The Grays Harbor Wrestling Club claimed some national titles earlier this month and the prep boys soccer season heads toward district tournaments as we review Friday’s Twin Harbors sports action.

WRESTLING

Grays Harbor Wrestling Club’s Gonzales, Pine win at folkstyle nationals

Grays Harbor Wrestling Club’s Andy Gonzales and Kevin Pine claimed national titles in winning their respective divisions at the 2021 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa on April 3.

Wrestling in the College Open Division, Gonzales — who wrestles for Grays Harbor College during the collegiate season — claimed the championship in the 184-pound weight class, navigating through a competitive field without a loss and defeating GHWC teammate Dalton Swayze with a 17-0 technical fall in the final.

“He’s wrestles at a high-tempo and is a very offensive wrestler. It makes it very challenging for his opponents to get their offense going,” Pine said of Gonzales. “He’s always at 100% and always attacking. He’s a very exciting wrestler to watch.”

Gonzales’ victory was the third national championship for a Grays Harbor College-affiliated wrestling, joining Mervyn Pettison (2020) and David Campbell (2018).

“It just goes to show that we can compete with anybody, or we like to think we can,” Pine said. “We have four-year schools looking at our athletes knowing we can compete.”

GHWC coach Kevin Pine, who is also the Grays Harbor Chokers head wrestling coach, claimed first place in the 194-pound Masters Division, defeating James Miller (Vici Wrestling Club) with a fall at 1:39.

Other GHWC placers included Jesse Gomez (133 pounds, 3rd place), Cameron MacAlevy (133, 6th), Saul Rocha (141, 141, 6th), Desmond Bowers (174, 4th), Noah Winder (285, 3rd), Skyler Murray (285, 4th), Duncan King (285, 5th), Octavio Alejandre (285, 5th), Zion Lista (285, 8th) and Chris Boeger (194 Masters, 4th).

BOYS PREP SOCCER

Aberdeen 3, WF West 2

Aberdeen picked up a critical win on Friday, defeating WF West 3-2 at Stewart Field in Aberdeen to remain undefeated in the 2A Evergreen League.

Aberdeen (5-3 overall, 4-0 2A Evergreen) jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held on as WF West (4-2-1 overall, 2A Evergreen) rallied late in the game, looking for the tying goal.

The Bobcats scored with nine minutes to go in the first half when Logan Sias sent a through ball to Miguel Martinez, who hammered a hard shot past the keeper for a 1-0 lead.

Leading 1-0 after the half, Aberdeen doubled its lead when senior defender Angel Sanchez headed a cross to Kaley Myers, who scored for a 2-0 lead.

Three minutes later, senior midfielder Tony Hernandez sent a free kick toward Carlos Mendoza, who flicked a header past the WF West keeper for a 3-0 lead.

With 25 minutes left in the game, the Bearcats came roaring back, scoring on a free kick followed by a penalty-kick goal 10 minutes later, cutting Aberdeen’s lead to 3-2.

But Aberdeen’s defense solidified over the final 20 minutes to secure the all-important 3-2 victory.

“I have to give our boys some major credit for keeping their heads up and focusing on finishing out the game after some bad breaks halfway through the second half,” Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming said. “They continued to work hard in the face of adversity and most of the time that turns out to be a positive for us.”

The win was a crucial one for the Bobcats as it locked up no worse than a second-place league finish heading into the final week of the regular season, meaning Aberdeen will at the very least host a playoff game and sets up a battle for first place when the Bobcats face Tumwater on Tuesday in Tumwater.

WF West 0 2 — 2

Aberdeen 1 2 — 3

Elma 12, Hoquiam 1

The Elma Eagles completed a solid league season with an 12-1 victory over Hoquiam on Friday in Elma.

Elma (8-2-1 overall, 8-1 1A Evergreen) led 9-0 after the first half en route to the dominant victory.

Elma senior forward Gavin Blakett scored three goals while junior midfielder Manny Hernandez scored a goal and had four assists to lead the high-flying Eagles offense.

Derique Richey (2G, 2A), Canon Seaberg (G, 2A) and Abel Alatorre (2A) also filled up the Elma stat sheet with Cason Seaberg, Rodrigo Luna, Aiden Sayers-Hartman and Henry Leon scoring a goal apiece for the Eagles.

Being a senior-heavy team, Elma head coach Carson Seaberg commended his eight graduating upperclassmen.

“They persevered through this difficult time over the last year,” he said. “They always worked hard every chance they were given and this year is an example of that.”

Elma will be the No. 2 seed out of the 1A Evergreen League and will host a district playoff game on Tuesday (opponent yet to be determined).

Tenino 4, Montesano 2

Montesano dropped its final game of the regular season with a 4-2 loss to Tenino on Friday in Montesano.

Tenino (6-4, 6-4 1A Evergreen) took an early lead on a goal in the 16th minute.

Montesano (4-7, 4-6) tied the game just before halftime when Joseph Wood scored on a shot in the 40th minute.

In the second half, Tenino took a two-goal lead on a Monte own goal in the 46th minute followed later by a Beavers goal in the 60th minute.

The Beavers took a 4-1 lead on a goal in the 70th minute before Montesano midfielder Mateo Sanchez scored in the 72nd minute to make it a 4-2 final score.

Tenino out shot Montesano 12-7 with 11 of the Beavers’ shots on goal to four for Monte.

Montesano keeper Dalton Harris stopped six shots he faced before giving way to Sanchez, who stopped two Tenino shots.

With the loss, Montesano is the No. 4 seed out of the 1A Evergreen League and will travel to face Seton Catholic at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in a 1A District 4 Tournament opener.

Tenino 1 3 — 4

Montesano 1 1 — 2

GIRLS TENNIS

Tumwater 6, Aberdeen 0

Tumwater defeated Aberdeen 6-0 on Friday in Tumwater.

A young Aberdeen squad managed to win just 14 games against an experienced Thunderbirds team.

“I continue to be happy with our progress,” Aberdeen head coach Ashley Kohlmeier said. “While the scores did not end up in our favor, the games themselves were much closer and more competitive.”

Singles — Abby Jasper (Tumwater) defeated Victoria Judkins (Aberdeen) 6-2, 6-1; Olivia Myers (T) def. Kiley Ehly (A) 6-0, 6-0; Ashlynn Brewer (T) def. Lizbeth Cisneros (A) 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles — Olivia Kee/Luca Angove (T) def. Kylie Weiberg/Madelynn Machowek (A) 6-3, 6-0; Makenna Jenson/Libby Boyd (T) def. Kallie Knutson/Annie Troeh (A) 6-0, 6-0; Zoe Giuntoli/Mackenzie Decker (T) def. Lillian Allen/Zoe Troeh (A) 6-3, 6-2.