternate out of the sub-regional tournament, got to wrestle last Saturday because a King’s Way competitor in his weight class got pulled from the regional field due to grade issues, according to Coach Bell.
Mat Classic wrestling be-gins Friday morning. Eli Bell takes the mat at 10:40 versus Kiki Chabolla. The Royal senior won the Region III title last weekend in Cowiche, and placed third in state at 120 in 2015.
Andrews opens at 11:04 against Cascade Christian freshman Henry Thompson, who finished third at 132 in last Saturday’s Region I tournament.
At 11:28, James Bell will make his state debut versus Chewelah senior Johnathan Crise, who has moved up two weight classes in pursuit of his first state title. Crise placed second at 126 pounds in the 2015 1A meet.
Demchuk perhaps received the toughest first-round draw. He’ll oppose the 2015 runner-up at 195, Sebastian Hyta, a senior from Freeman, starting at 1:04 p.m. Hyta finished sixth at 195 in 2014.
Medina matches up with Deer Park senior Cody Devore at 1:12 in the first round of the 220 competition.
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