After the first day of Mat Classic XXVII there are four wrestlers from Mason County still in competition. Three are from Shelton: Alex Manke, Colton Paller and Matlyne Mecham. The other from North Mason: Nico Ramirez.
In the Class 3A State Wrestling Championships, Shelton’s Alec Manke knocked off O’Dea’s Alan Badley in his first bout at 145 pound. He then lost to Cooper McAuslan from Arlington to drop into the consolation bracket where he beat Bishop Blanchet’s Brian Welch. Manke wrestles Noah Saenz from Fernalde at 11 AM trying to stay in the hunt for 3rd place.
The Highclimbers’ Colton Paller lost his first-round bout but won his next two at 195 pounds. Paller lost to Kennedy Catholic’s Bowen McConville in the opening round but beat Alejandro Sanchez from Nathan Hale and O’Dea’s Jack Markowitz. Paller takes on Zach England from Bellevue at 11:50 AM trying to stay alive for a shot at 3rd place.
The Highclimbers’ Gable Lacy was eliminated from competition after two bouts at 182 pounds. Lacy fell to Mt. Spokane’s Jake Sander and then lost a decision to Antonio Chiles from Chief Sealth.
In the Girls’ State Wrestling Championships, Shelton’s Matlyne Mecham won her first round bout at 145 pounds but fell into the consolation bracket in her second round bout. In the third round, Mecham beat White River’s Brianne Wiens and is wrestling Sidnee Arcury from Centralia at 11:30 AM for a shot at 3rd place.
The Highclimbers’ Quinn Lacy was eliminiated from competition at 170 pounds. Lacy lost ot Issaquah’s Kacie Moore house in the opening round to drop into the consolation bracket where she advanced to the third round by beating Caily Mendez from Connell before being eliminated by Evergreen-Seattle’s Luana Tupa.
In the Class 2A Tournament, North Mason’s Nico Ramirez fell in the first round to Orting’s Hunter Mullins but then won the next two bouts: beating Chemi Cantu from Othello and eliminating Quincy’s Rey Rubio. Ramirez takes on Orting’s Kenny Marll at 12:10 PM. Ramirez his next three bouts to place 3rd in the state at 285 pounds.
Colton Harmon fell to Matthw Anfeldt from Tumwater in the first round and was eliminated from competition at 106 pounds by Grandview’s Adrian Benitez.
In team standings, the Shelton boys’ are 27th. North Mason boys’ are 39th. And the Lady Highclimbers are 57th.
The Mat Classic continues today (Sat. Feb. 20th) at the Tacoma Dome.
After the first day of the Class 3A Boys’ State Swimming & Diving Championships, Shelton’s Jon Netzel is in 2nd place in the diving competition. The Highclimbers’ Troy Krumpols and Zach Netzel are 6th and 7th.
In the preliminaries, Shelton’s relay team of Alex Brown-Garcia, Levi Vance, Alec Dodge & Taylor Toney didn’t make the cut finishing 14th. Alex Brown-Garcia was 20th in the 100 Free and the 50 Free.
Competition continues today (Sat. Feb. 20th) at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way.