ELMA — Even far short of full strength, Montesano’s wrestlers wasted little time in ending their dual season with a pinfest.
Recording five pins, the Bulldogs flattened rival Elma, 60-23, in an Evergreen 1A League boys wrestling finale on Wednesday at Elma.
If nothing else, this might have threatened the series record for the fastest-ever Monte-Elma match.
Half of the 14 scheduled bouts resulted in forfeits — Montesano receiving five and Elma two. Six of the seven contested bouts ended in pins.
Elma 135-pound standout Colten French won his contest via technical fall, but even that match was terminated in the second round.
The entire contest — even with an exhibition match included — lasted only 35 minutes.
The Bulldogs were missing several regulars due to injury and illness. But Joel Pine, Brent Hollatz and Aydan Darst scored first-round pins and 113-pound standout Andy Fry finished off his opponent in the second round.
The final contested bout of the evening was easily the most competitive. Monte 220-pounder Auggie Arreguin led Caleb Knutsen 8-5 when he caught and pinned him with the third round only 25 seconds into the third stanza.
Pine needed only nine seconds to pin Joseph Geesaman at 138 pounds.
Montesano coach Jeff Klinger liked what he saw on Wednesday and with state veterans Carson Klinger and Tony Williams expected to return from injury, the Bulldogs could be gearing up for a strong postseason run.
“We’re wrestling the best we’ve wrestled all year,” Coach Klinger said. “That’s where we want to be.”
The Eagles saw their already short-handed squad depleted recently by injury and academic ineligibility. Promising 182-pound regular Niall Baxter is out for the season with a knee injury.
Honored on Senior Night, state vets French and Justin Sample concluded their home careers with decisive victories. Sample pinned Jordan King in the first round of their 145-pound contest.
“Our two state placers did exactly what they had to do,” Elma coach Adam Catterlin said. “Our young guys are still improving.”
Taholah’s Michael Flores won a pair of exhibition matches against Elma opponents.
Both teams will be idle until sub-regionals Feb. 2-3 at Centralia.
113 — Andy Fry (M) pinned Tyler Bristow, 3:09. 132 — Colten French (E) tech. fall over Malaki Osbekoff, 17-1. 138 — Joel Pine (M) pinned Joseph Geesaman, 0:09. 145 — Justin Sample (E) pinned Jordan King, 1:29. 152 — Brent Hollatz (M) pinned A.J. Whipple, 1:04. 160 — Aydan Darst (M) pinned Tucker Simpkins, 0:31. 220 — Auggie Arreguin (M) pinned Caleb Knutsen, 4:21.
Cooper Johansson, Lucas Salstrom, Aaron Lano, Conner Hollatz and Tanner Rossmaier (M) and Taitum Brumfield and A.J. Hernandez (E) received forfeits.
