Tahoma High wrestling coach Chris Feist insisted two weeks ago — after the Bears knocked off perennial power Kentwood — that the job wasn’t yet done.
Thanks to Friday night’s 42-17 South Puget Sound League North Division throttling of Auburn, consider Stage 1 of Tahoma’s ultimate goal complete.
The dual-meet win over the Trojans (7-1) helped the second-ranked Bears (8-0) officially seal the SPSL North crown, their first since 1998. Tahoma came into the season having taken second to Kentwood in each of the last two seasons.
But after taking down the Conquerors 36-30 on January 14, the Bears moved into the driver’s seat for their first title in more than a decade.
“It’s about time,” Feist said. “(The league title) was one of the goals the kids had set for themselves at the start. It’s a real good indicator of where they’re at.”
The win sets the stage for the SPSL North tournament, which is slated for today and tomorrow at Kent-Meridian High. The top five finishers in each weight class advance to next weekend’s regional tournament at Auburn High School.
In a year when all has seemed to turn up golden for the Bears, Friday’s victory proved to be nearly flawless. Tahoma took 10 of the 14 matches, including pins from Tyler Lamb (135 pounds) and Ryan Ota (160). Tahoma’s J.R. Rea (140) and John Buban (145) added technical falls.
The win of the night, however, belonged to Tahoma’s Nick Bayer, who won the state title at 160 pounds last year and who now competes at 171. Bayer had to come back from a second-period 3-2 deficit against Dylan Rutledge, who knocked off the Tahoma standout at Tri-State in December.
When it counted, Bayer got it done, pulling out a 5-4 decision. Bayer has now beaten Rutledge in two of three meetings this season.
“I wanted to beat him to kind of reassure myself (I could),” said Bayer, who improved to 31-2 this season.
Tanner Mjelde (112) and Jordan Higa (130) also came up big against the Trojans, each nabbing major decisions.
Pins, pins everywhere
Kentwood nearly reached perfection last Friday night in its regular-season finale against Federal Way.
The Conquerors (6-2) racked up nine pins and added one technical fall and a decision en route to going 14 of 14, thus blanking the Eagles 80-0.
Kentwood also was the beneficiary of three forfeits. The most points that can be scored in a dual meet — barring any infractions — is 84.
Working pins for Kentwood were: Hayden Peterson (119), Eric Alonzo (125), John Ohashi (130), Billy Creighton (135), Chris Beck (152), Greg Smith (171), Spencer Brewer (189), Jakob Shewey (215) and Nathan Herrick (285).
Kentwood’s Cody Quinn (145) just missed a pin, instead earning a technical fall victory (18-3) over Langley Ngov.
Tahoma 42, Auburn 17
*103: Steven Hopkins (T) d. Steven Chacko (A) 11-8. 112: Tanner Mjelde (T) md. David Jordan (A) 12-0. 119: Daniel Haniger (T) d. Willie Pineda (A) 7-6. 125: Kelly Maughan (A) md. Ryan Goranson (T) 10-2. 130: Jordan Higa (T) md. Zach Svendgard (A) 15-7. 135: Tyler Lamb (T) p. Tyler Ball (A) 1:14. 140: J.R. Rea (T) tf. Nick Courtney (A) 23-8. 145: John Buban (T) tf. Quenton Morris (A) 22-5. 152: Graham Davis (A) d. Zach Schuessler (T) 7-2. 160: Ryan Ota (T) p. Heintz (A) 1:01. 171: Nick Bayer (T) d. Dylan Rutledge (A) 5-4. Nick Bayer (T) d. Dylan Rutledge (A) 5-4. 189: Jake Swartz (A) p. Zach Dopps (T) 0:49. 215: Konner Knudtsen (T) d. Chris Young (A) 13-9. 285: Nick Conlan (A) md. Derek Eager (T) 10-2.
* Starting weight.
Kentwood 80, Federal Way 0
103: Isaac Pearson (KW) wins by forfeit. 112: Ruben Navejas (KW) wins by forfeit. 119: Hayden Peterson (KW) p. Ed Crawford (FW), 1:03. 125: Eric Alonzo (KW) p. Maria Manzueta (FW), 3:40. 130: Jonathan Ohashi (KW) p. Dmitry Apakov (FW), 1:28. *135: Billy Creighton (KW) p. Anthony Lehto (FW), 0:35. 140: Matt Gordon (KW) wins by forfeit. 145: Cody Quinn (KW) tf. Langley Ngov (FW), 18-3. 152: Chris Beck (KW) p. Nick Storrs (FW), 0:44. 160: Zack Steele (KW) d. Levy Molina (FW), 8-3. 171: Greg Smith (KW) p. Dylan Weinberger (FW), 4:41. 189: Spencer Brewer (KW) p. Nevin Hair (FW), 3:29. 215: Jakob Shewey (KW) p. Jordan Pulu (FW), 3:19. 285: Nathan Herrick (KW) p. Pasi Taumoepeau (FW), 1:08.
* Starting weight.
