LRS mat squad begins preparing for districts

The Broncos wrestlers had a week off from tournaments to prepare for the tail end of their season, which includes their last league match.

On Saturday, Jan. 23, the Broncos traveled to Kittitas for the Coyote Classic Wrestling Tournament.

There were three wrestlers who took to the mat on that day: Matthias Ferderer, Tucker Guiles and Alex Whitman.

Ferderer took on an Ellensburg wrestler in his first match of the day and he won by a score of 11-3.

After this he moved on to take on a Cle Elum wrestler. Ferderer was ahead by points 13-0 when he was able to pin his opponent.

His next opponent was a familiar one, a Colfax High School wrestler he has met in numerous matches. In this match he was unable to win and lost by a score of 9-3, which ended his run for the day in the tournament.

Guiles, who wrestles in the heavyweight division, made it to the finals in this tournament.

He started the day versus an opponent from Colfax and pinned him. Due to the low number of heavyweights this qualified him for finals where he lost by pin to a wrestler from Omak.

Guiles took second place in his division for the day.

Whitman’s division was too large for just one bracket so the 145-pound group was split into two separate brackets for the day.

His first match was versus a wrestler from Northwest Christian High School and he was able to pin this wrestler in a mere 20 seconds.

He then took on an opponent from Ellensburg and beat him by points 11-7, which took him into the finals.

In the final match Guiles wrestled an opponent from Cashmere High School and unfortunately lost by pin.

The team hosted the Mix and Match tournament in Gilson Gym on Tuesday, Jan. 26, with weigh-in at 5 p.m. and the match beginning at 6 p.m.

Head Coach Jason Hilzer said the team will have five wrestlers competing: Ferderer, Whitman, Guiles, Joe Benedict and Karl Hawks.

Hawks, who has been out for a few weeks due to a broken hand has been cleared to wrestle again.

The team’s last league match will be held in Pomeroy on Saturday, Jan. 30. Weigh-ins will begin at 9 a.m. followed by the match at 10 a.m.

The team has wrestled most of the opponents they will face in this match in the last two league matches. After this a seating meeting will happen to determine seating for the District Tournament.