Competition at Mat Classic turns away Bruin wrestlers on first day

Senior Regina Bell, junior Paul Demchuk, and freshman Alexis McCafferty all departed the tournament on Friday after suffering a second loss.

Bell, who entered the state championships as a regional champion at 130 pounds, won her opening match against Kaylin Wilson of Yelm by second-period fall.

In her quarterfinal bout, Bell opposed Morgan Jones of Eastmont and lost by fall with less than a minute to go in the match.

“Regina wrestled well, but she inadvertently gave up some critical points in the second period when she let go of her opponent out of bounds before the whistle was blown, and was denied the 2 takedown points,” Bruins Coach Stoner Bell said.

In the third period, Bell trailed by a point with less than a minute left when a takedown attempt was turn-ed against her. “Jones took her to her back and pinned her,” Bell said.

In a stay-alive bout Friday evening, Bell faced her sub-regional and regional championship opponent, Natasha Williams of Vancouver (Sky-view). Bell lost to Williams at the sub-regional meet by decision but pinned her in the regional final. This time, Williams came out on top, 16-3, and advanced to take fifth place in the bracket.

McCafferty lost her opening match at 110 pounds by fall to Tommie Mosteller of Lakewood. She took on Ana Sanchez of Federal Way in her second bout. McCafferty dominated the match, Bell said, and gave up only a penalty point for an illegal move.

With less than 30 seconds to go in the third period, McCafferty turned Sanchez onto her back.

“Unfortunately, Sanchez screamed and tapped out and Lexie let go of the move before the referee blew his whistle,” Bell said.

“By doing so she forfeited the points she would have had,” Bell noted. “It was a tough loss, but with more match experience, Lexie should have more opportunities to wrestle at state in the next three years.“

Demchuk, also a first-year wrestler, drew top-ranked 182-pounder Markus Goldbach of Freeman for his first match. Experience prevailed in this bout as Goldbach put Demchuk on his back and pinned him with just 18 seconds gone in the opening 2-minute period. (Goldbach went on to win the bracket.)

Demchuk had a better showing in his loser-out bout versus Dakotah Petty of Kiona-Benton. The match was scoreless until the end of the first period, when Petty tallied a takedown.

For the start of the second period, Demchuk chose the down position and answered with an escape that reduced Petty’s lead to 2-1.

Petty chose neutral for the start of the final period and took Demchuk down to his back to get the pin.